Step 1 - Introducing the Henri Rousseau Slideshowmtmhomeschool4art.com/uploaded_lessons/Track...

HENRI ROUSSEAU– AGES 10 – ADULT | ONLINE EDITION

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MOTIVATION There’s a game some of you might have played that ties in with our artist’s favorite thing to paint -- the jungle. We’re going to use parts of that game that involve jungle sounds as we explore and walk into the world of Henri Rousseau. Help me make some of the sounds we will hear in the jungle as we walk into his world. The sound of our feet walking (OPEN HANDS SLAPPING LAP), our feet running (FASTER SLAPPING), the wind in the many trees (HANDS BRUSHING EACH OTHER), raindrops hitting the leaves (SOFT SNAPPING OF FINGERS), lightning crashing overhead (QUICK SHARP CLAP OF HANDS). You have the sounds, now let’s take the journey! I will lead us through the jungle as you make the sounds we just practiced. Let’s review the sounds quickly: walking, running, wind, rain, lightning. When you hear any of those words that go with sounds, that is your cue to make the right jungle sound. Remember, none of the sounds are made with our voices.

DEVELOPMENT As we slowly walk into the jungle, we wonder what adventures await us! We trudge deeper into the thick jungle; it gets darker and darker, and the sun disappears completely. What was that sound?! Our feet automatically walk faster and faster until we find ourselves running as we peer around to see if we are alone. It gets darker still, as raindrops slowly hit the trees, and the wind picks up and makes the rain even louder. Have we run into the middle of a big storm? Will the animals in the jungle become frightened and come running out from the trees? And what kind of animals might we meet? Oh, lightning just lit up the sky, as the rain is starting to beat down harder and harder. And I hear something besides wind and rain! I’m afraid to even imagine what might make that kind of sound!

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1. STORM IN THE JUNGLE Is it a wild animal? (YES) Imagine yourself in this painting. Would you be afraid if you were actually there? (YES) What do you see that shows a violent storm? (WIND, LIGHTNING, RAIN) And we can imagine it’s thundering as well. The rain is whipping the rain through the tropical jungle. The tiger is running in wild panic as the lightning and thunder frighten him. What makes the tiger look dangerous? (SNARLING TEETH, READY TO POUNCE, HIDING)

1 HENRI ROUSSEAU– Ages 10 – Adult | MeetTheMasters Online Edition


Let’s meet the artist who painted this exciting jungle picture. Do you think he lived in or near a jungle? I would like to introduce our master artist, Henri Rousseau.

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2. MYSELF: PORTRAIT LANDSCAPE What identifies him as an artist if I hadn’t told you? (PALETTE, BRUSH, HAT) As you can see, Henri was very proud to be an artist! Did he place himself in the jungle? (NO) Where is he? (NEAR A CITY, BOAT) If you look very closely, you will see a tower in the background that is very famous. What is the name of this famous tower in the city of Paris, France? (EIFFEL TOWER) Paris is where Henri lived. Do you think he was anywhere near a dark and dangerous jungle? (NO) It might surprise you to know that Henri never traveled to a jungle at all. Can you imagine how he knew how to paint it? (TAKE SEVERAL RESPONSES) Did his job involve exotic travel to faraway lands where he experienced jungles? Let’s take a look at Rousseau’s painting showing us his job as a young man.


3. THE TOLL HOUSE Did his job involve exotic travel? (NO) Henri spent many years in one of the many customhouses where taxes were collected from farmers and merchants, as they brought their products into Paris to sell. This might be the very tollhouse where Rousseau worked for twenty years, starting at age twenty-eight. Like every other young man then, Henri completed his schooling and his military service before he came to work at the tollhouse. Notice how the two guards stand very stiffly, and the one on the roof has taken a position to observe any activities that the ground agent cannot see. Even the trees, the two chimneys, and the background steeple stand straight and tall like the guards. A barred gateway stands half open, as the toll collector guards the entrance. Rousseau could have been either one of these officers. Does it look like a very busy job? (NO) For Henri it was the perfect job for it gave him time to imagine faraway, exotic scenes that he could later paint. During the many quiet hours on the job, Rousseau made thousands of drawings that later became a part of his paintings. Let’s look back at Storm in the Jungle.


