I am starting a new series of blog posts about different genres from Art History and here are some Pop Art lesson ideas to kick it off. It makes my heart happy when a student shares with me they recognized a work of art, artist or genre somewhere outside my classroom. Students often report back to me when they have seen Pop Art in stores, restaurants and even on social media. For this reason, my first genre post is all about Pop Art.
What is Pop Art?
Pop Art was born in England, and reached the United States in the late 1950s. Pop Art is based on modern popular culture and mass media, especially as a comment on traditional fine art values. It often includes images and icons from popular media or everyday goods and uses vibrant and bright colors. These characteristics make Pop Art lessons well received by students of all ages.
Pop Art Lesson Ideas: Andy Warhol
Warhol is known as the leader of Pop Art. His colorful prints and recognizable portraits inspire many art projects for students of all ages. I have taught Warhol-inspired art lessons with the subject matter of pie for Thanksgiving, snowmen for winter, shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day and of course self-portraits. Since he is a well known printmaker it is very easy to make an Art History connection when teaching printmaking.
Whatever the subject matter is, I teach students how to draw an image, then reduce the image and make four prints of the image using a copy machine as a different form of printmaking. Then, they add different color schemes to each square and outline the images with a Sharpie. In other lessons, the student artwork does not replicate Warhol’s style, instead I use his biography and contribution to Pop Art as a class discussion at the beginning or end of a lesson.
Roy Lichtenstein
Lichtenstein used imagery from comic books and graphic novels, creating oversized paintings that will be known as some of the most striking Pop Art paintings in history. He is also known for including his trademark Ben-day dots in his paintings. My students have created stunning self-portraits inspired by Lichtenstein.
I show my students how to use a graphite transfer method to help them get the exact proportions of the face and shoulders. After they transfer their photograph to the drawing paper they use Sharpie to create a contour line drawing. Next, they use Ben-day dots for the skin tone and primary colors for the shirt, hair, eyebrows and lips. In the negative space around the portrait, students include onomatopoeia. My students also use markers in primary color to add color to the letters. Lastly, students added “spokes” from the portrait to the edge of the paper and fill the shapes with Zentangle patterns. Students love the choice in patterns and the results of their abstract self-portraits. The lesson plan for my Pop Art Portaits Lesson is available here.
Romero Britto
Britto is a Brazilian born artist, painter, sculptor and serigrapher. His work includes elements of Cubism and Pop Art with his bright colors, bold patterns and relatable subject matter. His visual expression of dreams, happiness and hope attract viewers of all ages. I instruct students to use any object from pop culture and draw it with correct proportions. Then, students use watercolors and markers to add abstract color and patterns to the painting. Lastly, students add line variety and Britto’s signature bold lines with a chisel tip Sharpie marker. The results are colorful, fun and whimsical. My Britto Pop Art Lesson Plan available here.
Keith Haring
Haring was a Pop artist who started as a street artist in New York City. His messages and simplified animated imagery were seen throughout the NYC subway system in the 1980’s. His simple figures in abstract bright colors are a wonderful way to teach movement and body proportion. In addition, his artwork is a perfect example of how art can be a universal language. I’ve taught several lessons that include Haring inspired figures and make a connection to Public Art or Social Art. My students incorporate a passion, concern or message in their artwork using visual symbols and Haring-like figures.
We’ve done this on butcher paper with tempera paint and big paintbrushes to make large murals to hang in the school. Students have also used drawing paper and markers to add colors to the figures and symbols.
Yayoi Kusama
Kusama is a Japanese contemporary artist who is most known for her installations, sculptures and paintings. She was inspired by Andy Warhol and Pop Art and became connected to the Pop Art movement of the 1960’s. There are many art lessons inspired by Kusama, the Princess of Dots. I like to teach a Kusama-Inspired Eyes art lesson. Students draw an abstract eye as the focal point of their watercolor painting. Students fill in the negative space and eye with contrasting colors.
Next, students use Sharpies to add patterns to the iris, sclera, eyelashes, and pupil of the eye. Lastly, students use the eraser end of a pencil to stamp tempera paint in a dot pattern in the negative space around the eye. These abstract Pop Art paintings are perfect for Women’s History month too. My Yayoi Kusama Eyes Lesson Plan is available here.
I hope you have a better understanding of Pop Art and some lesson ideas for your students. It is really is quite easy to share the appreciation of Pop Art with your students.
Bam! – Trista
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Related Post: Candy Pop Art Lesson: A Student Favorite
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