How to Read a Painting
Inspiration Book:
Between the lines : how Ernie Barnes went from the football field to the art gallery by Wallace, Sandra Neil — Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018 796.332; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.7. Discover the true story of NFL star Ernie Barnes, a boy who followed his dreams and became one of the most influential artists of his generation.CCBC, CBS, NFD, NSSTB List 2019
AND
George Bellows : painter with a punch! by Burleigh, Robert — Published in association with the National Gallery of Art ,Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2012--759.13; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.5 A brief biography on American painter George Bellows, discussing his love of sports and how he incorporated sports into his work. This fascinating biography of turn-of-the century artist George Bellows highlights his artwork and photographs of bustling New York City with lively, engaging text. CCBC, NSSTB List 2013
Rationale: An Ernie Barnes or a George Bellows book is a truly tough topic for a K-8 school. Thankfully, I have a wonderful art teacher who is always looking to expand the students’ art experiences and knowledge. She has developed a series of artist appreciation units for each grade level featuring a specific artist, art genre, and/or media. Often the boys aren’t too excited about the landscape artists or the still life artists, but George Bellows’ realistic work and Ernie Barnes’ action filled sports art catch their attention. Both artists’ work tell a story. Their work may be looked at like we look at a story in print, asking about setting, color, point of view, etc. We’re actually doing visual story literacy activities just as we do with illustrations from a picture book, but with a recognized artist’s museum artwork. I tested this lesson since it’s for a range of ages with my grandchildren who range from five to ten. They could answer each questions, and with quite a bit of insight.
In this Books Alive entry, students in Grades K-8 will learn a bit about Bellows and Barnes, and, “read” their art work. An ADJUNCT LESSON for Grades 3-6 explores Bellows and other sport and art figures about whom Robert Burleigh has written or illustrated. An ADJUNCT LESSON for Grades 5-8 studies more of Bellows’ and Barnes” art by using the literary questions: setting, color, point of view, etc.
Grades K-8--How to Read a Painting
Preparation:
Internet connection and projection capability and an image of Barnes’ The Bench and another of Borrows’ The Stag.
Write the following questions on sentence strips, a chart or reproduce on a handout. I personally like the sentence strips because each student needs to look for the answer(s), and provide an oral answer. Because each had the opportunity to think and generate answers in this introduction it was easier for the older grandchildren to do a small group or individual study.
What do you see?
What time of day is it?
What is the weather?
What is the season?
What do you hear and smell?
What textures can you see?
What colors do you see?
How many shades of green can you find?
Where is the artist standing?
Where is the viewer?
How does the artist lead you into the painting?
Trace the path your eye travels into and across the painting.
How does this painting make you feel?
How has the artist used line, color and texture to evoke a particular mood?
Is this a painting of an actual scene or invented from Bellow’s imagination?
How can you tell?
Introduction: Have you ever “read” a painting? I know your teachers have asked you to “read” illustrations in picture books. Paintings require the same type of reading to appreciate them most fully. I projected an image of Ernie Barnes’ painting The Bench.
What do you see?
What is the story the painting tells?
Our inspiration book today is about the artist who painted The Bench. Read aloud:
Between the lines : how Ernie Barnes went from the football field to the art gallery by Wallace, Sandra Neil — Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
Why do you think Barnes never sold The Bench.?
Barnes artwork is an example of the sports art genre. Another artist who painted sports art was George Bellows. The Stag is one of his most famous works. (project image). I’ve written questions to help us “read” The Stag on sentence strips and will be handing them out randomly. Read your question, study the image, and be ready to answer the question based on the painting. You will be “reading” a painting.
Robert Burleigh, an author and artist, has written about Mr. Barnes.
(OPTIONS) 1. Read aloud George Burrows : Painter with a Punch by Burleigh.
2. Do the art project suggested in the Teacher Resource below: Jumping Genre Sports Scenes.
3. Introduce another painting and repeat the questions. Swap questions.
4. Expand the lesson for Grades 3-6 or Grades 5-8 by doing the ADJUNCT LESSONS for those grades.
5. Share the illustrator interview with Bryan Collier listed under Teacher Resources.
Teacher Resources:
Jumping Genre Sports Scenes | crayola.com.au www.crayola.com.au › For Educators › Lesson Plans Jumping Genre Sports Scenes lesson plan. Introduce Genre painting with the work of post-Expressionist George Bellows then create a dramatic original painting … http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/jumping-genre-sports-scenes-lesson-plan/
Teaching Ideas from Classroom Bookshelf http://www.theclassroombookshelf.com/2018/03/between-the-lines-how-ernie-barnes-went-from-the-football-field-to-the-art-gallery/
Author Interview with Bryan Collier Created by Simon Kids Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery https://www.teachingbooks.net/author_interview.cgi?id=28620
ADJUNCT LESSON: Grades 3-6--Robert Burleigh as Sports Artist
Background: Continue he study of the sports art genre by way of a quick study of Robert Burleigh’s picture biographies of athletes. Robert Burleigh has written picture biographies of athletes..
Preparation: Gather as many copies of Burleigh’s sports biographies as possible--other schools or the public library to have one book for every two students.
Assign one of the books to each group of students.
Allow time for each group of students to read the “assigned” book. Have students closely examine the choices that the Burleigh has made about text and illustration.
Use the following questions to discuss the books:
Which aspects of the subjects’ lives has Burleigh chosen to highlight?
Does he focus more on the childhood or adult life of the athlete?
How are the athletes’’ mentors, inspirations, and commitments presented?
Examining the illustrations. How does the art of the biography enhances the reader’s’ understandings of the athlete’s’ life?
Each group of students chooses one illustration that is filled with action. They ask themselves the visual literacy questions asked in the introductory lesson.
Home run : the story of Babe Ruth by Burleigh, Robert — Harcourt, c1998 p2003--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.2 A poetic account of the legendary Babe Ruth as he prepares to make a home run.
Hoops by Burleigh, Robert — Harcourt, c1997 p2001--811; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 2.5 Illustrations and poetic text describe the movement and feel of the game of basketball.
Messenger, messenger by Burleigh, Robert — Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.0. Calvin Curbhopper, a bicycle messenger, makes his way through the city in all kinds of conditions to make sure that his messages get delivered on time.
George Bellows : painter with a punch! by Burleigh, Robert — Published in association with the National Gallery of Art, 2012 759.13; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.5. A brief biography on American painter George Bellows, discussing his love of sports and how he incorporated sports into his work.
Stealing home : Jackie Robinson, against the odds by Burleigh, Robert — Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007--796.357; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 5.9 Presents a brief biography of legendary baseball player for the old Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson, who, in 1947, became the first African-American to play in major league baseball.
ADJUNCT LESSON: Grades 5-8--Sports Art
- Conduct a simple Google image search to find other artworks by Barnes and Bellows. There are several websites below that have examples of their art.
- Students select a favorite image for further study by answering some of the same questions answered as a group in the introductory lesson to deepen their visual analysis.
- Go on a neighborhood walk like Barnes did to find everyday scenes to capture through art, then make a list of those everyday scenes and discuss how students would visually drawing or paint that scene if they were Bellows or Barnes
Related Resources:
An eye for art : focusing on great artists and their work. — Chicago Review Press, 2013. 708.1; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 7.9. Studying nature. John Constable -- Martin Johnson Heade -- Claude Monet -- Georgia O'Keeffe -- Andy Goldsworthy -- Exploring places. Rembrandt van Rijn -- Canaletto -- Jasper Francis Cropsey -- Thomas Moran -- Henri Matisse -- Andre Derain -- George Bellows -- Examining portraits. Leonardo da Vinci -- Elisabeth-Louise Vigee Le Brun -- Vincent van Gogh -- Paul Gauguin -- Chuck Close -- Telling stories. Fra Angelico and Fra Filippo Lippi -- Rogier van der Weyden -- Raphael -- Peter Paul Rubens -- John Singleton Copley -- Augustus Saint-Gaudens -- Jacob Lawrence -- Observing everyday life. Jan Steen -- Osias Beert the Elder -- Willem Claesz Heda -- Edouard Manet -- Mary Cassatt -- Winslow Homer -- Wayne Thiebaud -- Questioning traditions. Giuseppe Arcimboldo -- Johannes Vermeer -- Joseph Mallord William Turner -- Pablo Picasso -- Joan Miro -- Diego Rivera -- Romare Bearden -- Jackson Pollock -- Roy Lichtenstein -- Playing with space. Edgar Degas -- Alexander Calder -- Dan Flavin -- Martin Puryear -- Timeline of artists. "Introduces more than 50 great artists and their work, with corresponding activities and explorations that inspire artistic development, focused looking, and creative writing
George Bellows and urban America by Doezema, Marianne — Yale University Press, 1992--759.13; Int Lvl: YA Presents an analysis of the paintings of early twentieth-century American artist George Bellows, focusing on his principal themes of the excavation for Pennsylvania Station, prizefights, and tenement life; and examining the reasons why his work received such critical acclaim.
George Bellows DVD — National Gallery of Art, 2012. 759.13; Int Lvl: YA. An examination of the life and work of American realist painter George Bellows.
https://charlesmcquillen.com/george-bellows-stag-at-sharkeys-english-language-arts-le...AprTeach close reading skills, expressive brushwork, and prizefighting with George Bellows' Stag at Sharkey's.
Nov 15, 2012 - George Bellows (1882–1925) was regarded as one of America's greatest ... In 1904, he left college and moved to New York to study with Robert ..... and performances, announcements, behind-the-scenes activities, and more.
Discover ideas about Visual Art Lessons. Introduce Genre painting with the work of post-Expressionist George Bellows then create a dramatic original painting of …
Ernie Barnes Official Website https://erniebarnes.com
Artnet--Barnes http://www.artnet.com/artists/ernie-barnes/
Artnet--Bellows http://www.artnet.com/artists/george-bellows/2
