Lessons:
I-3 Aaron Douglas
Harriet Tubman
Overview
- Discuss Harriet Tubman by Aaron Douglas.
- Learn about figures in motion and Harlem Renaissance.
- Create a figure in motion painted collage.
Reflection
- Who lives in the house that you created?
- What colors and objects did you add to describe mood of the house?
- What is the title of your artwork?
Harriet Tubman by Aaron Douglas, 1931, oil on canvas, 54 x 72 in. (137.1 x 182.8 cm.), © Aaron Douglas, image credit: Bennett College for Women Collection, Greensboro, NC
Discussion Presentation
Discussion Questions
What can you tell about the people in the painting? People are contoured shadows or silhouettes. On
the left are slaves carrying heavy burdens. On the right are Black people free to live their own lives. Harriet Tubman, in the middle, breaking chains.
Where is the light? How does it add to the story?
Douglas used overlapping color and concentric circles to make it look like light is glowing right on the canvas, acting as a highlight on the central figure, Harriet Tubman.
Why does Harriet Tubman’s silhouette tell you she is a leader?
Tubman stands on a hill and at an angle with raised hands. Curves and angles imply movement, a snapshot of motion. When in your life have you raised your arms in celebration?
Biography
- Aaron Douglas (AIR•un DUG•lus) was an American artist from Kansas.
- He was a leader in New York City’s Harlem Renaissance, a time period of intense creativity for Black artists, writers and musicians.
- He painted Black people as strong heroes.
Project
Materials
- sketch paper
- 6×9 assorted paper
- 9×12 white paper
- drawing pencil
- scissors
- white glue
- color wheel
- tempera paints: yellow, red, magenta, blue
- 1/2 in. tempera brush
- water container
- paper towels
- How to Draw Figures in Motion handout
Warm Up & Brainstorm
- 3-minute sketch: use How to Draw Figures in Motion handout to practice drawing contour figure.
- Warm up sketch: emphasize drawing a contour that has thickness, like arms and legs.
Project Directions
Figure Silhouette Collage
1. Create figure in motion.
Draw a stick figure on 6×9 assorted paper. Draw a contour around arms, body, and legs of the figure.
2. Create figure cutout.
Cut out contour figure and glue onto 9×12 white paper.
3. Analogous color palette.
Mix the analogous color with the two primary colors on the paint palette.
4. Concentric background.
Paint concentric circles, start with lightest color for the center and darkest color for the outer circle.
5. Give artwork a title.
Pre-Lesson Preparation
- Tip: if you can, pull white from 6×9 assorted paper, but if needed, paint white very thinly with a primary color to allow it to dry before the silhouette.
Day of Lesson Setup
- Note: color paper for silhouette figure determines the 2-color paint palette.
- Demo mixing primary colors to create the analogous color.
- Tip: mixing colors, use more of the light color and a tiny dab of the dark color.
red + blue = purple