Artists Paint Pets First Grade Art Docent Program

Artists Paint Pets First Grade Art Docent Program - Earhart Elementary School

Mary Cassatt [1844 - 1926] She mostly painted women & children. Her wealthy family moved from Pennsylvania to Paris when she was nine. She grew up there & became the first & only woman to be recognized as an artist in Paris when the Impressionist artists were at their peak. What is this woman wearing? Where is she sitting? The background is a view of Montmarte, a scene of Paris. Is it a sunny day? What is the dog doing? Woman with Dog

Winslow Homer [1836 - 1910] was born in Boston. He loved to explore & discover something new in the ponds & creeks, meadows & woods. He painted what he saw directly & simply & leaving out unnecessary details. He sold his drawings to a newspaper & to Harper’s Weekly. What are the boys doing? Do you see the sun shines brightly on these boys? Do you see the black mother cat? Do you see the shadows? Where is the sun? Right? Left? Or above? Boys and Kitten

Pablo Picasso [1881 - 1973] Picasso did this painting when he was 21 during his second visit to Paris. He painted in many different ways during his long productive life, inventing Cubism & opening the door for many styles of modern art. Do you think the dove is the child’s pet? Is this child a girl or a boy? Do you see any shadows? The ball on the floor is an important part of the composition. Do you think the colors are strong & bold? Do you know that dove is a symbol of peace? What are the colors of the background? Child with Dove

Paul Gauguin [1848 - 1903] Gauguin liked to use bright & often somewhat unrealistic colors in his paintings. He interpreted nature & what he saw rather than rendering exact external appearances. He later spent a short time with Vincent van Gogh in the southern part of France. He didn’t start to paint until he was 25 years old. What catches your eyes immediately? What else do you see in this picture? House? Trees? Cloud? Do you think the woman & child are taking their dog for a walk? Is it a small puppy? Do you think it is a watch dog? Breton Landscape

Cecilia Beaux [1863 - 1942] was born in Philadelphia & raised by her grandmother and aunts after her mother’s early death. She became the first woman to become a full-time instructor at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Her works are known for her use of white, lavender & yellow accented with black. Is this young woman seated comfortably on a softly cushioned chair or a hard uncomfortable chair? What is on her shoulder? The upper portion of the painting is dark in contrast with the lower portion and accents the white of the garment. What is the mood of the picture? Is the kitten friendly? Sita and Sarita

Henri Matisse [1869 - 1954] was born in France, and along with Picasso, became one of the twin titans of 20 th century art. Matisse said that “color was not given to us in order that we should imitate Nature, but so that we can express our own emotions. Picasso said that Matisse had the “sun in his belly”. Play Video What do you see in this painting? Matisse believed that painting should not only be beautiful but should bring pleasure to the viewer. Do your eyes go right to the center of the painting first? Can you find at least four different patterns of repeated shapes & colors? Still Life with Goldfish

Examples