4. STORM IN THE JUNGLE

I want you to notice the many exotic plants this time instead of the animals. Where would Henri see such plants in a big city in the middle of Europe? Henri found the many ideas for these plants in the botanical gardens in Paris. He made many trips there to study the tropical plants. He said, “When I step into the garden and see the plants from far-off



lands, it seems to me that I am in a dream.” He excitedly collected every possible kind of leaf and flower he could find in order to draw and paint them. He was a master of trees. He greatly enjoyed all of nature, and this pleasure showed up in every branch and leaf in his paintings. He discovered the jungle as his great artistic theme. In his paintings he dreamed of far-off exotic lands, but he himself, the dreamer, never left France. Quickly guess how many different colors of green you can find in Henri’s jungle. (TAKE SEVERAL RESPONSES) It might surprise you to learn there are more than fifty values of green in this painting! Value is how light or dark a color is. Point to a very dark value of green. (TREE, FOREGROUND PLANT) Now point to a very light value of green. (FOREGROUND GRASSES, LEAVES ON TREE) Excellent! You will be using many values of green in your art activity. Would there be wild animals in the Paris botanical gardens, too, for Henri to draw? (MAYBE IN THE ZOO) Actually, Henri never saw a real tiger! He had a beautiful animal book from a department store that he studied. In that book were tigers, and ---

Click Next To Change Slide 5. THE DREAM: DETAIL LION’S FACES

What animals do you see? (LIONS) Do these lions look like they are afraid or are they ready to attack? (AFRAID) How did Henri paint them differently from the tiger to show you they are not attacking? (NO TEETH, HIDING, SURPRISED) Do you see many values of green in this painting? (YES) Besides leaves, what else is growing here? (FLOWERS) Did Henri see exotic flowers at the Paris gardens? (YES) Notice also the many values of brown on the lions. In your art activity you will be drawing and coloring a lion similar to Rousseau’s. I want you to picture Henri at work on this painting. Do you think he worked inside or outside? Surprisingly, he was known to have worked in his studio seven days a week from morning till night. He always began at the top of his canvas and slowly and carefully worked his way down to the bottom. He worked with only one color at a time. Guess with which color he usually started? (GREEN) He would fill in all those areas where he wished to have green. Only then would he change colors. He would put in the animals last of all.

Click Next To Change Slide 6. MYSELF: PORTRAIT LANDSCAPE Did Henri learn that painting technique at art school? Actually, his family was so poor that it was impossible for Henri to go to art classes to learn the techniques and rules of painting. So he painted the world just as he saw it, with his own eyes, or how he imagined it. His pictures seldom are realistic, but instead they reveal his desires and dreams. He told a friend, “Nothing makes me as happy as looking at nature and painting it.” Even though he never had music or art lessons, he won prizes at school for art and music.



Paris was Henri’s city, even though he was born and raised somewhere else in France. He painted the city time and time again. Most Parisians were angry about the building of the Eiffel Tower. Rousseau felt great joy as he saw the iron structure soaring up into the sky. He saw himself as the total artist, a giant before the background of Paris, towering above everything else -- the tiny people along the banks of the river, the small trees, houses, and even the boat with its bright flags, and the Eiffel Tower. His pride is showing!


7. LIBERTY INVITING ARTISTS TO THE 22ND SALON DES INDEPENDENTS

With no teacher but nature, Henri experienced a lot of discouragement and criticism. But he entered every art exhibit he could as an unknown, unschooled artist. He showed his first jungle painting in his 7th exhibition, in the year after he painted his self-portrait with his palette. He captured the beginning of an art exhibition in this painting. It shows the many artists arriving with their artwork. They came from many foreign lands, and the bright flags of their countries fly overhead. Can you point to the carts to hold their paintings? (BEHIND ARTISTS ON LEFT AND RIGHT) These things were really there. But what do you notice that is not realistic? (LION AND ANGEL) Why does he include these, and what could it mean? (ANGEL WELCOMING ARTISTS, GIVING BLESSING TO ARTISTS; LION GUARDING THE PAINTINGS AND ARTISTS FROM CRITICISM, LION GIVING IMPORTANCE TO ENTRANCE) The lion holds a list of Rousseau’s artist friends between his paws. Henri’s beloved trees provide shade for the long lines of artists waiting to enter. With very few exceptions, Rousseau exhibited there for twenty-six straight years until he died. A fellow artist encouraged him to participate the first time. It gave him a chance to show his work, but he exposed himself to the ridicule of visitors and critics for years on end. Strangely, he kept all these negative reviews pasted into a notebook. Let’s leave the exhibition now to revisit the jungle in another Rousseau painting. What animal will Henri include in this painting? What animals could be called the clowns of the jungle? (TAKE SEVERAL ANSWERS) Let’s see if you were right!

