Step 1 - Introducing the Paul Cezanne Slideshow Guide BEGIN READING HERE MOTIVATION Have you had your picture taken by a photographer? Do they tell you to sit very still and smile? I want you to pretend right now that you are posing for an artist who is going to paint your portrait. He is setting up his easel and paints to get ready. Now you have to get ready too. How will you pose yourself? Should you look comfortable and relaxed or excited and happy? Are you ready? Let s pretend the artist is beginning to sketch you now, and he says you can t move at all, not even a little movement! Let s see how long you can sit perfectly still for our artist. 1. SELF-PORTRAIT Click Start Lesson To Begin DEVELOPMENT While you are posing and trying hard not to move, I m going to show you a self-portrait by an artist named Paul Cezanne. This artist made his models sit perfectly still while he painted them, just like you re sitting. But there was a big problem. He was a very slow painter, and nobody could sit still for that long a time! Not even Cezanne s friends would sit for him. A paid model once posed for Cezanne who unsuccessfully tried to paint him 115 times! The man sat on a chair, which was on top of a rickety old packing box. Trying to please Cezanne by staying completely still, he fell asleep, lost his balance, and fell off the packing box! All that Cezanne said was, You ve ruined the pose! Have you moved at all? Well, you can relax now. Would you have liked posing for Paul Cezanne? Because no one liked to pose for him, he often painted himself. He sketched or painted himself thirty-seven times. In this self-portrait Cezanne is forty years old. Did he use many colors to paint himself? (NO) Most of the time when he painted selfportraits, he used these same colors. Click Next To Change Slide 2. BOY IN RED VEST Remember how few people would pose for Cezanne? Here is one of the paid models who would sit still with great patience. He was a shy, young teenager who worked on the large country estate in France that belonged to Paul Cezanne s father. He didn t mind sitting quietly for hours. It was easier than doing farm work, like cleaning out stables or working in the fields. Paul Cezanne didn t want a picture to be like a photograph. He wanted to make it a new thing, a creation of his own. Let s discover how he did that. I want you to look for all the 1 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
straight lines you see in this picture. Quickly count about how many straight lines you see. Look for VERTICAL lines going up and down, HORIZONTAL lines going across, and DIAGONAL lines running on a slant. Now hold up your fingers to show me approximately how many you found. (ABOUT 10) Cezanne concentrated on all these straight lines rather than on the person. Do you think that was a very popular way to sell a portrait? No, it wasn t, because at that time there were no photographs, so paintings were the only way to have a picture of yourself or someone else. Cezanne didn t care if it didn t look like the person. He wanted everyone to look at the lines of the body, rather than the details of the face. Details were not important to Cezanne. Cezanne sold this painting for about $350.00. Seventy years later it sold for $616,000.00! Cezanne always had great difficulty selling his paintings. Some he sold for about $9.00. His art has now become one of the most expensive of all master artists. Click Next To Change Slide 3. PALETTE Besides portraits, Cezanne liked to paint landscapes. Here are the colors he mixed on his PALETTE to paint the landscape I m going to show you next. What is an artist s palette? (WHERE THE ARTIST PUTS HIS PAINTS) It s like a flat tray made of wood, plastic or even paper. It allows the artist to mix and test colors first before using them on a painting. The first two colors are white and black. Colors numbered 3-7 are called WARM COLORS. Colors like red, orange and yellow are called WARM COLORS, because they remind us of warm or hot things. Can you name something hot that we would paint with these colors? (ANSWERS WILL VARY: ORANGE SUN, RED FIRE, YELLOW SUNFLOWERS) Colors 8-13 on Cezanne s Palette are called COOL COLORS. Colors like blue, green, and purple are called COOL COLORS, because they remind us of things that make us feel cool or even shiver. Can you name something cool that we would paint with these colors? (ANSWERS WILL VARY: WATER, GREEN GRASS, TREES, GRAPES) Warm colors can make a painting look very busy and exciting. Cool colors can make a painting look very calm and peaceful. If an artist uses both warm and cool colors in a painting, we usually notice the warm colors first, because they seem to jump out at us. The cool colors stay in the background. Let s take a look at Cezanne s landscape, and see what palette colors you notice first. Just for fun, I want you to close your eyes just for a few seconds. Don t open them until I change the slide and tell you when, so you can get the full impact of the colors. Are your eyes closed? No peeking now! Click Next To Change Slide 2 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
