Project: Peaceable Kingdom
Artist: Edward Hicks
Materials:
- White Construction Paper – pre-cut to 12×12, with 1-inch border pre-drawn
- 1 inch border template
- Pencils
- Black Markers
- Oil Pastel Crayons
- Bowls to hold Crayons
Set Up – prior to class:
- The paper will be pre-cut for you. PRIOR TO YOUR CLASS – Please draw a 1-inch border/frame on each student’s paper with the provided template. Outline this with a black marker – see project example.
- Each student will receive the following: One piece of white construction paper, pre-cut to 12×12, with a 1-inch border/frame drawn on it; a pencil, black permanent marker.
- Each table will receive a bowl of oil-pastel crayons of various colors.
Class Time:
- Discuss definition of SHAPE and the difference between organic and geometric shapes.
- Discuss FOLK ART
- Folk Art is produced by everyday people that reflects their lives, tradition or culture.
- These artists are not professionally trained. Instead, they are self-taught and use styles and materials from where they live.
- They are often described as “simple.”
- Discuss EDWARD HICKS (1780-1849), considered by many as one of America’s leading Folk Artists.
- By the age of 40, Hicks began a series of paintings called “The Peaceable Kingdom” that focused on peace in nature and among humans
- Wild animals sitting next to farm animals (lions and lambs; bears and cows)
- Small children surrounded by wild animals – creating a sense of community
- Colonists and Native Americans gathering in the background
- Hicks produced more than 60 versions of this painting – and painted it over and over throughout his lifetime
- All the of “Peaceable Kingdom” paintings vary in some way – oftentimes by just a few minor details
- Note how many of the shapes and forms in the paintings appear organic, flowing and soft – this is also a way for an artist to demonstrate peace and tranquility.
Edward Hicks (American, 1780 – 1849 ), Peaceable Kingdom, c. 1834, oil on canvas, Gift of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch
- Instruct the class to create their own version Peaceable Kingdom, by picking out two animals that may not always live in peace in the “real world” – for example – a lion and a bunny; a tiger and a puppy, etc.
- Have the kids draw their animals within the framed area of their papers. Instruct the kids to make their animals large, and then fill in the leftover spaces with trees, leaves, grass, the sky, etc.
- Once drawn, students should use the black markers to trace their pencil lines. Once complete, have the kids color their pictures using the oil pastel crayons.
- Instruct the kids to design and color a border for their drawings – see examples.
