Lesson At A Glance

Here’s a brief overview of the complete lesson. It’s also on your prep page in the Ready, Set, Go! section (below the lesson).

Colored buttons jump to each section in the full lesson plan below.

7 Min – View Gerhard Richter’s work. Provide worksheets.

5 Min – Set up paper or canvas – 3 Steps to Accuracy.

15 Min – Modify work on final media

5 Min – Set up your chosen media

42 Min – Enjoy working & expressing yourself

5 Min – Everyone helps

SCROLL & TEACH

LESSONPLAN

Each section is a different color. Read over once and then you can SCROLL & TEACH using any device you like. It’s designed to work great with your phone.

Tell students about the next two weeks of lessons.

Explain that everyone works at different paces, so it’s good to have special times for catching up, and it’s also good to have time to do your own ideas and your own projects. If anyone has work that’s not finished (Many Minis, Landscapes, Watercolors, Color Journals), that’s the first thing to work on. if past projects are done, then we get to begin with some choices.

The first choice is finding your subject matter.

Give everyone the handout for finding reference materials.

There should be a still life set up for those who want to do it. Feel free to take suggestions and let the kids help build the still life. Have several different sources of reference ready.

Cartooning is also allowed, but only original characters, using real-life or photo reference. Not by copying a character from other sources. If doing a cartoon, begin with realistic drawings and then simplify and exaggerate features, redrawing it many times until it looks good. Cartoons should be done in color.

Students may take the whole two weeks (or more, in open studio and other class times to come), to create one painting, OR they can do several faster works.

Encourage the use of various materials.

Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.

Gerhard Richter, German artist, 1932 – present.

One of a handful of influential and well-known artists of the last few decades of the 20th century and to date, Gerhard Richter has had one of the most diversified and prolific careers of any artist. He is a very outspoken voice, and recently has observed and complained that auctions of artwork, including his own, are very overpriced and do not benefit the artist.

His work began in the 60’s when he entered the western world, escaping from behind the iron curtain. He has explored many subjects, but often seems to portray some sort of blur or other form of obfuscation of an image, which has become his trademark technique. He also relies heavily on photographic reference and even uses the photo itself at times. A full view of his work shows a huge variety of subject matter, from figurative, to candles, to overhead views of cities. He works in a wide variety of techniques as well, from photorealism to complete abstract expressionism.

Many of his works are so unusual that some people do not find them especially captivating. They are best viewed in person, and do not convey the artists’ intent in a reproduction such as a photograph. While not very well known in popular culture, his work is extremely sought after in the elite art world.

He has said there is little difference in his mind, between the original and a copy. Quite a controversial statement, it is also ironic, since his originals have sold for millions. To protest the inflated prices of his own work, he once created 100 small originals. The market defeated him, however, and all were purchased and almost immediately sold at auctions to benefit the original buyers. He has had two works sell at auction that broke the record for the highest price of any living artist’s work. One at 34 million in 2012, and another at 37 million. Then the first work sold again in 2015 for a new record of over 46 million dollars.

Here’s an ARTICLE in Architectural Digest about the sale.

Caution: A few works can appear in a random internet search on this artist that should not be shown to children, so use our Pinterest link for safety.

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View the handout and follow paths to good media ideas. Don’t worry about getting a definite answer immediately. Quickly move to sketching and let the brain percolate on your media ideas.

 Sketch from reference and make media plans. 

Here are some essential points to remember when creating artwork. Bring each one up during the sketching, asking questions when you can.

There are 3 steps to accuracy: Frame, big shapes, and details last.

Planning your ideas really helps. Thumbnail sketches are the best way to plan.

Doing large warm-up sketches really fast helps you to see the big shapes and get the feel for the subject. Make friends with the subject. The more quick sketches you do, the less you will erase and struggle on the actual work.

Set up your work space to make it fun and easy to create. Wear a smock if you need to.

Leave time to clean up at the end of class.

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Set up paper or canvas.

Emphasize the first two steps to accuracy: Frame and simple Big Shapes – These don’t take much time, yet make all the difference.

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Remind students that guidelines are not the actual artwork, but are essential for knowing where to paint or draw. Erase often and redraw to make the work as good as it can be.

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Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.

Paint pigment list:

• Napthol or Pyrrol Red
• Hansa or Light Yellow
• Pthalo Green (blue shade)
• Cyan or Cerulean Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Dioxazine Purple
• Magenta
• Burnt Umber
• Raw Sienna
• Titanium White (professional grade only)

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Go around the room, encouraging students, and pointing out things you like about their work. Be on the lookout for discouragement, and ask what’s wrong and ask if you can make suggestions. Don’t tell discouraged students that their work is good and they shouldn’t be discouraged about it. Try to find out what is bothering them and help them find solutions.

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• Wash hands
• Super-wash brushes if used
• Put art supplies away
• Wipe tables & toss trash
• Remove any smocks (last)
• Check for items on floors and tables

Have some still life objects and good photo references ready. Print all of your PDFs from the lesson plan and cut any references apart as needed.

STUDENT’S

MATERIALS

• 14” x 17” Sketch Pad
• Pencils & Erasers
• Paper or Canvas
• Painter Tape
• Canvas pencil
• Kneaded Eraser
• Any Materials needed for your chosen media

Week 12: Continue Artists’ Choice

The personal work begun in week 14 is continued or a new work is created in the same manner. Early finishers can work on past projects to complete things like Color Journals or Many Minis.

Week 13: Color Journal: Blues & Browns

Our amazing color journals are continued with a set of blue colors and another one of browns. The colors created are made using the method that professional painters use, and are all useful colors instead of random formulas. Our method teaches what happens when paint is modified, instead of simply giving students a few color formulas to fall back on.

Use this button to view our parent’s blog. Share the link: http://parentart.org, with your student’s parents so your they can read about the lesson each week.