Painting & mixed media: Artist study
This unit focuses on understanding narratives and descriptive language in art, exploring meanings behind paintings, and developing personal interpretations and abstract art pieces based on selected artists. Lessons explore creative expression, analysis, and evaluation skills in art, catering to upper Key Stage 2 pupils.Use this unit hub to inform your medium-term plan and to navigate to related resources.
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Painting and mixed media: Artist study
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Understand a narrative and use descriptive language to tell a story.
- Suggest ideas for the meaning behind a picture.
- Identify different features within a painting and use the formal elements to describe it.
- Be creative and imaginative in finding their own meaning in a painting.
- Use their own art or personal experiences to justify their ideas.
- Read a picture well and see beyond the first glance, analysing and evaluating it successfully.
- Reflect on personal experiences to convey through their own piece of abstract art.
- Contribute to discussions to either the class, group or talk partner.
- Understand and choose a meaningful message to convey through imagery, creating some different composition ideas.
- Select an appropriate artist.
- Collect a range of information that is presented in an interesting and pleasing way in sketchbooks.
- Generate an idea for a final piece, demonstrating some inspiration from their chosen artist.
- Produce a final piece of work, selecting appropriate tools and materials to create an intended effect.
- Experiment and revisit ideas, drawing on creative experiences.
- Work in a sustained way to complete a piece, making evaluations at each stage.
Suggested prior learning
Painting and mixed media: Portraits
Get startedLessons
Multiple options
Lesson 2: Paula Rego – The Dance
- To understand how to find meaning in painting.
Lesson 3: John Singer Sargent – The Front Line
- To apply drama techniques to explore the meaning of a painting.
Multiple options
Lesson 4: Fiona Rae – Option 1
- To apply interpretation skills to analyse and respond to an abstract painting.
Lesson 4: Frank Bowling – Option 2
- To apply interpretation skills to analyse and respond to an abstract painting.
Lesson 5: Lubaina Himid
- To understand how art can tell stories or portray messages.
Lesson 6: Research and planning
- To develop starting points for creative outcomes.
Lesson 7: Making art!
- To demonstrate an understanding of painting techniques to make personal choices.
Key skills
Key knowledge
Related content
Resources
Unit resources
Cross-curricular opportunities
English
Spoken language