illustrating american scenery by james h. chapman

by Charles Lanman

      It was when Washington Irving was speaking of Charles Lanman as an author, many years ago, that the latter was designated as the "Picturesque Explorer of the United States." It was that compliment, undoubtedly, that caused the author to utilize the pencil as well as the pen, and to produce a set of one thousand works of art which have attracted the attention of the public. They are attractive as works of the pencil, and unique as illustrating the scenery of the United States and a large part of Canada and New Brunswick. He was a lover of art from his childhood, and during a sojourn of ten years as a clerk in New York he began the use of the pencil as an amateur, and his friendly intercourse with Cole, Durand, Huntington, Church, and Kensett did much to make him a landscape-painter by profession. It was at that time that he conceived the idea that an elaborate collection of sketches of American scenery ought to be produced, and appointing himself to that duty he travelled extensively into all the interesting regions of the country. His plan was to produce pictures of characteristic scenery, painted at one sitting, directly from nature. They were executed in oil, on tablets of oiled paper.
     Among the pictures of his own painting which Mr. Lanman takes pleasure in exhibiting to his friends, because of certain incidents connected with them, are the following: "Indian Cabin at St. Paul, Minn.," which was painted when the artist could only secure for his supper a young raccoon which he had killed within the limits of the great city of to-day; "The Sague-nay River in Canada," painted when the bark canoe was the only means of transportation on that river, and about which the artist was the first to publish a full description in a successful volume; "Home of a Hermit Woman," which was painted on the South Potomac, in Western Virginia, the occupant being an old woman one hundred and twelve years of age, whose nearest neighbor was twenty miles away, who had herself built the rude fence around her cabin, and who claimed that she had frequently driven bears from her door with the handle of a broom; "Going West"-this was a prairie scene in Western Minnesota, with a train of cars crossing the plain and also a herd of buffaloes pursued by Indian hunters; when painted, this domain was inhabited by Indians, while to-day it is covered with highly cultivated farms; "Home of a Mississippi Planter"--this was a large log cabin on the borders of a primeval forest, the owner of which was worth $200,000, yet lived here with a large family.

• Read more about Charles Lanman
• Charles Lanman, Trip Along the Mississippi River, 1846
• Paintings by Charles F. Lanman, 1819-1895

a versatile artist

("Luxembourg Garden, Paris." by Blenner)

      Carle J. Blenner belongs to that interesting group of American artists which we sometimes vaguely describe as "the younger me," or as vaguely again as "the rising men." A Virginian by birth, an alumnus of Yale, he has, within the space of a very few years, exhibited a capacity to be cosmopolitan in style to a degree such as only Americans, perhaps, ever can. He received his art education--or perhaps, in the case of a student so indefatigable, we should say the academic part of this education--at Paris, under Bouguereau, Schenchk, and other masters, from whom he returned with a firmly individual style

     His work displays a great deal of versatility, ranging from the most delicate forms of landscape to spirited portraiture. At the World's Fair he exhibits "Contentment," and a portrait of Senor Don Roderigo de Saavedra of the Spanish Legation, both admirable examples of his style. That Mr. Blenner will always be effective in portraiture is hinted in the force and character of his figure studies, which contain subtle draughtsmanship and wholesome phases of color. The head of an old woman reproduced in one of the illustrations to the present article is a piece of clever realism in which there is a keen reading of the human nature lying beneath the surface. "Country Life" tells the simple yet always freshly eloquent story of the farm and its unexciting routine. The elements of the picture are skillfully brought together, and the work through-out is sincere and direct. How neatly Mr. Blenner manages sentiment may be indicated by "Afternoon Tea," which belongs to the vers de societe of painting, and which makes no attempt to give to the old romance anything more than its natural charm. This is one of the stories that always are told best when they are told without flourishes--though, after all, it might be difficult to fancy a subject of which this could not be said.
     During his residence in Paris, Mr. Blenner appears to have become acquainted with many phases of French life and character. Certainly his studies of Parisian scenes and people are marked by a quite evident appreciation of something more than the shell of things. The "Luxembourg Garden," for example, strikes a truly Parisian note, and the same may be said of the glimpse into the grounds of the Musee de Cluny. Mr. Blenner enters with zest into the treatment of subjects nearer home. He has put real poetry in his "Old Fashioned Garden," one of those quaint, inartistic but delightful nooks of Connecticut, where there are stone walls for vines to grow on, and nature has a strongly distinctive cast. These nooks are so often neglected that it becomes a real pleasure to find them well treated by a discerning artist. "In the Cabbage Field" carries the eye across a stretch of cultivated country. These subjects are not fantastic; they do not bid for that dangerous adjective "ingenious." They deal with the fundamentals, and deal with them without sensationalism of any kind.

