GEORGIA O'KEEFFE

1887-1986

Georgia O'Keeffe was an American artist who is known for her paintings of flowers, rocks, shells, animal bones, and landscapes. She had an amazing ability to translate what she saw onto canvas! She filled her canvases with vibrant colours and eye-catching strokes. We enjoyed her unique and close-up interpretations of nature which encouraged us to focus more closely on nature and see things from different and unusual angles. We had fun using a magnifying glass outside too.

"I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty." Georgia O'Keeffe

I chose a few of her paintings and printed and laminated them ready for our art study. The one we were focusing on for the week was propped up on a music stand in our school room, and when we had studied each one, we pinned it up on the cork board where we could enjoy the collection for the duration of our study.

We spent a quiet afternoon poring over photos we had taken on a mountain walk and each of my children picked one they wanted to paint. Both picked similar photos to add to their art files, yet their interpretations were so different. I love seeing their artworks unfold! They both chose to use watercolours. When we started art appreciation I would only provide one option of art medium, but I now let them interpret the picture and try out their own mediums.

We also spent some time talking about abstract art.

BOOK RESOURCES

Georgia's Bones This book is a beautiful account of Georgia's life and her fascination with lines and shapes in nature.

My Name Is Georgia This book is explores Georgia's life and her uniqueness. The illustrations mirror the stryle of her bold and unusual paintings.

"Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not."

OTHER FUN ACTIVITIES

This is a great way to study other wonderful things in nature. Collect all sorts of leaves that have different shapes and sizes. Notice how beautiful they are in form and colour - now "zoom in" and study the leaves close-up, noticing the veins and colours and try painting them. Notice the patterns that they create and try to capture the wonderful shapes and curves in the leaves!

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