Rothko

MARK ROTHKO (1903-1970)

Untitled, Oil on Canvas
Pronounced: Roth-ko
Art Period: Modern, Abstract Expressionism
Activity: Pastel
Materials: watercolor paper, oil pastels, baby (or vegetable) oil, cotton balls or those spongy brushes, paper cups for the oil

Meet the artist: Rothko was born in Latvia, but moved to America with his family when he was 10. Considered one of America's most important artists, he is best known for the large color field paintings he did in his later career (which are part of a modern art movement called Abstract Expressionism). Rothko desired to express human emotions in his paintings, and used color as his primary tool. He layered "fields" (blocks) of color onto his canvases, which were very large, blurring the edges and creating division between the colors. The colors in some paintings vibrate against each other, creating tension; in others, the colors harmonize as the fields blend together.

Modern art can be difficult to understand for children (and adults). Rothko is a great introduction to modern abstraction as his goal is to simply have his viewers stand closely in front of his paintings and feel "enveloped within" - simply experiencing the effect of color, connecting their visual experience to their emotional experience. In the moment that connection is made, the art is understood.

Further information: National Gallery of Art article here (it's great - a short timeline with pictures); and the website of the Rothko Chapel - worth looking up to get a sense of how big Rothko's paintings are.

Discussion: Using the first image from the slideshow (link to slideshow here), ask the kids to try to connect one emotion with the painting they see (i.e., joy, excitement, peace, etc.), and share with the class. Go through all the slides doing the same. Then, going back to the first slide, explain Rothko's goal: "I'm interested in expressing basic human emotions" (quote from Rothko) and ask them how they think he tried to do that? Was he successful? Other questions to ask: can color effect how you feel, or is it just a tool to express how you feel? Also: notice that these paintings don't use many of the traditional elements of art - shape, line, or form. They rely wholly on color.

Rothko also provides a great opportunity to review the color wheel. You could ask the kids to point out in the paintings examples of opposite colors (red/green; blue/orange), or warm/cool colors.

Activity: Pass out the pastels and the paper. Have the kids unwrap the ones they'd like to use so they can use the sides of the pastels to create "fields" of color on their paper - starting with 3 different large colors. Encourage them to think deliberately about their color choices. After they've covered their papers (leaving a little border around the edges), have them use the sponge brush/cotton ball to cover their paper in oil (this will make the paper translucent, and also soften the pastels and make the texture more like paint). Then have them go back over the layers with more pastels, making the colors thicker and richer.

(*NOTE: THIS ACTIVITY COULD GO REALLY FAST FOR SOME KIDS SO ENCOURAGE LOTS OF THOUGHTFUL LAYERING. Otherwise - it's good for a day when you have a little less time!)

Student Work: