Explore the styles and processes of the artists in South East North West.The education team has created art-making videos to inspire and guide both young and old artists while using everyday household items.
Watch the playlist HERE.
Discover a new way to capture texture with paint. This art project is inspired by Pae White's paper clay paintings from the exhibition, Beta Space: Pae White, on view July 18, 2019–January 19, 2020. Watch the video HERE.
There's a tun(dra) of different items you could use to explore the polar climates! Research a chosen biome, and imagine items you would need to pack with you for that climate. Then you can sav(anna) it for later!
Watch the first part of our 3rd Grade art and science curriculum at HERE.
Explore the breadth of motion in art-making with Aerated Painting! Use a straw to blow air onto fresh watercolor and finish your work with pen and ink!
Check out Leslie Show's work to see work uses paint and ink in a manner that reflects motion! Leslie is a featured guest artist at our virtual Summer Camp.
Let's go fly a kite! Make a kite with us and put it into motion, by flying it. We'd love to see your spruced up kites! Remember to stay home if you're supposed to.
We're working on sculptures that we pulled from The Paper Sculpture Manual, currently hosted on Independent Curators International's exhibition page.
Instead of emulating an artist’s style, we will be following specific instructions in an attempt to replicate their work, resulting in a creation that is unique to each maker.
Put a spin on your art-making by creating a Whirligig! Reimagine your favorite patterns by putting them in motion, and don't forget to share your Whirligig with us!
Our next artistic style dives into the colorful works of Josef Albers. We use his painting and printing style found in White Line Squares XIII (in our permanent collection) to dissect our image of The California Golden Poppy and hone in on the colors of the photo.
Image: Josef Albers (aka Joseph Albers), White Line Squares XIII, 1966–70. Lithograph on paper, 21 x 21 in. (53.34 x 53.34 cm). Collection of San José Museum of Art. Gift of the Docent Council. 1979.06.
There’s an earful of puns at play in this project inspired by Mark Hansen and Ben Rubin’s The Listening Post. Make your own listening post, with some paper, a pen, tape, and scissors! Visit the Online Education page for videos on art-making activities based on SJMA permanent collection artists and art lesson plans, and more!
“[Pride] should be about honoring the Stonewall riots which is a foundational event in LGBTQ+ history...There were always Black folks, people of color, trans folks, gender non-comforming folks, who were trying to restore the dignity of that original fight.” - Raquel Willis, activist and writer.
Discover nocturnal landscapes inspired by Vanessa Marsh in this torn paper collage project.
#SJMAED | #SJMAKERS | #MuseumFromHome
Image: Vanessa Marsh, Mountains 10, from the series "Falling,” 2014. Chromogenic photogram, 40 x 60 in. Collection of San José Museum of Art. Museum purchase with funds provided by Elizabeth and Byron Ryono. 2017.12.
Create dual images in this project inspired by Ruben Ochoa’s lenticular works!
#SJMAED | #SJMAKERS | #MuseumFromHome
Image: Ruben Ochoa, What if walls created spaces?, 2007. Lenticular print mounted on aluminum composite, Four parts each 48 x 24 inches. Edition 3 of 3. Collection of San José Museum of Art. Gift of Will Leben. 2020.01 a-d.
Create photo weavings inspired by the work of Dinh Q. Lê!
#SJMAED | #SJMAKERS | #MuseumFromHome
Image: Dinh Q. Lê, Untitled (Man Carrying Person), 2003. Photograph, 38 x 72 in. Collection of San José Museum of Art. Museum purchase with funds from the Lipman Acquisitions Fund. 2018.03.
Get inspired by Louise Nevelson and create a cardboard sculpture with the objects that surround you!
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Image: Louise Nevelson, Sky Cathedral, 1957. Painted wood, 57 x 149 x 16 inches. Collection of San José Museum of Art. Gift of Beverly and Peter Lipman. 2010.16.
Make a visualization of all your thoughts in this easy at-home project inspired by Victor Cartagena
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Image: Victor Cartagena, Untitled, 2000. Acrylic and mixed media collage on paper, 43 x 30 x 1 in. Collection of San José Museum of Art. Gift of Ronald Casentini. 2016.07.01.
