Grey, like Theo van Doesburg

What do you need?

• white drawing sheet
• black construction paper
• ruler
• charcoal
• pencil
• glue

About the artist
Theo van Doesburg (1883-1931) was a Dutch painter, architect and writer. He was charmed by the abstract art of Kandinsky and the cubism of Picasso. In 1917 he founded the magazine De Stijl (The Style), in which he and other artists could publish their innovative ideas. Well-known artists who also belong to De Stijl are Piet Mondrian, Bart van der Leck and Gerrit Rietveld.

Characteristics of the Stijl artists:

• use of primary colors and non-colors 
• horizontal and vertical lines
• use of geometric shapes 
• strive for balance and harmony in the artwork

Van Doesburg, Composition 12 - abstraction of a landscape, 1918

Instruction
In this lesson we discuss Van Doesburg's Composition in grey, made in 1919 and now in the Guggenheim New York. No primary colors, just black and white and everything in between.

The goal for this lesson is not to copy the work, but to practice the technique of working with charcoal. 

Look at the painting and discuss what stands out:

• no color, only non-colors
• geometric shapes with some rounded corners
• suggestion of depth: some surfaces appear to rise through the use of light and dark next to each other 
• only horizontal and vertical lines 

What should you do? 

1. First practice drawing with charcoal on a scrap. Press hard, soft, wipe. Get to know the material this way.  
2. Divide the sheet into rectangles using a pencil and ruler. 
3. Color with charcoal. Make sure that lines between the rectangles are clearly visible. Create color nuances by pressing harder or softer, rubbing and wiping. 
4. Stick the work on a black sheet. 

Artworks made by students of grade 5.

A lesson in color theory

What do you need?

• 4 cards of drawing paper, 10 by 7 cm
• pencil
• ruler
• markers of color pencils 
• black construction paper

Instruction
Discuss the words primary and secundary colors using the color wheel.  

What are primary colors and why are they called so? What are secondary colors, how do you make them and why are they called so? What are the neutral colors? Explain also the word nuance. 

What should you do?

1. Draw a frame on the cards at 2 mm from the edge using a thin black marker.
2. Draw a pattern of your choice on each card.
3. Color the cards according to the terms discussed.
4. Outline the patterns with a thin black marker.
5. Stick the cards on a black background.
6. Add the learned words.

Selfportrait like Roy Lichtenstein

In my school we keep artwork at school until the of the school year. Students make a portfolio in june to take their work home. On front of it is a drawing in the style of one of the art movements we studied that year. 

These are the grade 6 Popart portfolio folders with a self portrait in the style of Roy Lichtenstein. 

What do you need? 
For the folder: paper A1 size, folded in half
For the drawing: 

• white drawing sheet 
• markers
• skin color pencils 
• fine black marker 

About the artist

Show artwork of Lichtenstein and discuss the important features: use of primary colors (sometimes with green), grid dots, black outlines, speech bubbles and slogans (onomatopoeia).

contents portfolio folder grade 6

What should you do?

1. Draw a self portrait on the small sheet. 
2. Add a text in a speech bubble that suits you. 
3. Color your face using skin color pencils. Use markers for the rest of your drawing. 
4. Fill one part of your drawing with dots. 
5. Fill the background with a pattern. 
6. Outline everything with a black marker. 
7. Paste your work on the large sheet. 
8. Draw in large letters: portfolio + your name + the school year. 

Artworks are made by students of grade 6.