Free Lesson Plan: Impressionist Mark-making Landscapes with Ink

Impressionist Mark-making Landscapes – Ink

Level: Middle School 

Duration: Three 45-minute class periods

Historical Overview: Dutch Impressionism and Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)

Goals and Objectives: To introduce ink media

Vocabulary: Landscape, Impressionism, ink, washes, mark-making

Materials: inks, brushes, plastic containers, bamboo tools

Procedures:

Day 1

1. Anticipatory Set: Show posters and books of images of different Van Gogh ink landscapes.
2. Slide lecture on history of Impressionism.
3. Class discussion on artist Vincent Van Gogh.
4. Review mark-making.
5. Review vocabulary.
6. Demonstrate drawing a sketch and basic painting techniques.
7. Students create preliminary landscape paintings with ink.

Day 2

1. Demonstrate how to set up palette of different value washes.
2. Students set up palettes.
3. Students create wash value scales.
4. Students use washes to paint landscapes.

Day 3

1. Students develop criteria.
2. Students pick best painting.
3. Students critique paintings.