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Van Gogh Skies

Van Gogh Skies

The Starry Night is one of Vincent van Gogh's most loved and recognized paintings. Students will learn about his life and style and create a piece of art depicting the sky in the style of van Gogh.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Heavy Paper
  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Vincent van Gogh's "The Starry Night" is one of the world's most recognized paintings. The swirling colors and the feeling of swaying movement define this iconic work. Have students research his life the story behind the painting's creation. Where was van Gogh when he painted it? What images are represented? How did his use of color and thick swirling brush strokes create the illusion of movement?

  • Step 2

    Have students think of an outdoor scene they'd like to depict. It might be a nighttime scene as in The Starry Night and use shades of blue and gold; it could be an autumn daytime scene that uses yellow, red, and orange; or it might be a summer scene with shades of green. Ask them to try to convey the illusion of movement by using different brush strokes and swirls of color.

  • Step 3

    Ask students to present their work and talk about the colors and techniques they used and the emotions they conveyed.

Standards

ARTS: Explore and invent art-making techniques and approaches.

ARTS: Speculate about processes an artist uses to create a work of art.

Adaptations

It's been said that Vincent van Gogh "painted feelings." Ask students to contemplate that statement. What techniques did he use to achieve this? How can expressing oneself creatively help our mental health?

Vincent van Gogh lived in The Hague in the Netherlands on two occasions. Ask students to research this Dutch city which is known as the international city of peace and justice and is home to more than 200 international organizations. What are some of the organizations? What are some of their goals?