Reynolda+House

=Art and the Natural Environment =

Introduction:
1. Why do you think people paint landscapes or pictures of nature? 2. What scene would you choose to paint? What might you include?

1. What do you see?
Is the scene natural or manmade? Is it a panorama or a close-up view? Do you see people or animals? What do they look like? What are they doing? What can you tell about the geology and geography you see? Can you guess the setting? What objects are included? Describe them. Does the picture look exactly like real life? What lines, shapes, colors, and textures are used?

2. What is the painting about?
Imagine you are at the scene of this artwork. How do you feel being there? What sounds do you hear around you? What could you smell if you were there? What could you taste if you were there? Can you identify examples of interdependency? Does it remind you of any poems or songs or other artwork? Why do you think the author painted it? What might the artist want you to think about when you look at the painting? What is the "story" behind this artwork? What is the relationship between people and their environment? Has it changed?

3. How is everything arranged?
What is the very first thing that catches your eye? How are the elements connected? How do things fit together? Does anything repeat? What is the most important color, shape or object? How do you know? Do some things appear to be close and others far away? How does the artist accomplish this?

4. How would you evaluate this artwork?
What was your first impression of the painting? What do you like the most about it? What would you change if you were the artist? Could the artist express the same ideas or feelings in a piece of sculpture or a simple black and white drawing? Does it show what "nature" is really like to someone who has always lived in a city?

(Adapted from http://www.glenbow.org/mavericks/teacher/english/thm_post/projpln1.html)