The swirling images and vibrant brush strokes of Van Gogh's Starry Night attract viewers of all ages. Encourage children to explore this work of art and create their own starry night with the following art activity.
Materials Needed for Starry Night Group Activity
- Color image of Van Gogh's Starry Night (preferably an art print, though a color digital image or computer print out will work, too. The larger the image, the better.)
- One large piece of paper per child
- Brightly colored markers or crayons
Directions for Starry Night Group Activity
Present Van Gogh's Starry Night image to child or a group of children. Instruct the children to take some time looking at the painting carefully. Give the children at least five minutes, and encourage them to look closely, move around the room, or touch the picture as they like.
When the children have had time to enjoy Starry Night, ask the group the following questions. Give each child time to respond. Don't rush the questions, but let the group have time to discuss and interact with each one.
- What do you see in the picture?
- How does the picture make you feel?
- Do you like the picture – why or why not?
- What do you think the artist wants to you see?
After the group has explored the painting for themselves, share with them the following:
"This painting is called Starry Night. Vincent Van Gogh painted it in 1889 while he was in the hospital. This painting is a view from his bedroom window in the French countryside. Notice the curly cypress tree (point to tree in the middle of the painting. See the mountains (point to the upper right)."
Now that the children know Van Gogh's perspective, ask them what else Van Gogh saw from his bedroom window. Go around the group, and give each child time to respond.
Directions for Starry Night Art Activity
The second part of the Starry Night activity encourages children to create art for themselves, inspired by what they've learned from examining Starry Night and from their own experience.
Ask the children what they would see if they looked out their bedroom windows at night. Give each child time to answer who is comfortable doing so.
Distribute paper and markers to each child. Instruct him or her to create an individual Starry Night, what he or she might see from the bedroom window at night.
When each child is finished, encourage him or her to share the painting with the group. Hang the children's starry nights on the refrigerator, in the child's bedroom, or in another prominent place in the home.
Continuing Art Education for Children
Encourage children to enjoy other works of art using the reflection questions in the first half of the Starry Night Art Activity. Let the child be open to what art says to him or her, and the next generation of artists and critics is born.
For other creative children's activities try Word Building Scrabble or Consequences, a Story Game.
Source:
Trachtman, Paul. "Van Gogh's Night Visions". Smithsonian Magazine, January 2009.
 |
