Art History: Jackson Pollock

I will be at the Midwest Homeschooling Convention during our next class. These are the lesson plans I wrote for my wonderful sub to present while I am gone.

Jackson Pollock

During Class

Invite kids to sit in front of the gallery. Remind them that all artists are different and that this one a lot of people think is REALLY different but art is an artists voice in picture… let’s listen to what Jackson Pollock is trying to say.

Read: Action Jackson… if you need to paraphrase some of the long passages feel free.

Look at the gallery

*point out all the paint cans in the barn… wow that’s a lot of paint

*which painting do they like the best? Why?

*which painting do they not like least? Why?

Yarn- select 4 children to stand up and hold a corner of the yarn rectangle. This is size of many of Pollock’s Drip Paintings. Lay it down; can the whole class fit inside? (standing, laying side by side, sitting…)

Project- Marble Painting -have students go to their seats and watch you make a painting first.

1. Write you name in the bottom right hand corner with the marker

2. Turn the paper over and place in the box, make sure the name is on the back or you won’t know whose is whose.

3. Place one marble in each color paint and softly stir around

4. Pick out marble with plastic spoon, taking care not to slop paint everywhere or pick up spoonfuls of paint… just the marble.

5. Place the marbles on the paper in the box

6. Roll the box around and back and forth … watching the magic before your eyes.

7. When finished, put marbles back in the paint; peel the painting out of the box and place painting on the papered table.

8. Repeat. They can do as many as time, interest, and paper allows for. It is a quick project. Keep one painting for me. Let them take the rest home.

Optional Project- if you need something else to fill time or attentions…. Straw painting, this one takes a bit longer and can be messier.

*Write you name in the bottom right hand corner with the marker

*Turn the paper over and place in the box, make sure the name is on the back or you won’t know whose is whose

*Place paint in jar, add a little water to thin.

*Place straw in jar and put finger over the end to pick up some paint

*Drop paint on paper and blow. DON’T SUCK!! When done add another color and repeat.

*When finished, put straws on paper towel, peel the painting out of the box, and place painting on the papered table.

*Repeat