4. MOUNTAINS SEEN FROM L ESTAQUE (LACE-STALK) Open your eyes now. Raise you hand if you noticed the warm colors first. Can you see how well the warm and cool colors show CONTRAST? (YES) Cezanne was a genius at making his different colors look good together. The cool blues of the sky and mountain look even bluer and cooler when painted beside the warm gold colors of the ground. Cezanne spent many years in this part of France painting the beautiful scenery. Cezanne said that he did not wish to copy nature but to change nature to his own view. He changed the landscapes he saw into shapes. What are some of the shapes you see in this landscape? To help you understand how Cezanne used shapes in his work, let s find items or name items that are the represent the shapes that Cezanne used. What do you know that is a CONE (i.e. ICE CREAM CONE, TRAFFFIC CONE) a CYLINDER, (i.e. TOILET PAPER OR PAPERTOWEL ROLL, TIN CAN) A CUBE, (i.e. ICE CUBE, RUBICKS CUBE) and a SPHERE (i.e. BASEBALL OR BASKETBALL, GLOBE, ORANGE). Now look carefully for these same shapes in this landscape. Do you see any cubes, spheres, cones, or cylinders. (YES TO ALL THESE SHAPES) Can you point out any cone shapes in this painting? (THE TREES, MOUNTAIN) Can you point out any cube shapes? (HOUSES) Are there any sphere shapes? (TREES, SHADOWS, HILLS) Are there any cylinders in this painting? (TREE TRUNKS) Cezanne found it difficult to include all the little details of the landscapes he painted. So he taught the world to see in a different way. He simplified it and showed the basic shapes of things. He also concentrated on the colors of nature. You ve seen Cezanne s portraits, his landscapes, and here is the last type of painting for which he is famous. Click Next To Change Slide 5. STILL LIFE, GINGER JAR & FRUIT This is a STILL LIFE. A still life is a painting of a group of arranged objects that don t move; they are still. Can you find something that doesn t look just right in this painting, something Cezanne changed from the way it actually looked? (TABLECLOTH, POSITIONS OF THE FRUIT) Raise your hand if you found that some of the fruit look like they could roll off the table. (YES) Cezanne tilted the table in the painting to show you more things on it. By tilting the table forward just a little bit, we can now see more of the fruit SHAPES. 3 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
Raise your hand if you see some dark lines painted around the fruit. (YES) Cezanne liked to outline his fruit so their shapes would stand out. Can you point out some outlined fruit? (LARGE PEAR IN FRONT, GREEN APPLE IN FRONT OF JAR) Raise your hand if you notice that the tablecloth isn t laid on the table very neatly? (YES) Are the tablecloths in your home put on a table like that? (NO!) Cezanne liked to scrunch up his cloths, so he could paint more lines, shadows, and shapes. There is more to look at than if it were just lying flat on top of the table. Can you find a fold in the cloth of this still life painting that looks like the shape of the fruit? (CIRCLE SHAPE IN FRONT ROW OF FRUIT) Let s take another look at the fruit. Is some of the fruit behind other fruit? (YES) We say the fruit are OVERLAPPING when they are shown that way. It s a more interesting arrangement than if the fruit were all separated from each other. Here is another still life with the type of fruit that he painted the most. 6. STILL LIFE WITH APPLES Click Next To Change Slide Apples were his favorite fruit to paint. Did he choose mostly WARM or COOL COLORS to paint his apples? (WARM COLORS) Did you notice them first? (YES) Listen to what Cezanne said about still lifes. Bowls, glasses, and fruit are not at all remarkable in themselves. We see them every day. They become remarkable only because of what I do with them in my picture. That is my task, my challenge as an artist. Click Next To Change Slide CONCLUSION Today we have seen that Cezanne concentrated on shape and color in his paintings. Paul Cezanne worked very hard for forty long years as an artist. He had little encouragement from his family or others. He might have given up if he had not believed without a doubt that he was talented and could show the world a new way to look at things. Because of this, he is called the Father of Modern Art. His influence on later master artists was great. It was hard to get along with a difficult man like Paul Cezanne. He did things all his own way and was considered an outsider in the group of artists he knew. He cared little about how he looked and was quite a spectacle roaming the countryside with his painting supplies strapped to his back, looking very poor and ragged. The world ignored the work of Cezanne while he lived. Like many great artists, he had his own ideas of what was right and wrong in art. Although he knew many of the other master artists of his time, he seldom agreed with them. But his artwork today is highly valued and sells for millions of dollars, and can be seen in all the best museums in the world. 4 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
