Submitted by: Wendy Free, formerly at Eastside High School, Gainesville, Florida (Now at Suwanee, GA)
Unit: Abstract Art - Painting
Lesson Plan: Sculptural Painting - Elizabeth Murray
Grade Level: Middle school through high school

    

Summary:

Review the work of Elizabeth Murray. There are videos on that page (as well as on the bottom of this page) that show how she works and pictures of her art. Elizabeth creates three-dimensional paintings she calls sculptural painting. Following a review and discussion of her art, students will then begin sketching their ideas and coloring them in with colored pencils. (See picture below) Once students have a design they are happy with, they cut their shapes out of very thick paper or tag board. Students have the option of painting their paper pieces before they are glued together or after. Once the paper sculpture is painted, they may be attached to a frame or other object that can be hung on the wall.

Optional: To enhance the 3D effect, students may use pieces of styrofoam rather than paper for their three dimensional shapes to be painted. This will more closely resemble the art of Elizabeth Murray.

Students should design and color their designs on paper first before constructing the project.

Objectives

1. Students will study the abstract work of Elizabeth Murray
2. Students will sketch out their ideas for their sculptural paintings
3. Students will cut out their shapes and paint them in an abstract style
4. Students will construct their sculptural paintings and mount them.

Materials:

• Thick paper or Tag Board
• Styrofoam (optional)
• Scissors
• Colored Pencils
• Elmers glue
• Acrylic Paint, Tempera Paint, or Oil Paints
• Brushes

Resources:

Elizabeth Murray http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/murray/

Vitamin P by Barry Schwabsky - Vitamin P is an image-filled book that provides an international overview of the state of painting today. Documenting the most recent concerns, ideas and trends, Vitamin P explores the work of a vibrant new generation that is revitalizing this traditional, but continually updated, medium. Included are 114 of painting's leading practitioners, who were nominated by esteemed critics, curators and other experts from around the world.