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

In what ways do color, line, and shape affect the mood of a work of art?

How do artists create a sense of movement, motion, or action in their artworks?

How might a work of art reflect an artist’s or a community’s lived experiences?

Describe what you see. Pay special attention to lines and shapes. 

Do the shapes you see remind you of anything? What? 

Think of some verbs that describe the actions you see in the painting. For example: rising, lifting, swooping, dashing, swirling. How does motion express emotion? 

Notice the colors. The artist has used colors that are contrasting and opposite each other (use a color wheel to demonstrate this). Have the students use a color wheel so they can see other complimentary colors. How might changing the colors of this composition change the way it feels? 

How does this work of art make you feel? 

What were audience responses to abstract art at the time it was made? How have those responses changed over time? 

All Levels

Students will create a work of art that will give a viewer a sense of movement and motion. They should think about which colors to use and the lines that show that feeling. Students may want to use a color wheel to look at other color combinations (complimentary, analogous, monochromatic, etc.). They may choose the materials to use—paint, markers, colors, chalk, or colored pencils.