Click Next To Change Slide 8. EXOTIC LANDSCAPE

Who are the clowns? (MONKEYS) Have you ever watched monkeys clowning around at the zoo? (YES) As you look at Rousseau’s monkeys, imagine, as he did, hearing their screeching and chattering. With what are they playing? (ORANGES) Let’s look for a moment at the many interesting plants and trees surrounding the monkeys. (YES) Let’s look closely at the shapes of the leaves and flowers. Point to heart-shaped leaves. (TREE ON RIGHT) Can you find and point to a flower petal shape that looks similar to an



angel? (WHITE FLOWER ON RIGHT) Now find long, pointed shapes. (BOTTOM FOREGROUND) Excellent! Henri, like you, looked so carefully at each shape. He noticed the tiniest details. He frequently used picture postcards from far away lands as models for his paintings. He used all manner of models for his nature scenes, among them a beautiful animal album from a department store. He seems to have been ashamed to use these books so often. After his death the books and postcards were found hidden away in a secret place. He borrowed from many sources, but what he produced had very little to do with the books he used. The result was always pure Rousseau. As he turned the pages of the colorful books, he dreamed of foreign lands. Let’s see what Henri dreamed in this next unusual painting. Will there be an animal in his dream?

Click Next To Change Slide 9. SLEEPING GYPSY

Does this look like something in a dream? (YES) It is one of Henri’s largest and most unusual paintings! Does the lion look calm or dangerous? (CALM) Does this painting make you feel peaceful or agitated? (PEACEFUL) Listen to Henri’s description of this painting in a note he wrote when he was trying to sell it. “A wandering music player sleeps in deep exhaustion, her jug beside her (a pitcher of drinking water). A lion happens to pass that way and sniffs at her but does not devour her. The scene takes place in a completely dry desert.” Rousseau was a musician, like the gypsy we see here. As an adult he wandered the streets of Paris playing his violin. He also gave music lessons to earn extra money. Do you see any plants, flowers, or trees? (NO) None of Rousseau’s other work is set in a totally treeless desert. But notice something strange in the background. Can you find water? (BACKGROUND BETWEEN LION AND HILLS) Why would there be so much water in the desert, but nothing is growing there? Anything is possible in a dream! Even his title seems dreamlike. It is called, Sleeping Gypsy. Notice how the painting is dominated by the stillness of the night with a full moon. It all reflects a fantastic vision from the painter’s imagination. Let’s see if this next painting is realistic or dreamlike.

Click Next To Change Slide 10. THE HUNGRY LION

Which is it, realistic or dreamlike? (VERY REALISTIC) Many times Rousseau vividly turns our attention to the harsh realities of the animal world. The lion viciously attacking an antelope with its teeth and claws ripping deep into the body repels us. Can you find other wild creatures that are lurking in the dense foliage of the jungle? Count how many you find, and show me the number with your fingers. (4 - LEOPARD, OWL, BIRD, LARGE BLACK ANIMAL ON LEFT) Point to the animal that is the least realistic. (LARGE BLACK CREATURE - PERHAPS A GORILLA) Can you point out the other two creatures that have also attacked the antelope? (OWL) How did you know? (FLESH,



BLOOD HANGING FROM BEAKS) The spotted panther is waiting for its share of the prey. CONCLUSION I hope you have enjoyed your visit to the jungle and dreams of Henri Rousseau. What was your favorite jungle animal -- the tiger, lion or monkey? Show me with a silent pose: a snarling tiger (PANTOMIME ALL), a calm staring lion, or a monkey throwing an orange.

