Art Lesson w/ Ms. Jennifer: Create a “View from a Window” like Artist Marc Chagall
About the Artist:
This week we’ll be studying Russian Artist, Marc Chagall. He lived and worked in France for many years, but spent his childhood in a small Russian village was an inspiration throughout his long life. He moved several times in his life to escape religious persecution and wars, all while maintaining an optimism and dedication to depicting scenes of love. He often painted rich, colorful views from windows, as well as dreamlike scenes of people seemingly flying through the sky. He also created a series of stained glass windows, teeming with deep blue colors.
“Only love interests me, and I am only in contact with things that revolve around love.”
- Marc Chagall
Watch this read aloud of the book “Dreamer from the Village” to learn more about Chagall:
If you would like to learn even more about this artist, check out this longer video:
Here are some of Chagall’s most well known paintings.
Art Creation Guidance
Materials:
Pencil or black crayon or Sharpie marker
Paints and brushes, crayons, or markers (Ms. Jennifer will use Sharpie and watercolor)
Paper
Your imagination and memory
Follow along with Ms. Jennifer by watching this video:
Directions:
First, draw part of a window -- the frame, curtains, or shutters, to create the illusion that your artwork is a view out of a window.
Now decide if you would like to draw your real live view, a view of a memory, a view of a dream, or a combination of these. If you wish to draw your real view, spend a few minutes looking for the best part of your view, and focus your drawing on just those items.
If you wish to create a dream or memory view, use your imagination to fill the space with objects and colors. Chagall often placed people, animals, buildings, and trees in his artwork.
Draw the outlines of your image, then fill with many vibrant colors. The famous artist Pablo Picasso once said “When Matisse dies, Chagall will be the only painter left who understands what colour is.”
For Doodlebugs (ages 2-5):
Artist Marc Chagall was known for his colorful paintings, and later, his stained glass windows. The windows especially featured a beautiful shade of blue.
For this week’s exploration, you will need:
blue tempera paint,
a paint brush, and
aluminum kitchen foil.
Black oil pastel or sharpie Markers
Exploration Process: Allow your child to draw on foil with black or other colors of oil pastel. Then, squeeze out a small amount of blue tempera paint onto the foil, and allow them to cover the drawing with paint. Talk about the experience of drawing and painting on foil. How does it feel? Is it smooth or rough? Does it look shiny or dull?
Yay! You did it! I can’t wait to see your creations!
Please don't forget to email your artwork to Jennifer@BlowingRockMuseum.org to be shared in our Youth Gallery. We will be printing selections of Youth Artwork submitted digitally, and framing them in our new Youth Gallery on the 2nd floor of BRAHM.
And if you find value in our mission to bring art enrichment to community students through programs such as Young at Art, please consider supporting BRAHM by donating or joining as a member.
Did you know that a membership at the FAMILY LEVEL ($75) and above gives you FREE access to our weekly youth art classes?