Impressionism: Playing on Paper

Objective: Students will explore impressionist mark making with pencil. 

Materials:   

  • Pencil 
  • Paper  

Introduce: Show students examples of Impressionist artwork. Demonstrate some examples of ways to make various marks with a pencil. 

Ask:  

  •  How many different kinds of marks can you make with just a pencil? 

Activity:  

  1. Either in class or in the galleries, give students paper and pencil. 
  1. Have students create as many different kinds of marks as they can think of or see in artworks. 
  1. Discuss the types of marks each student was able to make. 
  1. Are any of these marks in artworks that you saw in class or at the museum? 

National Standards:  

  • VA:Cr1.1.Ka Engage in exploration and imaginative play with materials. 
  • VA:Cr1.2.5a Identify and demonstrate diverse methods of artistic investigation to choose an approach for beginning a work of art. 
  • VA:Cr1.1.Ia Use multiple approaches to begin creative endeavors. 

Share your artwork with us on social media @milwaukeeart #MAMLearn or email pictures to teachers.mam.org. We’d love to see your creations!