QUIZ To review our exploration or walk into the world of Henri Rousseau, let’s again use our jungle sounds. If my statement is True, show me with the soft rain sound (fingers softly snapping). If my statement is False, let me hear the sound of running (fast slapping on lap). Let’s finish our walk through the jungle.

1.Henri was born near jungles. False 2.He learned his painting techniques at art school. False 3.Besides being an artist, he worked at a tollhouse in Paris. True 4.He dreamed of far-off lands but never left France. True 5.Value in art means how much it is worth. False 6.He preferred to paint indoors. True 7.He immediately threw all his negative reviews away. False 8.He frequently used books, catalogs, and postcards for ideas. True 9.The “Sleeping Gypsy” takes place in the desert. True 10.He started his career as an artist very young. False

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Step 2 - Learning From: Henri Rousseau

Leaf Shapes Rousseau painted playful animals in jungle scenes.

Many times, the animal hid behind the foliage.

Draw these leaf shapes in the boxes below.

Color each of your leaves with three different colors.

Add many interesting leaf shapes to these branches.

Use overlapping shapes. Make the leaves different sizes.



Animal Shapes Many artists use a grid system to transfer a line drawing. In the empty grid on page 3 draw the bird shape, using the grid lines to guide you. Use very light pencil lines.

SAVE THIS PAGE FOR YOUR ART ACTIVITY.



Remove this page from the Learning Packet and put it side by side with the drawing.

SAVE THIS PAGE FOR YOUR ART ACTIVITY.



The last few pages of this section contain the Art Activity for Henri Rousseau. This step-by-step 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. HENRI ROUSSEAU (ahn-REE roo-SO) French 1844-1910

With the art of artist, Henri Rousseau, we entered a tropical jungle full of exciting shapes and colors. Although he never left France, Rousseau used his imagination and books to paint this exotic world of wild animals and lush landscapes. ART ACTIVITY EMPHASIS: Shapes and Colors in Tropical Landscapes MEDIA: Paint Crayons, Cut Paper HENRI ROUSSEAU (ahn-REE roo-SO) French 1844-1910

With the art of artist, Henri Rousseau, we entered a tropical jungle full of exciting shapes and colors. Although he never left France, Rousseau used his imagination and books to paint this exotic world of wild animals and lush landscapes. ART ACTIVITY EMPHASIS: Shapes and Colors in Tropical Landscapes MEDIA: Paint Crayons, Cut Paper



Step 3 - Working With: Art Activity Instructions ARTIST Henri Rousseau (ahn-REE roo-SO) (1844-1910) French ART ELEMENTS Shape, value

MEDIA Watercolor crayons

PRINT Large Rousseau Poster

LEVEL Advanced EMPHASIS Overlapping composition with shape and color VOCABULARY Shape, value, detail, foreground, background SUGGESTED MUSIC Music from the late 1800s or jungle music

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MATERIALS FOR INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENTS Classroom Folder: One 6” x 18" black construction paper One 6” x 9” brown construction paper Two 6” x 9” kelly green construction paper Paper towel Artist profile slip Instructor Tote: Watercolor crayons Watercolor paintbrushes (round) Water cups Black crayons Pitcher (for instructor/volunteer) Student supplies: Completed Rousseau Learning Packet Scissors, glue, pencil PREPARATION Display the Rousseau print in the front of the room. Tape the 6” x 18” black paper vertically to the board. Have the one brown and two green pieces of paper, black crayon, watercolor crayons, filled water cup, watercolor paintbrush, scissors, glue, and pencil close by. Have the blank page and the original bird drawing, from the Learning Packet, taped to the board.

