Van Gogh Inspired Landscape

 Description: For this activity we were asked to create our own version of Van Gogh’s Starry Night! We used construction paper, tissue paper, your choice of clear acrylic paint or ModgePodge, oil pastels, crayons, and sharpies. After learning about Van Gogh and his life, we were able to test out his techniques in this fun landscape project. The big emphasis here was on the element of line and using it in ways Van Gogh might have! 

Extension Activity: I think a fun way to incorporate this activity in the classroom would be to use it when leaning about seasons. You could still teach the kids about Van Gogh and his style of creating outdoor landscapes, but challenge students to create a landscape that represents their favorite season. They can choose from summer, fall, winter, or spring. Still using the tissue paper to “paint” they sky and then creating a season-appropriate silhouette. For example, if a student picks fall, they could make their background; yellow, orange, maroon, dark green, etc. all the fall colors. Use their lines to indicate wind or leaves. And then create a silhouette of a tree that has leaves falling or a pile of leaves on the ground! Students can get super creative with this activity, I just feel it would be a fun way to reinforce the different characteristics of the seasons while learning about art!