PORTFOLIO PREP - EXPRESSIONISM
NAME:_____________________________
LESSON FOCUS:
This lesson focuses on creating a work of art in the Expressionist style.
VOCABULARY:
Expressionism: Any style of art in which the artist tries to communicate strong personal and
emotional feelings to the viewer. Written with a capital “E”, it refers to a definite style of art,
begun in Germany early in the twentieth century.
Expressive qualities: The way the drawing effectively communicates an idea, feeling, or mood
to a viewer.
Representational: Any artistic style in which objects or figures are easily identified.
PROCEDURE:
 Look at several examples of Expressionist works.
 Choose a representational subject matter and do several sketches.
 Choose a medium that will best express the mood you are trying to portray.
 Charcoal or ink will work well for dark, moody pieces.
 Color, when used right, can add to your piece. Reds/oranges will easily express rage or
anger while blues/violets can express sadness or depression, choose carefully.
 Choose marks that will enhance the mood and work well with the medium.
MATERIALS:
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Sketchbook
16” x 20” paper or board
Open medium
RELATED ARTISTS: Kathe Kollwitz, Amedeo Modigliani, Edvard Munch, Karl
Schmidt-Rottluf
Student work: Rachel Davis
Karl Schmidt-Rottluf, Self-Portrait
Amedeo Modigliani, Portrait of Blaise Cendras
Edvard Munch, Anxiety
Kathe Kollwitz, Hunger