SET-UP [5 minutes] Appoint the following number of students to distribute the materials: SUPPLIES [4] Watercolor crayons; paintbrushes; black crayons; filled water cups PAPER [5] Black paper, brown paper, two pieces of green paper, paper towel, artist profile slip



ORIENTATION [2 minutes] In what country did Henri Rousseau live? (FRANCE) Remember the walk through the jungle during the assembly? We will continue that walk today. Let’s think about shapes and color values that we might see in Rousseau’s jungle. Did Henri Rousseau always paint realistically? (NO) What else did he use to inspire his art? (DREAMS, BOOKS, MAGAZINES) Let’s use our imagination to create a jungle composition. Working With: ROUSSEAU’S SHAPES - Advanced Level

DEMONSTRATION AND ACTIVITY ORGANIZE YOUR WORK AREA [2 minutes] 1.Put your black, brown, and green construction paper in a pile in one corner of your desk. 2.At the top center of your desk place watercolor crayons, black crayon, scissors, glue, and pencil. 3.Place the filled water cup and paintbrush on top of the paper towel at the other desk corner. 4.Place the bird drawing and blank page from your Learning Packet in the center of your desk. DRAWING AND PAINTING THE BIRD [15 minutes] 1.Place the original bird drawing on the left side of your desk and the blank page on the right side (reverse if left handed). Turn both pages upside down, to facilitate right brain drawing technique. 2.Using a pencil, have the students draw the lines from the original in the squares of the grid. Some students will find it easier to draw each square separately. 3.When complete, color the drawn bird with the watercolor crayons. Use pressure to create heavy application for brighter, more intense colors. Colors can be overlapped to create blends. Use the black crayon to draw details (eye, beaks, etc.) that need to stay sharp. 4.Using the tip of the wet brush, carefully paint the bird, letting the water blend the colors. Paint in the direction of the “feathers.” Set aside to dry. 5.Water cups and brushes should be collected. 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. They should be mounted on the back of each art project.) 1.Write your name on the front of the artist profile slip. 2.Using glue, mount the profile slip on the back of the black construction paper. Encourage students to discuss their artwork at home using this artist slip of information.



DRAWING AND CUTTING THE GRASS AND LEAVES [15 minutes] 1.Put one 6” x 9” green paper and one 6” x 9” brown paper together to cut the “grass.” Hold the two papers together vertically and “scissor draw” the tall reedy grass leaving one finger’s width margins at top and bottom of paper. Begin at the bottom right corner, if right handed, and cut, keeping it in two pieces. Begin at bottom left corner, if left handed. You should end up with two green grass pieces and two brown grass pieces. 2.Take both top and bottom of green and brown pieces and arrange the green grass and its brown “shadows,” overlapping the pieces, along the bottom of the tall black paper.

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3.Glue the pieces along the bottom of the tall black paper, attaching only the very bottom of the grass pieces. Glue the background pieces first. 4.Using the brown or orange watercolor crayon, draw some abstract branches on the top half of the black paper above the grass. The lines are abstract and should look like “lightning bolts.” Set aside black paper.

Working With: ROUSSEAU’S SHAPES - Advanced Level DRAWING AND CUTTING THE LEAVES [6 minutes]

On the remaining 6” x 9” green, using the blue or green watercolor crayon, draw four to six large leaves. Use the abstract shapes that were practiced in the Learning Packet. The abstract “heart” and pointed oval work well. Have students fill the paper – so there will be very little scrap. The watercolor crayons may be used for additional color, detail, and shading. Do not add water. Cut out leaves and arrange at the top of the black paper. Set aside.

BIRD COMPOSITION [8 minutes] 1.Cut out bird and place it into the composition. The bird will nestle into the “reeds.” When satisfied with your composition, glue the bird down. Use the black crayon to draw the legs. (Remember, birds’ knees bend backwards!) Or have your bird nesting. 2.Finish arranging the leaves. Place a dot of glue at each end of the leaf and glue, pushing the two ends toward each other to create a three-dimensional effect. Hold for a 20 count. Attach all




leaves in the same way. Leaves may be arranged so that they overlap the edge of the black background paper. 3.Glue any blades of grass that need to be attached.

CONCLUSION Rousseau would be so pleased with your jungle scenes. He would love to go walking through this lush jungle and see the beautiful, elegant birds! CLEAN UP [5 minutes] Appoint the following number of helpers (who have finished) to collect: SUPPLIES [2] Watercolor crayons, black crayons TRASH [1] Paper towels, scraps

THIS CONCLUDES HENRI ROUSSEAU UNIT.

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