Now let s see if Pierre can give us a quiz about what we learned! Click Next To Change Slide QUIZ Let s find out how well you know Paul Cezanne with a quiz. 1.Why did Cezanne paint so many self-portraits? (NO ONE LIKED TO POSE FOR HIM, he thought he was handsome, he didn t have a mirror) 2.What is the direction of a vertical line. (UP AND DOWN, side to side, around in a circle) 3.What do we call a painting of an outdoor scene? (Still Life, LANDSCAPE, Portrait) 4.What is the direction of a horizontal line. (Up and Down, SIDE TO SIDE or ACROSS, around in a circle) 5.True or False: Cezanne liked to copy nature exactly. (True, FALSE) 6.What is a painting of a group of arranged objects called? (Portrait, STILL LIFE, Landscape) 7.Cezanne concentrated on shape and in his paintings. (COLOR, light and shadow, neither of these) 8.Name a warm color. (Blue, Black, ORANGE) 9.Because Cezanne showed the world a new way to look at things, he is called the Father of. (MODERN ART, Sculpture, Realism) 10.In what country did Paul Cezanne live? (China, FRANCE, United States) 11.Blue a warm or cool color? (True, FALSE) 12.True or False: Cool colors are the exciting colors that get noticed first in a painting. (True, FALSE) 5 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
Click Next To Finish Lesson to exit this unit click Back To Units 6 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
Step 2 - Learning From: Paul Cezanne Shapes and Patterns In each box below, draw one or more shapes to show the meaning of the word below it. Dented Soft Thin Cezanne used patterns in his paintings. A pattern is a shape, line, or color that is repeated. Here are some examples of patterns. Use two patterns in cool colors to create your own tablecloth in the box below. Cool colors are blue, purple and green. 7 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
Shape Location The meaning of a shape, in a picture or design, depends on where you place it. In each box below, place three circles where they will best show the meaning of the word. Color your circles with a crayon or marker. Jumping Untied Falling Free 8 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
Shapes Paul Cezanne looked for geometric shapes in the world around him. He used simple shapes. Match the geometric shape with the realistic picture. a circle a tree trunk an oval a tree a cone an orange a cylinder a lemon Create your own still life by arranging shapes in the frame below. Use overlapping and color your still life. 9 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
The last few pages of this section contain the Art Activity for Paul Cezanne. This step-bystep outline will be a guide for instructing your child(ren) through the activity. The parent/instructor should review all steps necessary to complete this project before beginning any work. Cut out the Artist Profile Slip below and attach it to the back of the completed art project. PAUL CEZANNE (say-zahn) French 1839-1906 Cezanne is known as the Father of Modern Art, because he emphasized color and shape over realism. His view of nature through geometric shapes was investigated and imitated in the children s own masterpieces. ART ACTIVITY EMPHASIS: Shapes, Still Life MEDIA: Tissue Paper, Starch, Construction Paper, Colored Chalk PAUL CEZANNE (say-zahn) French 1839-1906 Cezanne is known as the Father of Modern Art, because he emphasized color and shape over realism. His view of nature through geometric shapes was investigated and imitated in the children s own masterpieces. ART ACTIVITY EMPHASIS: Shapes, Still Life MEDIA: Tissue Paper, Starch, Construction Paper, Colored Chalk 10 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
Step 3 - Working With: Art Activity Instructions ARTIST Paul Cezanne (say-zahn) (1839-1906) French ART ELEMENTS Shape MEDIA Colored chalk, tissue, starch and paint VOCABULARY Still life, overlap, arrange, pattern LEVEL Intermediate EMPHASIS Cutting and arranging basic shapes TECHNIQUE Colored chalk patterning, tissue collage PRINT Still Life with Compotier SUGGESTED MUSIC Music from the late 1800s MATERIALS FOR INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENTS One 12 x 12 white construction paper A sheet of 12 x 18 newsprint (placemat) Deco Puffs tissue squares (one each of blue, red, orange, gold, green) Paper towel Artist profile slip Colored chalk Stiff flat brushes Small plastic cups Liquid Starch - (If liquid starch is not available, mix 1 part white glue with 4 parts water.) Masking tape (for instructor only) Scissors and glue PREPARATION Place Cezanne print in front of classroom. Tape your white demonstration paper to the board. Have colored chalk, tissue squares, scissors, and starch in cup with brush nearby. SET-UP [5 minutes] Distribute materials: SUPPLIES: [2] Brush, colored chalk PAPER: [5] One 12 x 12 white paper, one piece of 12 x 18 newsprint, paper towel, One square each of five tissue colors, artist profile slip Distribute white paper and colored chalk first. While students are creating patterns, distribute remaining supplies. Pour and distribute starch while students are cutting tissue shapes. ORIENTATION [3 to 5 minutes] 11 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
