Grandma Moses

"Grandma Moses" was born Anna Mary Robertson Moses on September 7, 1860. She was considered an American folk artist and one of America's best-known primitive painters (artists who did not receive a formal art education).



She is a great example of a life long learner. She began a career in the arts at an advanced age. She became a painter in her seventies when embroidery became too difficult because of arthritis.

Grandma Moses painted mostly scenes of rural life. Some of her many paintings were used on the covers of greeting cards. I tried to find several paintings that would show the different seasons of the year.

"Grandma Moses" lived to be over 100 years old and died on December 13, 1961. She painted over 1600 paintings in a little over two decades.

Robert Indiana

For our September artist, I have chosen Robert Indiana. He was a painter, sculptor, and graphic design artist.
He was born Robert Clark in New Castle, Indiana on September 13th, 1928. He loved everyday symbols along roadside America that he saw as a child growing up in Indianapolis. Examples like “Route 66”, “EAT” at roadside diners, gas station signs, etc. inspired him in his later art work.

He created geometric art like the examples you see here. Robert Clark adopted the name of his native state and became known as Robert Indiana. His art work gave new meaning to familiar everyday words such as eat, love, and hope.

Since we study Pop art in 5th grade, he is a pop artist worth investigating. Pop art was and is an art movement that emerged in the 1950s. Pop art was and is characterized by themes and techniques drawn from popular mass culture, such as advertising, comic books, everyday objects, and popular people.

Henry Moore

I have chosen Henry Moore as our artist for July. Here he is pictured with his daughter.

Henry Spencer Moore was born on July 30th, 1898 in Castleford, Yorkshire, England. He is considered by many to be England’s greatest sculptor. He is known for his large organic abstraction sculptures. These sculptures were often in bronze and can be found around the world as public works.

He came from a large family and both parents were strong and supportive. He had a happy childhood but his parents didn’t want him to be a sculptor. So he became a teacher. But after WW1 he decided to go back to school and investigate art. I am glad he did.

Below are some of his sculptures. Do you agree that they are abstracted and modern art?

He did many sculptures of families. Here is one he worked on from 1945 to 1949.


You can find Nuclear Energy (1967) at the University of Chicago.


I like Helmet Head No. 2 (1950). I think it would make a great cartoon character or someone in an animated film.


Here are two pictures of Moore working on some his sculptures. These give you a better idea of the size of his works.

Henry Moore once said, “The observation of nature is a crucial part of an artist’s life.” Do you agree or disagree?

Click on: the case of the mysterious object to investgate a sculpture from beginning to completion.

Thomas Sully

This painting is called “Torn Hat.” It was painted in 1820 and you can find it at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. I don’t know why I like it so much, but it just makes me feel good when I look at it. It makes me think of summer vacation as I look at this young boy enjoying life in his favorite old hat.

It was painted by Thomas Sully, the artist I have chosen for June 2010. He was a well known portrait painter. He was born in England on June 19, 1783. His family moved to America when he was young. His dad and mom were actors and he had eight brothers and sisters. They settled in Virginia but Sully spent most of his adult life in Philadelphia. He is considered an American artist since he spent most of his life in America.

He was a realist painter. Since we study portraits as one of our drawing units, I thought you might like to see some portraits from the 1800s in America. If you click on the National Gallery you can see 20 of his paintings of people. Several of them are famous Americans and several are of children. #2 is a painting of Andrew Jackson and #10 is one of John Quincy Adams.

Since it is summer vacation, you could get a sketch book or some paper and draw some portraits. Your family would be a great place to start. Or you could sit down in front of a mirror and do a self-portrait. You could also use paint, markers, pastels, chalk, or colored pencils (whatever you have) to add color. We don’t spend as much time on portraits in school due to our time limits.

Below is a self-portrait by Thomas Sully painted in May of 1821 when he was 37 years old. He died in Philadelphia, PA on November 5, 1872 at the age of 89.

Marisol Escobar

I picked Marisol as our May artist.

She was born in Paris to Venezuelan parents who were financially comfortable. Her birthday is May 22, 1930. She has one brother who is an economist living in Venezuela.

I like her sculptures the best. Marisol Escobar has lived in Europe, Venezuela, and the United States.



Take a look at a few of her sculptures. What do you think?



Could you take some wood scraps and paint and construct a self-portrait sculpture?



How about making your whole family?

Joan Miro

Joan Miro was born on April 20, 1893 in Montroig, Spain. He worked as a painter and a sculptor. He also liked ceramics (clay).

To Pronounce "Joan Miró": say it like this - wahn (like "Juan") meer•oh

He is most closely associated with the art style of surrealism. This type of art often showed elements of surprise or objects placed unexpectedly. He painted from his imagination and his dreams. He liked to paint his feelings.

Here are some examples of his work that I really like.



Do you think he abstracted his images?
What colors and shapes did he like best?
Why don't you try and draw or paint like Miro?

Charles Marion Russell

"We Are Friends" painted in 1888.

Charles M. Russell is the artist I have chosen to explore for the month of March. He was born March 19, 1864 in St. Louis, Missouri. He is considered a U.S. western Realist artist.



"Carson's Men" painted in 1913

Charlie went to Montana when he was 16 to be a cowboy. He was a cowboy and wrangler for several years until he retired to become a full-time artist. Charlie's love of Montana kept him there for 46 years. He even built a log studio adjacent to his home where he painted most of his western scenes.



"To The Victor Belongs The Spoils"

Since he was the first “Western” artist to actually live and work in the west, he could depict his subject matter with knowledge and experience. Charles M. Russell completed approximately 4,000 works of art during his lifetime. He made paintings and sculptures that showed life on the western frontier. He died on October 24, 1926 at his home in Great Falls, Montana.

If you are in the mood to tackle a puzzle of his work, here is his painting, "Prairie Fire."



Now click on Prairie Fire 1898 to begin the puzzle.