My students get so excited for Valentine’s Day Art Lessons and are always begging to create Valentine themed artwork. I am not fond of creating crafts, so I created artist-inspired lessons with an art history connection. I brainstormed artists or genres with a style that can make a connection to the Valentine’s Day imagery. In this case, I began brainstorming non-objective and abstract artists. The list of artists I came up with for my lessons includes: Wayne Thiebaud, Jim Dine, Piet Mondrian, Gustav Klimt, Bridget Riley, Romero Britto, Henri Matisse and the Japanese art of Notan. Here’s some of the art lesson ideas I came up with! Elementary lessons are first and there’s a couple upper middle school/elementary lessons at the end.

The Best Valentine’s Day Art

Hands down I think Wayne Thiebaud is the best artist for Valentine’s Day inspired lessons because he spent most of his career painting sweet treats. He is known for painting cakes, chocolates, candy and pies. In addition, Thiebaud is known for using bright colors and incorporating cast shadows and shading to create 3D forms. My first thought was conversation hearts. I teach my students how to draw a 3D form and a cast shadow. Students also learn how to create tints and shades to create the illusion of a 3D form. This is a perfect lesson for upper elementary or middle school.

Jim Dine

Jim Dine’s well known painting “Four Hearts” is another easy art connection. The painting is fun, colorful and full of texture. I created a kindergarten lesson that incorporates stamping, tracing, cutting, gluing, and texture rubbings. The lesson checks so many boxes for kinder or beginner artists, all while learning about Jim Dine and his paintings.

Piet Mondrian

Piet Mondrian is a classic. His style is so distinct and recognizable, it is easy to incorporate it into almost any lesson. Students learn about the Dutch De Stijl painter and critique his paintings. While viewing his work students learn about primary colors, geometric shapes, horizontal and vertical lines, all important vocabulary for young artists. My lesson teaches students how to create a collage of squares and rectangles in primary colors. Finally students cut the irregular checkerboard into the shape of a heart.

Gustav Klimt

Art Nouveau artist Gustav Klimt has many perfect paintings and subjects that make a nice connection for Valentine’s Day. The “Tree of Life” is full of pattern, shapes and whimsical lines. My students create a drawing using spiral lines and hearts in a variety of sizes to create a Tree of Love. My students love learning about this Austrian artist and making a whimsical drawing inspired by his style.

Bridget Riley

I would like to coin Bridget Riley as the Queen of Op Art. Her patterns and contrasting colors make her artwork unforgettable. I teach my students how to add a checkerboard and shading to a heart to create an optical illusion. The students use rulers and symmetrical heart tracers to achieve the same precision Riley used to create the illusion of depth and movement in her artwork. This lesson is perfect for middle school or older elementary artists, as it requires sequential steps to achieve the desired effect.

Romero Britto

Romero Britto is another Pop Artist that has a fun style that can easily fit the Valentine’s Day theme. This Floridian’s painting “Red Heart” is full of fun and  colorful patterns and colors. I teach my students about pattern, contrast, shape and line while creating a crayon resist that is inspired by his personal style. Students love using a variety of shapes and lines to create patterns. The most excited part is the crayon resist watercolor painting at the end. This is a hit with students of all ages!

Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse is known for his colorful abstract paintings as well as his non-objective collages created late in his career. Due to medical issues, he was forced to give up painting and felt more comfortable creating colorful paper collages. My students critique his work and learn the difference between geometric and organic shapes. Students use both types of shapes while creating their own colorful collage. Again, this is perfect for any age – Matisse enjoyed making collages into his 70’s!

Japanese Notan

The Japanese art of Notan can also easily be adapted to be a Valentine’s Day lesson. The Notan uses positive and negative space, as well as contrast. My students cut a heart that has symmetrical balance and shapes from the edge to create a Notan. When the shape is cut from the heart is it glued to create a symmetrical shape with both the positive and negative shapes. This is a great fine motor lesson and best of all no scraps! Perfect for older students, as it requires some patience.

These are just a few lesson ideas, really the sky is the limit. If you are interested in my lessons, you can buy my bundle of 9 Elementary Valentine’s Art Lessons Here. All lessons include a step by step video tutorial, handouts for student use and slides with vocabulary, objectives (I can statements), art critiques, materials needed and step by step directions.

Middle School Valentine’s Day Art Ideas

Box of Chocolates Drawing

In this oil pastel art lesson inspired by Wayne Thiebaud students create a 3D looking box of chocolates including highlights and shadows. I also teach students about the life and artwork of Wayne Thiebaud. Click here for more information.

Heart Water Drop Drawing

I use this pencil drawing art lesson to teach about the basic drawing techniques and tools. I have students use a pencil, finger (or tortillon) and an eraser to create smooth gradients and apply pressure to create a value scale in their artwork. The end result is a heart drawing that has the illusion of depth. Click here for more information.

Thanks for reading, Trista

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