History in Art

"Art is a vehicle that allows us to transcend linear time, to travel backward and
forward into personal and transpersonal history, into possibilities that weren't
realized and those that might be."-- PAT B. ALLEN, introduction, Art Is a Spiritual
Path

Throughout history artists have been expressing the world's hopes and fears with a
few brush strokes. Their pieces move and inspire people timelessly allowing for the
audience to be led through an experience by canvas. As an aspiring artist yourself
being able to portray your society's struggles and values is an important skill that
can make your mark in history. You will be researching a specific historical art piece
and its' artist, learning their style and originally recreating a similar subject matter
yourself incorporating the artist's methods.

Focus Question
How do social, historical, literary, and cultural events influence art as well as the
techniques and processes used by an artist to assimilate their value?

Web Resources
Famous Paintings Explained and Analyzed- Here is where you can
choose your piece or artist. There are analyses of each piece and a short
history or background that you may use for supports.
Biographies of Artists- This website provides a deeper look into the artist
you choose. Use this site to get to understand your artist's style better.
Historical events- This is a list of photographs of historical and cultural
events that you can use as the criteria/ subject matter of your original work.
Keep in mind that it has to have a similar motif to the historical piece that
you chose to research.
 So Lets Get Busy!
Research a specific historical art piece and its artist. Recreate a similar but original
subject matter utilizing the original artists style. Compare and contrast your and
your artist's process and execution with a short statement and support from
research. How did the subject matter affect the outcome?

1. Go to Famous Paintings Explained and Analyzed to choose and research a

piece & artist.
2. Research your artist further here: Biographies of Artists to learn their roots.
3. Learn about your subject matter here: Historical events.
4. Plan and confirm with me your piece and original subject.
5. Create your work either digitally or traditionally.
6. Write your statement as a word document and incorporate facts from
research. Don't forget to print it out, unless your work is digital. You can
attach both your piece and statement together when submitting
electronically.
7. Fill out the self evaluation rubric and turn in your work.
 Self evaluation Rubric
Check in the boxes the value you think you deserve for each criteria. 1 being
unfinished or "An infant could've done better." and a 5 being perfect or "Yes! My
masterpiece!"

1 2 3 4 5 Total:
Craftsmanship- Is the
student's work
complete? Did the
student research their
issue?
Composition and Design-
Did the student plan
their work according to
their artist's style? Does
it portray the event the
student was trying to
portray?
Media- Does the
student's piece reflect an
effective use of the tools
and ideas behind the
craft?
Creativity- Does the
work stand out
compared to others?
Does it portray the
student's own "style"?
Does the statement
reflect deeper thinking in
utilizing their artist's
processes?
Commitment- Does the
piece reflect significant
effort? Does the
statement have well
thought out
reflections/explanations?
Total: