Throughout European history, artists have celebrated the values of their patrons. Today, the schools are the largest employer of artists. To justify art education according to current Back-to-Basics values, art teachers should explain visual art as a language, which they can teach students to read and use. (SJL)

Describes the Eureka cross-cultural model that is designed to assist in identification of hidden potential in the visual arts and sciences through the process of enrichment among elementary children from different socioeconomic or cultural backgrounds in Israel. Positive findings from a longitudinal study of the program are discussed. (CR)

Presents background information about the artist El Greco. Focuses on his painting of Saint Peter,"The Penitent Saint Peter," chosen because of the facial expression and body language. Includes a reproduction of the painting and information about the painting. (CMK)

Focuses on the use of the art technique called watergraph in which students use watercolor to paint over photographs. Provides three examples of how teachers used this process with their students, including creating self portraits inspired by the work of Edgar Degas. (CMK)

Examined the life histories of early adolescent participants in Artists in the Making, a program designed to motivate inner city youth through participation in visual arts classes. Student interviews indicated that, despite participant diversity, there were several common themes, including self-discovery, problem solving skills, opportunities for…

Presents an art activity for fourth- and fifth-grade students in which they pretend to be advertising designers and create an advertisement for a real or imaginary product. Explains that the students select the product and also a famous work of art that is related to their product. (CMK)

Focuses on the home of Charles Demuth that is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Describes, in detail, the house and the Demuth Tobacco Shop, which is located next door to the house. Includes information on the life and work of Demuth. (CMK)

Presents a lesson that teaches students about abstract art in a fun way. Explains that students draw cats, learn about the work of Pablo Picasso, and, in the style of Picasso, combine the parts of the cats (tail, legs, head, body) together in unconventional ways. (CMK)

Provides historical background on mosaics. Describes an art activity in which students create their own mosaics. Discusses what the students can use as material to make the project much more cost effective and explains the process of creating the mosaics in detail. (CMK)

Presents an activity in which elementary students reproduce the artwork, "The Goldfish Bowl," that was originally created by Henri Matisse. Explains that the students utilize the same art technique that Matisse used: decoupage. Discusses the process of creating the artwork in detail. (CMK)

Considers the relevance of a semester length curriculum in Performance for Art and Theatre students. Contends that art majors in performance classes learn to value more ephemeral content, to work with time, and to think explicitly about audience, while theatre majors have an opportunity to engage with original, personally expressive content and to…

Provides background information focusing on the life and career of Pablo Picasso. Includes learning activities related to Picasso and his artwork "Weeping Woman." Offers information on the subject matter of the chosen painting, a distraught, sobbing woman. (CMK)

Describes a second and third grade art activity in which students used celery cores to create pictures in the style of Georgia O'Keefe. Explains that the students learned about O'Keefe's artwork and describes how the students created their prints. (CMK)

Describes what occurred during an "Art Exchange Day" between two high schools that offered students access to varying viewpoints about art. Explains how the students created their own artworks of cakes and other desserts, inspired by the work of Wayne Thiebaud. Includes examples. (CMK)

Focuses on the facial expression in the "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci. Offers background information on da Vinci as well as learning activities for students. Includes a reproduction of the "Mona Lisa" and information about the painting. (CMK)