March - The Art of Grant Wood - Inspiring our Hanawalt Artists

Each grade has been taking a closer look at the art of Grant Wood, including American Gothic. What fun we have had discovering Grant Wood’s clever use of pattern repeating shapes and lines, including some that are very well hidden. Using magnifying glasses we actually saw Grant Wood’s fingerprint in the paint! It seems that the more we study and analyze this work of art, the more we see.


Kindergarten, First and Second Grade Artists are learning about background, middle-ground, and foreground, as they begin to create depth in their drawings and paintings. Each student created their own scene building with shapes they know, adding crayon lines, and then watercolor paint. The completed works of are delightful, and we hope you have an opportunity to see them in the arts hallway.


Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade Artists are learning about parodies and creating their own parody based on American Gothic. Each artist is challenged to think in clever and creative ways as they change some existing elements, make some similar to the original, and keep some the same. Our sketches become contour drawings with marking pen then colored pencil is added.


I hope you are able to stop by the Art Center to see American Gothic and the other Regionalism works of art. The exhibit is not one to miss. There is no admission cost. And…don’t forget to look for the fingerprint along the right side of the farmer’s nose!