Create the perfect framed photo in our project inspired by Imin Yeh!
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Image: Imin Yeh, “300, non instagrams,” 2015. Collage on 300 found 35 mm slides on 16 wood shelves, 56 x 96 x 3 inches. Collection of San José Museum of Art. Gift of the Museum Docent Council in honor of Lucy Larson, Director of Education (2009-15). 2015.06.
There’s an earful of puns at play in this project inspired by Listening Post, 2002–06.
#SJMAED | #SJMAKERS | #MuseumFromHome
Image: Mark Hansen and Ben Rubin, The Listening Post, 2002-06. Screen modules on support beam, connective wire, 8 audio speakers, and software, 233 x 146 x 31 in. Collection of San José Museum of Art. Collection of the SanJose Museum of Art with funding provided by Deborah and Andy Rappaport, LipmanFamily Foundation, Council of 100. Additional support provided by Rita and Kent Norton. 2005.28.
Explore watercolor painting techniques inspired by Tacita Dean’s series, "LA Exuberance."
#SJMAED | #SJMAKERS | #MuseumFromHome
Images: Tacita Dean, “LA Exuberance 1-5”, 2016. Hand-drawn three-color blend lithograph, 29 7/8 x 29 7/8 in. Collection of San José Museum of Art.Museum purchase with funds provided by Lisa and Keith Lubliner. 2017.10.01, 2017.10.02, 2017.10.03, 2017.10.04, 2017.10.05
Make beautiful watercolor portraits in the style of Firelei Báez.
#SJMAED | #SJMAKERS | #MuseumFromHome
Image:Image: Firelei Báez, To see beyond it and to access the places that we know outside its walls, 2015. Gouache and ink on paper, 84 1/2 x 50 inches. Collection of San José Museum of Art. Museum purchase with funds provided by Tad and Jackson Freese. 2016.04.
For Artistic Styles, we are creating works themed around one subject: The California Golden Poppy. In this activity, we are exploring artist Alexander Calder and his mobile sculptures. While Calder's work is primarily abstract, we explore ways the Golden Poppy could be portrayed using his artistic style as an influence. The end result is an abstract California Poppy mobile.
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Image: Alexander Calder, Big Red, 1959. Metal, wire, and paint on wire armature. Collection of San José Museum of Art. Gift of Kenneth and Janet Gray Hayes in memory of Margaret Calder Hayes, in honor of the San Jose Museum of Art's 35th anniversary. 2005.22.
SJMA’s Museum Experience and Education department looks at Rina Banerjee's sculptural work and the colorful, eclectic, and unexpected materials the artist uses. Learn how Banerjee’s practice can serve as inspiration to create a found-object version of the California Golden Poppy. Watch the tutorial video HERE.
We're entering new frontiers as we venture to where no human has been before--on newly discovered planets! Take some time to describe and draw your lastest celestial findings by imagining an amazing new world!
Today’s project is no constellation prize, but an exploration in pattern-finding. Find your own constellations in the Star Map Sheet (attached too). Print it out, or use the line drawing feature on any digital device!
The Star Map Sheet is a small zoomed-in section of a star map created by NASA, but with the colors inverted for easy printing and drawing on top of. Be sure to check out the full image at svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3895
Graphics courtesy of NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio. Constellation figures based on those developed for the IAU by Alan MacRobert of Sky and Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott and Rick Fienberg).
Our interstellar travels will require some unique outfits, so let's start by designing our perfect space suit! Whether it's on the dusty Martian surface or bracing against the weather in Jupiter's Great Red Spot, the key is to design for YOUR space adventure!
Using watercolors is a sure fun way to paint waves with. Change it up by experimenting with different colors and sizes of your wave! It is hard not to be inspired by Katsushika Hokusai's, "Under the Wave off Kanagawa" when you create art about the ocean!
Discover how art can help Silicon Valley residents engage creatively and with one another during Shelter in Place. Join the Education team at San José Museum of Art for a series of related art activities shared in this video, all of which can be done with items found around your house! Visit sjmusart.org/OnlineEducation and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
It's Ocean Week! Start the voyage by making a boat. Whether you make your boat using the same techniques as we did, or if you try new materials and methods, we would love to SEA your creations. This boat making method is a version of a sampan origami boat that floats and can be made with just paper.
