Landscapes

Lesson Four For all levels

This lesson attempts to answer the question: ‘How have New Zealand artists seen and painted this land since the arrival of the European settlers?’

Landscapes selected for this visit can focus on:

  • The historical development of landscape styles.
  • The purpose of landscape painting, as a window into our past or specifically on Canterbury as a place.
  • The lesson ranges across works that show a variety of stylistic approaches that are influenced by the times in which they were painted.

Tour and workshop 2 hours

Each lesson will include discussion of:

  • The location.
  • When the painting was made and how this has influenced the way it was painted.
  • What the artist has chosen to include or leave out.
  • Technique (Compositional choices, foreground/background/overlapping,
    use of colour to create space/depth, visible brushstroke).
  • Media.

The main focus of the questions is dependent on the learning outcome signalled for the visit.

Activity 1 1/2 hour

  • A foreground, middle ground, background exercise using one of the works studied in the Gallery
  • An analysis of the composition of one of the works, then a mixed media version
  • A landscape in the style of a selected Canterbury artist, analytical drawing through to finished work

Curriculum Links

  • Visual Arts
    • Practical knowledge, developing ideas, communicating ideas and understanding art in context
  • English
    • Oral language: Listening and speaking
    • Visual language: Viewing and presenting
  • Social Studies
    • Time, continuity and change
    • Culture and heritage
    • Place and environment

This topic can be refocused to meet the requirement of NCEA Level 1 and Bursary Art History Option 12: Topic 1: Approaches to Landscape/Regionalism