Minds On
Let’s get started!
Artists work with different materials and have diverse styles.
Some draw with pencils.
Some artists use paints.
Some artists sculpt with different materials.
Explore the following carousel to discover diverse works of art and the variety of styles and materials used.
Hand with Reflecting Sphere by M.C. Escher, 1935
Floral Theme in Two Parts by Norval Morrisseau, 1980-1985
Knife Edge Two Piece by Henry Moore, 1962-1965
What did you notice about the diverse styles of artwork? Share your thoughts with a partner, if possible.
Action
Get ready, get set…
We are going to be exploring artworks by a few artists and searching for clues that help us know their style.
Vincent Van Gogh
Let’s explore the work of an artist named Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh often created self-portraits.
What is a self-portrait?
A portrait is an image of a person. A self-portrait is when an artist makes an image of themselves. The image can be realistic. The image can be abstract.
The following painting is a self-portrait of Vincent Van Gogh. He was a painter.
Self-Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh, 1889
The following image is one of his most famous paintings.
A night sky painted by Vincent Van Gogh
Explore the following titles. Which title matches the painting best? Select the correct answer, then press ‘Check Answer’ to check how you did.
Van Gogh liked to paint landscapes, especially trees.
What is a landscape?
A landscape is an image of the outdoors. A landscape can have hills and trees. A landscape can have buildings and people.
He liked to paint with the colour blue.
He liked to paint swirly clouds and stars.
He liked it when he could notice the marks that his paintbrush left. In his painting ‘Starry Night’ the swirls of the sky had paintbrush marks. Those marks are called visible brushstrokes.
What are visible brushstrokes?
Visible brushstrokes are the visible marks a paintbrush leaves on artwork.
Van Gogh’s paintings sometimes appear cartoon-like.
Explore the following audio clip entitled ‘Van Gogh’s Art Style’ to learn more about what Van Gogh liked to paint.
Van Gogh’s Art Style
Now that you know a little more about Van Gogh’s style, it’s time for you to be an art detective and choose the one artwork that is NOT by Van Gogh.
Is the following painting by Van Gogh?
Press ‘Answer’ to check if the painting is by Van Gogh.
Yes, this is a painting by Van Gogh. It is entitled Starry Night!
Is the following painting by Van Gogh?
Press ‘Answer’ to check if the painting is by Van Gogh.
Yes, this is a painting by Van Gogh. It is entitled Starry Night Over the Rhone!
Is the following painting by Van Gogh?
Press ‘Answer’ to check if the painting is by Van Gogh.
No, this is not a painting by Van Gogh. This is an artwork by Lisa Congdon!
Is the following painting by Van Gogh?
Press ‘Answer’ to check if the painting is by Van Gogh.
Yes, this is a painting by Van Gogh. It is entitled The Mulberry Tree!
What was different about the artwork you chose from the others?
How could you decide it didn’t belong?
Which of the four paintings do you enjoy the most? Why?
Go!
Kehinde Wiley
Let’s try again with another painter named Kehinde Wiley.
The following image is of Kehinde Wiley. He is a painter.
What is a portrait?
A portrait is an image of a person. A portrait can be of a person’s face. A portrait might include a person’s mood.
The following artwork is a portrait he painted of a mom and her two daughters.
Portrait of Asia-Imani, Gabriella-Esnae, and Kaya Palmer by Kehinde Wiley, 2020
DescriptionA portrait of a woman and her two daughters. They are painted to appear very realistic. The woman and one of her daughters are paying attention directly to the audience. Their expressions are confident and happy. They are in front of a vibrant pattern of flowers and plants. A small part of the flowers and plants appear to be growing on top of the three people.
What do you notice about Kehinde Wiley’s painting style?
He uses bright colours.
He likes to paint portraits of people.
Press ‘Portrait’ to access a definition of a portrait.
A portrait is an image of a person. A portrait can be of a person’s face. A portrait might include a person’s mood.
There is always a pattern in the background. The pattern overlaps in front of the person also.
What does overlap mean?
To overlap means one shape is in front of other shapes. In Kehinde Wiley’s art, the pattern overlaps on top of the people in the portraits.
Consolidation
Putting it together
Explore the following carousel of images to explore more of Kehinde Wiley’s work.
Haiti Louis XIV of France by Kehinde Wiley, 2014
An Economy of Grace by Kehinde Wiley, 2012
Jamaica, Three Boys by Kehinde Wiley, 2013
What do you notice about Kehinde Wiley’s style? What does he like to paint? What is his artistic style?
Let’s be art detectives!
Three of the following paintings were painted by Kehinde Wiley. One of them is not.
Now that you know a little more about Kehinde Wiley’s style, it’s time for you to be an art detective and choose the one artwork that is NOT by Kehinde Wily.
Is the following painting by Kehinde Wiley?
Press ‘Answer’ to check if the painting is by Kehinde Wiley.
Yes, this is a painting by Kehinde Wiley. It is entitled Portrait of Asia-Imani, Gabriella-Esnae, and Kaya Palmer!
Is the following painting by Kehinde Wiley?
Press ‘Answer’ to check if the painting is by Kehinde Wiley.
Yes, this is a painting by Kehinde Wiley. It is entitled Haiti Louis XIV of France!
Is the following painting by Kehinde Wiley?
Press ‘Answer’ to check if the painting is by Kehinde Wiley.
Yes, this is a painting by Kehinde Wiley. It is entitled Jamaica, Three Boys!
Is the following painting by Kehinde Wiley?
Press ‘Answer’ to check if the painting is by Kehinde Wiley.
No, this is not a painting by Kehinde Wiley. This is a painting by Piet Mondrian. It is entitled Broadway Boogie-Woogie!
Portfolio
Portfolio
What was different about the artwork you chose from the others?
How could you tell it didn’t belong?
Pause and Reflect
Pause and reflect
Which of the four paintings do you enjoy the most? Why?
Now that you have had a chance to be an art detective, you can try to search for artist’s styles in artworks by other artists, your own artwork or the art of your peers!
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.