Van Gogh Inspired Landscape Collage

 

Description: This lesson integrated visual art with a focus on the life and work of Vincent van Gogh. We began by learning about Van Gogh’s background, including his early art, unique painting style, major influences, and the challenges he faced during his life, like only selling one painting while he was alive. We watched a short, engaging video about his life and artwork, and students took notes on key facts they found interesting or surprising. We paid special attention to Starry Night, discussing its swirling sky, bold colors, and emotional expression.

For our art project, students created their own interpretations of Starry Night. We began by covering large sheets of construction paper (18" x 24") with torn pieces of colorful tissue paper to form a vibrant background. After layering and gluing down the tissue, we sealed the design with Modge Podge. Once dry, students designed their own landscape silhouettes on black construction paper—these could be cityscapes, nature scenes, or anything meaningful to them.

Extension Activity: To extend the learning from our Starry Night art project, students were invited to write a creative story or descriptive paragraph inspired by their artwork. They imagined the scene they created—whether a beach, city, forest, or mountain—coming to life under a swirling, starry sky. Students were encouraged to include sensory details (what they might hear, see, feel, or smell) and write from any point of view: a person, an animal, or even the stars themselves.