Happy Earth Day! Experiment with new and sustainable materials by using natural pigments to create your artwork! Some garden/edible pigments: berries, beets, basil leaves, plums, and more. They add a lovely scent to your artwork too!
*Reminder: Stay at home to complete the project! You can always use objects from inside your house!*
One way to use materials is to transfer their textures into a work of art. Gather some materials from your back yard or home and place them under your page to create an image using their unique patterns.
*Reminder: Stay at home to complete the project! You can always use objects from inside your house!*
We're transforming our favorite animals into geometric forms with a repeated shape drawing! When you complete your drawing, add color by using the techniques discussed in last week's videos!
We're recreating artwork with household objects today! This helps us focus on the shapes featured in your favorite artworks and practice composing a layout.
Check out our permanent collection if you're in need of some inspiration!
Artworks featured from SJMA Permanent Collection:
Peter Loftus, Cowell Ranch #6, 1978.
Paul Jenkins, Phenomena of the Beholder, 1966.
The SJMA Education team has been exploring materiality this week, looking at the many ways we can create art! We were inspired by Andy Goldsworthy's Burnt Patch and his ephemeral art practice. Spend some time outside and get creative with what's around you!
Reminder: Stay at home to complete this project! If you can't gather natural materials, try using objects inside your home!
Learn the difference between positive and negative space in art and the relationship between the two in this engaging for all ages Art+Science 'Sowing Creativity' video tutorial. All you need is a piece of paper and some colored pencils or crayons!
Artist Sonya Rapoport used her own symbols and found data to create a secret language. Learn how to collage a daily calendar inspired by Rapoport's work. We'll set it up, show you how, and you can make it your own by tracking your emotions throughout the month—creating your own secret.
#SJMAEd | #ArtAtHome
What object did you select? Let us know! Please share your artwork with us by emailing education@sjmusart.org. We will highlight the community’s work weekly on our Facebook Education Page.
Build on your drawing and color knowledge by doing a study with us! Explore a pocket-sized object by drawing it from different sides and with different color combinations. Color Project 4 of 4.
#SJMAEd | #ArtAtHome
What object did you select? Let us know! Please share your artwork with us by emailing education@sjmusart.org. We will highlight the community’s work weekly on our Facebook Education Page.
We love giving and receiving compliments on our complementary colors project! Use a photo you would love to recreate with the challenge of using just two (complementary) colors. Feel free to break out to different mediums to create your vision. Color Project 3 of 4.
What color are you feeling today? Choose one color and make a monochromatic collage with us today! If you're feeling extra colorful, create a matching monochromatic outfit. Color Project 2 of 4.
This paint-free activity has you hunting around your home to fill in the colors with your own everyday objects! It's a great way to see all the different colors that make up your home. Color Project 1 of 4.
#SJMAEd | #ArtAtHome
Appropriate for all grades: This project is adaptable to include non-art materials you may have around your house!
Let’s Look at Art docent Susan McGowan shows you how to compose beautiful poems about any artwork in no time!
Watch the video if you want to learn more about this exciting writing activity. It’s perfect for 2nd–8th graders, but everyone is encouraged to try! Click HERE for the writing prompts which you can print out or re-create.
Our last drawing prompt involves a new way of mark-making! Pointillism and cross-hatching are great ways to explore shadows and highlights on objects, paintings, and photos. We used this untitled glass sculpture by Robert Fritz from our permanent collection because of the deep shadows and bleft highlights! Try this technique from another artwork from our collection or snap a black and white photo of something at home! Sketchbook Project 4 of 4.
Use objects from around your house (or even family members and pets) to do some speedy drawings! Try to draw your subject in limited amounts of time and see the many variations that result. Sketchbook Project 3 of 4.
Challenge yourself by drawing without lifting your pencil! With Single Line Drawings, you can let your imagination run free or use your favorite subject to create art that focuses on line and form. Sketchbook Project 2 of 4.
