Presents
“Sunset At Sea”
by
Renoir
1841-1919
Lesson Summary:
This lesson discusses the life and art of French Impressionist painter, Pierre Auguste Renoir
The project is inspired by the Impressionist style of en plein air painting.
Volunteer Checklist
Lesson Information
Artist: / Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)Art Title: / “Sunset at Sea”
Period or Style: / Impressionism
Art Element: / Value
Project/Medium: / Impressionist Pastel Sunsets
Prep-work Required
Discussion: / Familiarize yourself with current lesson detailsArt Activity: / Check prep drawer
Presentation Materials
Slides: / Mademoiselle Romaine Laucaux, On the Terrace, Luncheon of the Boating Party, Moulin de la Galette. Sunset at Sea / On thumb drive in Art CabinetLesson Plan: / Renoir / In folder
Prints: / Project Samples / In folder
Activity Materials
9x12 Watercolor paper / 1 sheet per studentPastels variety, stumps, paper towels
Sunset postcards
Fixative-Parents only to spray projects later / Plenty on tables for all.
Renoir Lesson Plan
Lesson Objectives:
To introduce students to the life of French Impressionist painter Pierre Auguste Renoir, one of the best known and loved painters who always showed a joyful and optimistic vision of human life.
To show how the attitude toward color and value changed when the Impressionists moved painting ‘en plein air’ or outside from the studios.
Presentation Timing
It is important that you KEEP THE ARTIST DISCUSSION SIMPLE. Remember; spend 25% on the discussion portion and 75% on the art activity.
Impressionism
Beginning in the 1850’s in Paris a group of artists from different backgrounds came together to establish a new method of painting.
The group enjoyed depicting real-life, everyday scenes and landscapes and preferred to work outdoors and used bright colors.
They were more interested in painting the shades of light rather than precision drawing.
They were labeled the Impressionists since their paintings gave an ‘impression’ of the subject rather than a clear representation.
They used quick brushstrokes and dabs of unmixed color, which would build up and mix optically on the canvas.
Instead of using just light and dark tones to give depth and solidity they also liked to use complementary colors together like red/green, yellow/purple and blue/orange. This gave their pictures more sparkle. For instance, they might color the shadows of warm orange and yellow sunlight a contrasting blue and violet.
Renoir
Pierre Auguste Renoir was born in Limoges, France in 1841 yet moved to Paris at the age of 4.
His father was a hardworking tailor and although he saw the artistic gifts of his son he tried to channel them into a sensible occupation. He got Pierre a job as a painter of decorative scenes on porcelain in a nearby factory.
After 4 years at the factory he became one of it’s most valued decorators.
During this period he began spending time at the Louvre museum, admiring the paintings and decided he wanted to make painting his true career.
With the money he saved from his job at the factory he started art school.
Years of poverty followed and at the age of 30 he was still grateful for a full meal at his father’s dinner table. The scraps left over he brought to his friend Claude Monet who was often in greater need.
Renoir and his friend Claude Monet were part of the new style of painting ‘Impressionism’ yet they struggled to be accepted by the art critics and the public.
Since Renoir was able to work quickly and catch the likeness of a sitter, he worked as a portrait painter to achieve financial security. (Show ‘Mademoiselle Romaine Lacaux’) He skillfully transmits the alert energy of the girl and it shows his tenderness for her.
(Show ‘On the Terrace’) Here the composition of the figures are painted in a traditional pyramid arrangement. The figures seem to be caught in a particular moment, discovered by chance, quite content. Renoir said he wanted the red of the hat to sound like a bell and that he kept adding more until he got it right.
Unlike Monet who painted mostly landscapes, Renoir continued with portraits and became predominately a painter of the human form and their activities.
He often depicted the delightful intimate scenes of the French middle class at leisure in the country or at the cafes and concerts in Paris. (Show ‘Luncheon of the Boating Party’) Here we see a group of Renoir’s friends enjoying a day of leisure from their working class lives. It shows the happy debris of the meal and the charm, joy and lightness the group of friends share.
(Show ‘Moulin De La Galette’) Here he paints a happy scene, the women ore beautiful and the men are dashing and all graceful and natural. We can see the shadows in between the figures are painted with a cool blue color. This is a new technique of the Impressionists, showing shadows in color opposed to just gray or brown as was done before them.
When Renoir turned 60 he was stricken with arthritis and suffered frequent periods of intense pain for the rest of his life.
The suffering he endured was such a contrast to the joyful quality of his art.
As his fingers crippled and he couldn’t bring his thumb and forefinger together he had to have the brushes fastened in his hand with a clasp.
His art never reflected his pain however. He believed painting should be decorative and optimistic and felt there were enough dark and depressing aspects to life so painting should be an escape.
He believed painting should be pretty and should be likable and make one smile.
Color and Value
Artists working before the Impressionists painted in Studios or workshops and the light and shadows were predictable and controlled. Whatever natural light came through was bluish and so all the shadows were done in warm brown tones.
As they moved outside or ‘en plein air’, they noted that warm sunlight creates cool shadows, the reverse of the studio situation.
Renoir and his fellow Impressionists began to emphasis the cool side of their palettes and take note of whether it was orange/yellow sunlight or blue/violet sunlight. The shadows would then be painted in the converse color palette.
Values of tones not only give volume to an object but also show what the light is doing. The different values in different shades were also considered. The lighter/brighter shades were used to display where the objects faced the sunlight and darker/duller shades were used to show where they were in shade or shadow.
Art Activity
Handout a piece of watercolor paper to each student and have them put their name and teacher’s name on the back.
Have the tables covered with newspaper and have the students wear aprons.
Explain that they will be making sunset at seas with pastels. They will be inspired by Renoir’s own ‘Sunset at Sea’. They can choose an inspiration card to help them.
Have them start by drawing a horizon line with a dark pastel color. From there they should start with one color and put in the darks first and then build the lighter values on top.
They should dab the color with small strokes on the paper and it shouldn’t be a dusty mess.
They should pay attention to where the light is the brightest in the sky and have that same brightness reflected in the sea.
Once they have the page covered with pastel they can use the stumps to blend some or their finger very lightly. Insist that they do not blow the dust but tap it off on the table.
They can add a small boat if they want.
Collect and store between wax paper. Have an assistant bring them home and spray with fixative to preserve them. Fixative is in the art cabinet.
Save until the end of the year for their portfolios.
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© 2009 Bancroft Art Appreciation Committee