Our master artist, Paul Cezanne, was from what country? (FRANCE) What were Cezanne s favorite subjects? (LANDSCAPES AND STILL LIFES) Who can tell me which shapes are in this still life? (CIRCLES AND OVALS) Let s use shapes and overlapping with patterns to create our own still life Demonstration AND ACTIVITY ORGANIZE YOUR WORK AREA [2 minutes] *Wait to pass out starch until students are cutting tissue. 1.The newsprint is your placemat. 2.Place your 12 x 12 white construction paper on top of the newsprint. 3.Put your brush on your paper towel in the upper corner of your desk. 4.Put your colored chalk, scissors, and artist profile slip in the other corner. CREATING A PATTERN IN THE FOREGROUND [5 minutes] 1.Discuss patterns, a repetition of shapes, lines and colors. 2.With colored chalk draw a straight or curved table line. Begin halfway up on one side; draw the line to the halfway point of the opposite side. 3.Using repeating lines, shapes and colors, fill in the tablecloth of the still life with pattern with your chalk. Keep your pattern simple and leave some white space. Look at the patterns you drew in your Learning Packet. MOUNTING THE ARTIST PROFILE SLIP [2 minutes] (Profile slips for each artist are provided. They give a brief description of the artist, the technique, and the media used in the art activity. For this project they should be mounted on the back of each white paper before the tissue is attached with starch.) 1.Write your name on the front of the artist profile slip. 2.Using glue, mount the profile slip on the back of your white construction paper. 3.Encourage students to discuss their artwork at home using this artist slip of information. DIRECTED CUTTING [15 minutes] 1.Cut a vase or goblet blue tissue Fold the paper in half. The fold will be the center vertical line of the vase or goblet. Have students hold the fold and cut the side shape of a vase or goblet. The fold is on left side in the drawing below right. fold 2. Cut oranges and apples orange and green tissue 12 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
Fold the orange tissue into a square by folding it into a rectangle and again into a square. Cut the circle by just cutting off the corners. There will be four circles. (Don t emphasize a perfect circle; some students will keep cutting to make it perfect and end up with very small circles!) Repeat the process with green tissue squares. Add a small u-shaped cutout to apples to give them a natural shape. Cut the banana yellow tissue Fold the tissue diagonally and cut on the fold. Use one triangle for a banana shape. Cut a shallow curve along the longest edge, and then cut the corner off with a sharper curve. 4. Cut the watermelon red tissue Fold the tissue in half and cut the tissue in half on the fold. Use one rectangle to create a watermelon shape. Hold the tissue horizontally and round the bottom the two corners. Use leftover tissue halves to create: Lemons (cut an oval and shape the tip), Cherries (small red circles with green stems) and/or Grapes (small green circles grouped closely together). Other scraps can be used to create stems, leaves and other fruit details. ARRANGE THE STILL LIFE [5 MINUTES] 13 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition
Have students watch while you arrange your composition. Students will have many shapes. Not all shapes should be used. Select their favorites. Show placement of vase or goblet onto the patterned table. Use overlapping shapes. ATTACHING THE SHAPES [8 MINUTES] 1.Using the brush, put a dot of starch on the white paper where the vase or goblet will go. Attach the blue tissue to white paper. With starch on the brush, use middle to edge outward strokes to attach the tissue. Do not scrub the paintbrush; it will wrinkle and tear the tissue. Make sure all of the edges are glued down. It is important that students do not paint far outside the edges. 2.Attach all other shapes. Notice how the colors blend when they overlap. 3.Use tissue scraps to add stems and fruit detail. the with the CREATING THE SHADOW [2 minutes] Use purple chalk to create shadow and yellow chalk to add highlights to your still life. Tell students that tissue will stick to hands, paper towels, desks/chairs. Do not stack or flip over your art work! CONCLUSION Paul Cezanne made many still lifes. He carefully arranged his fruit, like you just did, and added interesting patterns on the tablecloths. Now you and Paul Cezanne have something in common. Well-done artists! CLEAN UP When you are finished, leave your still life on your placemat to dry. THIS CONCLUDES THE PAUL CEZANNE UNIT. 14 PAUL CEZANNE Ages 8 9 MeetTheMasters Online Edition