Artist Research
Submitted by: William Van Horn, Prairie Grove Middle School in Arkansas
UNIT: Art History - Artist Research - Technology
Grade level: Middle school and up (adaptable to elementary)
Title: What the heck is that artist up to?
(In conjunction with Building an Art History Timeline)
Grades: 7-12
Materials:
• Drawing Pencils 
• Printmaking Paper 
• Microsoft Word 
Resources:
• Computer 
• Handouts: Example of short biography with bibliography ( Student handout )
• Optional: books and Digital Camera 
Vocabulary:
• Search engines - Internet programs to search by keywords for relevant sites
• Keyword - descriptive words to use with search engines (e.g., "+art +picasso +images")
• Jpeg, GIF - formats of graphic images on web sites
• Biography - life history of a person
• Bibliography - list of sources for research paper
• Expressionism - art style that portrays emotions or elicits an emotional (Frankenthaler, Pollock, Joan Mitchell )
• Surrealism - art style where the objects are distorted or in odd juxtapositions to each other (Dali, de Chirico, Magritte)
• Naturalistic representation - object in artwork looks like object being represented
• Abstract art - Mondrian, Rothko, O'Keeffe)
• Pop art - art style that uses and "glorifies" images from popular culture (Warhol, Lichtenstein, Johns)
• Marginalized art - art that has traditionally not been accepted by the mainstream art culture (Chicago, Kahlo, folk art, art of people with disabilities, African and/or Asian art)
Overview:
Each student will look up an artist on the Internet and choose an artwork (medium of artwork depends on the art-making assignment) to print and talk about. Each student will write a short biography (with a bibliography) of the artist. (Biography and print will be placed on the timeline.)
INTRODUCTION
Objectives (Arkansas Dept. of Education Art Standards):
• Identify different styles used for artwork, including non-traditional artistic styles (1.1.8,
1.2.10)
• Use the search engines on the Internet to research an artist (1.3.8)
• Write a short biography of artist and the culture, including bibliography (1.2.10, 1.3.12
• Identify artwork and print out hard copy - save information about image - learn about copyright and fair use of images
• Present to class an artist and artist's use of techniques in artwork
Introduction:
• Describe the process and the objectives of the assignment
• Show reproductions of art work of different "schools" of thought, including non-traditional artistic styles
• Discuss the relation of the styles to the impact of the work
• Discuss biographies and purpose of bibliography
• Biography will include dates and place of birth and death, significant events in the artist's life (e.g., schooling, friends, economic situation, health), social and political events (e.g., war, scientific and geographic discoveries, attitude of culture), and a brief critique of artist's artistic influences and stylistic growth
Demonstration:
• Demonstrate use of search engine, downloading and printing images, saving bibliography information
STUDENT ACTIVITY
Research and report ( See student handout ):
• Search on Internet for artist and artwork to report on
• Gather information and write, using word processor, a one page biography with attached bibliography
• Give oral report to class on artist and how he or she used pencil or lines in their drawing (or whatever element/principle you are discussing).
• Place in correct spot of timeline - include image documentation on the artist's work.
Critique:
• Discuss the artists on the timeline in relation to each other
Critique questions:
• What problems did you have with searching for artists and/or using the Internet?
• Why did you choose the artist that you did? What would you ask the artist if you had a chance to meet?
• What differences and similarities do you see between the artists?
• What did you learn? What was the reason for this assignment?
• How else could you use the Internet for finding out information?
Artist Research - Handout
Submitted by Rachel Smith
Name_________________________________ Period________ Date________
ARTIST RESEARCH
Please define the following vocabulary terms:
Genre:
Description:
Interpretation
Judgment:
1. Full Name of Artist: _______________________
2. Date of Artist Birth: _________________ Date of Artist Death: ________________
3. Using COMPLETE SENTENCES, please write a general DESCRIPTION of the art work created by this artist:
4. What GENRE does this artist fit into? Why is this artist considered part of this GENRE?
5. Choose one artwork created by this artist write a detailed DESCRIPTION of it:
6. What do you think this artwork means? In other words, what is your INTERPRETATION of this artwork?
7. What kind of biographical information did you find? How does this relate to the art created by this artist?
8. Do you like this artist’s work? Why or why not? In other words, what is your JUDGMENT of the work?
9. What questions do you still have about this artist
Student Critique and Class Critique
Submitted by: Jeannie Sandoval
Name: _________________________________
Individual Art Critique
Write your ideas here. Give first impressions. Make guesses. Say what you see, do not say what you like, or don't like. Do not judge. Describe, analyze, and interpret.
l. What stands out the most when you first see it?
2. Explain the reason you notice the thing you mention in number 1.
3. As you keep looking, what else seems important?
4. Why does the thing you mention in number 3 seem important?
5. How has contrast (value) been used?
6. What leads your eye around from place to place?
7. What titles could you give this artwork? Name at least three.
8. What other things interest you about this artwork?
9. What did you learn while doing this project? Was it worth it?
10. If you could change anything about your picture, what would it be and why?
*Is there anything that could have been done differently that would have made this project even more successful? I am all ears... tell me J
Submitted by: Jeannie Sandoval
Round Robin Class Critique
Critique for Hard Edge Painting
Directions:
Using the Critique Process, you must select two works of art created by your fellow classmates and write a paragraph about the works. Once completed with those critiques, you must critique your own painting. Use complete sentences and proper grammar. Use the correct order when evaluating the projects: Description, Analysis, Interpretation and Judgment
Answer the following questions for each critique.
Description: Describe what you see, be detailed. Describe the colors and the layout. Analysis: Why did the painter use those colors and letter fonts? What could have been done differently? Interpretation: What do you think the artist was trying to say within their painting? Judgment: Is this something you would hang in your bedroom? Would you buy this? Why or why not?
Project 1:
Project 2:
Project 3 (Your own project):
