In what ways might studying architecture influence an artist?

How can colors impact the mood of a painting?

Why might an artist choose to abstract a scene rather than to create a more representational, or realistic, depiction?

Is there such a thing as an American artwork?

What do you see? How would you describe the buildings? What details did the artist include in the buildings? What details did he omit?

Describe the surrounding landscape. What objects are recognizable?

What do you notice about the color choices? What colors pop? What colors recede? Do you think the colors the artists selected are realistic to the objects and the landscape he depicted? Why or why not? Why do you think the artist limited his color palette in this way?

Why do you think the artist titled this painting Blue Day? If you were to step into this landscape, how would it feel to be there? Why? What colors would you use to change the mood of the painting?

The artist studied architecture and included buildings in many of his artworks. If you were to depict something in a painting that interests you, what would it be?

Grades 1–3

Students will paint or draw a landscape. Then they will create buildings from construction paper to include in their landscape. Encourage students to think about buildings they are familiar with such as their home, school, or other buildings they often see in their community. Have them use a black marker or crayon to trace around the edges of their buildings. Then the buildings can be glued onto their landscapes.

Grades 4–8

Students will use a paper viewfinder (a simple viewfinder can be made ahead of time by folding a square or rectangular piece of paper about postcard size in half and then cutting out a large opening so when the paper is unfolded it will look like a frame) to select a portion of the painting to look at closely. What lines and shapes do they see? What do they notice about the brushstrokes? What happens to the colors in that area of the painting? Then they will sketch that portion using color pencils.

Grades 6–12

Have students research early 20th-century artists who immigrated to the United States. Where were they from? What artistic traditions and ideas did they bring with them? How did life in the United States impact them and their art? What contributions did they make to the story of American art?

All Levels

Students will create a landscape inspired by the painting. Encourage the students to create a landscape that features buildings and natural elements that they have seen in their own communities. They will consider what details to include and what details to omit. Students should limit their color palette and create a title that resembles Bluemner’s title Blue Day (e.g.: Gray Morning).