Observe and Combine Compositions

General Information
Grade 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade Class Length of Lesson Approximately - 5 - 6 (40 minute sessions)
Lesson Title Observe and Combine Compositions
Unit Title Creative Surroundings: Eve Drewelowe
Unit Compelling Question

What are our surroundings?
Where are our surroundings?
Who surrounds us?
Why do surroundings matter?
When do surroundings change?
How do our surroundings impact how we interact and interpret the world?

Historical Context:

WHO: Eve Drewelowe

WHEN: 1899-1988

WHAT: American Painter

FAMOUS FOR: Wide range of bold and vibrant portraits, landscapes, and abstracts.

IN HER OWN WORDS:
"I was a regular farm girl who loved to climb my favorite trees. My mother loved children and much of her thinking revolved on our baby generations, I who declared 'I wouldn't know what to do with a child' was regarded as a monster.'"

ARTIST'S HISTORY:
Drewelowe was born in New Hampton, Iowa on a working farm. She grew up as the eighth of twelve children and spent her early years exploring nature and helping with farm duties. She was always interested in art but was not permitted to take art classes until she received a scholarship to attend the University of Iowa. In 1923, she received her first degree, a BA in graphic and plastic arts. Drewelowe then continued graduate studies in 1924 and was the first graduate to earn UIowa's master of arts degree and the first in the nation as well. She spent most of her adult life in Boulder, Colorado, traveled extensively, and kept detailed sketchbooks to inspire her paintings.

IOWA CONNECTIONS:
Iowa-born and raised, Drewelowe's connections to the state remained strong after she earned her master's of arts degree. Upon her death in 1988 she gave all her papers and artwork to the School of Art and Art History at UIowa where they remain today. In honor of her legacy and Iowan roots, a gallery in the Visual Arts Building at the School of Art and Art History at UIowa permanently bears her name.

ARTIST'S WORK:
Inspired by the landscapes of the Rocky Mountains, the people in her life and her travels, Drewelowe's bright and bold works have a distinctive style. Bold line work as well as a blend of realism and abstraction show a lifetime of experimentation that created over 1000 artworks. She used her paintings as expressions of creativity and recordings of her surroundings.

ARTIST'S WORLD:
Throughout Drewelowe's life, women artists were not taken very seriously. Self-described as 'feisty,' she fiercely pursued her art making despite societal expectations of motherhood and typical marriage. Though she displayed many of her artworks during her lifetime, only more recently has her career and life been tied to feminist ideology.

Lesson Supporting Question
Lesson Overview

Students will learn about the life and influence of artist Eve Drewelowe, who was the first woman and student to receive a master's of art degree, and her legacy in Iowa. Using Drewelowe’s  artwork, Travel sketchbook, vol. 8: United States, 1929 and Spinning on skates, 1948  as inspiration students will sketch an activity that occurs in their daily life from several angles. Then students will use the sketched images to inform a final artwork using a 2D medium of choice. Finally, students will write an artist statement explaining the process and medium(s) of choice.

Primary Sources Used
Artwork 2022.004.001
Artwork 2022.004.002
Resources Needed

 Other Notable Artworks:   A page of my past, 1933 The gold gown, 1940 Daybreak, 1978 Maverick, 1984 Online Resources (Used at Instructor's Discretion) ARTICLE: Eve Drewelowe BOOK: Eve Drewelowe (1988), Tomasini, Wallace, Preface VIDEO: How to Sketch People From Life VIDEO: This Library Has 46,681 SKETCHBOOKS | [MASHABLE ORIGINALS] Materials:  Access to internet  Print/Copy/On Screen images of Travel sketchbook, vol. 8: United States, 1929 and Spinning on skates, 1948 Sketchbook  Drawing materials Various 2D art materials to expand student choice  


Standard
Lesson Target

Students will analyze and discuss the artwork and life of artist Eve Drewelowe and her connections to the state of Iowa.;Students will sketch an activity that occurs in their daily life from several angles to inform a final artwork using a 2D medium of choice.;Students will write an artist statement explaining the process and final artwork.

Lesson Themes Women's Experience, Sports & Recreation, Visual Arts
Lesson Procedure
StepProcedureResources
Pre-Learning Looking Show artworks Travel sketchbook, vol. 8: United States, 1929 and Spinning on skates, 1948. Using the compelling questions as a guide, discuss the final artwork and the sketchbook work.Print/Copy of Travel sketchbook, vol. 8: United States, 1929 and Spinning on skates, 1948.
Introduction of Eve Drewelowe & Iowa ConnectionsIntroduce the work and life of Eve Drewelowe. Discuss and examine how Travel sketchbook, vol. 8: United States, 1929 is related to the later artwork of Spinning on skates, 1948.Historical Context and other resources desired (videos, articles).
Sketching Everyday ActivitiesChoose an everyday activity to sketch from several angles.Sketchbook and drawing materials.
Create Artwork Inspired by Everyday ActivityBased on sketchbook drawings, create an artwork using 2D materials of choice.Sketchbook drawings and 2D materials.
Artist Statement & ReflectionReflect on the process of the sketches and final artwork.Writing device.
Assessment
Formative Assessment
(How will you use the formative assessments to monitor and inform instruction?)

Discussion and sketches of everyday activities.

Summative Assessment
(How does the lesson connect to planned summative assessment(s)?)

Completed 2D artworks and artist statement.

Author Information
Author Megan Dehner Created Last Edited
Reviewer: Teaching Iowa History Team
Lesson Plan Development Notes: Summer Fellowship 2022