Arts Enrichment
Interurban Center for the Arts
LESSON PLAN
Portraits of Amedeo Modigliani
Bride and Groom (1915)
Amedeo Modigliani
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Amedeo Modigliani
(1884 - 1920) was an Italian painter and
sculptor who worked mainly in France.
Like many artists, his styles changed over
time. He is known for his modern style
portraits where he created mask-like faces
and elongated forms.
ABOUT THE ART: The oil on canvas, Bride
and Groom (The Newlyweds), shows the
development of Modigliani’s portraits to
characters with mask-like faces and long
bodies. The painting is currently located in
the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
This is a photo
of Amedeo
Modigliani from
the Museum of
Fine Art Artist
Biography.
Unknown date
and
photographer.
Art Style
Art Concepts
One way to look at an artwork is through its
parts called the Elements of Art: Color, Space,
Form, Line, Shape, Texture, and Value. (The
elements are used in the artwork through
Principles of Design: Balance, Contrast,
Emphasis, Movement, Pattern, and Unity.)
Modern is an artistic movement that
originated in the 19th century. In this period,
artists began creating art that interested
them and exploring dreams and symbolism.
This transformed a focus on realistic art to
experimental art, techniques and mediums.
Resources
Option 1: Shape (Geometric and/or Organic)
(Recommended for K-1st grade)
www.ibiblio.org The Public’s Library and
Digital Archive
Option 2: Line (Horizontal, Zigzag, Curves)
en.wikipedia.org The Free Encyclopedia
Option 3: Form in Sculpture
http://www.moma.org/learn/kids_families/in
dex The Museum of Modern Art
Interurban Center for the Arts
LESSON PLAN
Modigliani Style Portrait (SHAPES K – 6th grade)
Art Project
Warm-up
OVERVIEW: Self-portrait in the
Modigliani style of elongated features.
(J. Salk, Soos Creek Elementary)
PRACTICE some of shapes by sketching
before the lesson. Sketch a rectangle.
Sketch a long oval. Add a rectangle. Sketch
shapes within shapes. Try blending in
different colors in and around your
shapes. (Recommended if time allows.)
Directions
STEP BY STEP. Use pencil to sketch a long
oval or center on the top of the paper. This
is the face. Add a long rectangular shape
that represents the neck. Add shoulders
that go to the bottom of the page. Add
details to the face – nose mouth, eyes,
eyebrows, and ears. Add details like hair,
shirt styles and background.
Lesson Goals
Practice communicating observations and
ideas about artwork
COLOR. Use firm pressure with oil pastels
to color in features. Use black oil pastel to
outline. Color in background. Sign.
Learn and recognize the Element of Art: SHAPE
Use tools (pencil, color media) to create
SHAPEs in artwork to create a portrait
Assessment and Reflection
Materials
Black construction paper (6.5”x12” or 5.5”x8”
can be prepared beforehand with pencil line
across the center and vertical lines across the
middle, ¼ mark and ¾ mark to create 8
boxes.)
Pencil
Oil Pastels
Paper towels (Put over artwork while
students are coloring to help prevent too
much smearing.)
Terms
o
http://www.k12.wa.us/Arts/Standards/pubdocs/Visu
alArtsStandards.PDF
Geometric Shapes: based on math principles
such as squares, rectangles, circles, etc.
Organic Shapes: based on shapes for in
nature
Portrait: A likeness of a person or artistic
representation including face and expression.