Unit 2: Literature Settings: Weather or Not Claude Monet, Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies (1899) John Constable, Seascape Study with Rain Cloud (1827) Thomas Hart Benton, July Hay (1943) Wassily Kandinsky, Cemetery and Vicarage in Kochel (1909)

Landscapes Paintings or drawings that depict (show) an outdoor scene, mostly without people, buildings, or other elements are called landscapes. Many people say landscapes make them feel calm, relaxed or peaceful.

If paintings that are mostly just about the outdoors are called landscapes… What would you call these paintings? Explain why?

Like a story, a painting may have a main idea. Sometimes the title helps tell the main idea. What title would you give this painting? Explain why you chose that title.

Here is another artist’s painting. What title would you choose for this painting? Why do you think your title is a good one for this artwork?

What do you notice in each about: Let’s compare and contrast these two paintings. What do you notice in each about: Color Shape Texture Space Light Line

Have you ever seen a sky that looked like this? What time of day could it be when the sky looks like this? What are the clues that tell the time of day? What could the weather be like? How can you tell? Does the season seem to be winter, summer, spring or fall? Why do think that? What type of weather would we call this in Arizona?

What season is it in this painting? Can you describe what the artist has done in this painting to get the viewer to pay attention? Why do you think the artist chose to paint the sky this color?

How do you feel when you look at these paintings? People often like to write about their feelings. How would you begin writing a poem or a paragraph describing your feelings about these paintings? How would you describe one of these paintings if you wanted to use it as a setting for a story?

If you were composing a narrative using either of these images as a setting, how could you begin? Which of the paintings would you choose as a setting? What other elements could you add to the painting to bring other characters or events to your story? (For example, a kite)

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ART AND THE ARTISTS Title: “Seascape Study with Rain Cloud” Artist: John Constable, Date: 1827 Title: “Cemetery and Vicarage in Kochel” Artist: Wassily Kandinsky Date: 1909 Title: “Claude Monet, Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies” Artist: Claude Monet Date: 1899 Title: “July Hay (1943)” Artist: Thomas Hart Benton Date: 1943

CREATE YOUR OWN THUNDERSTORM