"Afternoon Tea" by Carle J. Blenner

     As an illustrator, Mr. Blenner has shown highly favoring gifts. The facility with which he eliminates unnecessary detail gives pertinence and clearness to his work. Illustrators are perhaps particular under the necessity for studying the element of proportion in the use of detail. Too many of our ambitious illustrators are missing the essentials of the art by overloading their pictures. Mr. Blenner appears to be in no danger of hampering himself by making this radical error. During the past summer he had charge of the Yale art school, and is now settled again in his New York studio in the Sherwood, where the winter days will be too brief to work up the thousand and one sketches treasured in his well-worn note-book. In his wide range of subjects, Mr. Blenner will easily avoid sameness of execution.  by Alexander Black, Quarterly Illustrator

• Floral Still Lifes by Carle J. Blenner
• Carle John Blenner, 1862 - 1952
• Portraits by Blenner here

teacher samples for a drawing class

     I've included here a small selection of my own drawings that I pin up along with magazine ads for students to work from. Students in my drawing classes are encouraged to work from photos, artworks and real life. I am not a snob about teaching students "how" to draw. If they need extra help, I give it to them. Children do not need to conform to the fanatical disciplinary measures of teachers who can not bring themselves to work from photos or other artist renderings. Working from real life is a bit more difficult for young and inexperienced artists. So, I allow students to improve their skills gradually through the use of photography and I make no apologies for it. 

A sample of a child's hands drawn from life many years ago when my children were young.

A sample of adult hands I drew from a photograph last year.

A sample of an elderly woman's portrait drawn from a photograph when I was fifteen years old.

A sample drawing of a traditional exercise used in high school drawing curriculum. I made this sample two years ago.

A sample, in color, drawn from a photograph for a high school art lesson I wrote last year.

Making Mosaics With Paper Clay, Paper Pulp & Found Objects

 (Mosaic Madonna created with paper clay and paint on wood. approximately 29" x 41")

      I've worked with multiple paper clays and pulps for years. This large "mosiac" took several years to complete as do many of my three dimensional pieces. There are approximately three hundred flowers in this artwork. The frame cost me a small fortune but I do believe that it helps make the piece. I also repainted it to match the color selections in the mosaic and this particular mosaic is permanently attached to its' frame.

close-up of the above mosaic

another close-up of the mosaic Madonna

      I've included below a lovely mosaic that I worked on with my kids when they were small. This piece was created by more traditional methods utilizing glue, grout and varnish. Many students enjoy working with mosaics because they can produce fast, professional results without much experience. It is one of the few processes that can be adapted for so many grade levels. The last two photographs are of paper mache bowl samples that include mosaic applications. I crafted these for future lessons in my art classroom.

mosaic by Grimm kids



My teacher samples of mosaic paper mache bowls.

A close-up of one of the sample paper mache bowls.

The photographs/artwork and articles found on this page are not for public use or downloading. 

Teaching art movements, neo-classicism resources

Art Movement: Neoclassicism is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw upon Western classical art and culture (usually that of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome). These movements were dominant during the mid-18th to the end of the 19th century

Date: mid-18th to late 19th century

Artists: Robert Smirke, Robert Adam, Antonio Canova, Jean-Atoine Houdon, Bertel Thorvaldsen, J.A.D. Ingres, Jacques-Louis David, and Anton Raphael Mengs

The Art Project Ideas:

• Design A Neoclassical Paper Theater (Visit the Coleccion Lucia Contreras Flores Teatros De Papel on the internet.)
• Paint Small Ceramic Tiles with Neoclassical Designs (Visit The History of Ornament: Design in the Decorative Arts page)

Enhance The Experience:

• Visit a local historical home influenced by neo-classical design.
• Send students on a "photo scavenger hunt." Students can photograph or film architectural elements in their environment that are influenced by Greek and Roman classic designs.
• Collect interesting articles about Neo-classical design for students to read.

Links To Art Lessons About Neo-Classical Design:

• A New Style Inspired by Ancient Greece and Rome
• Neoclassicism and the Enlightenment: A Curriculum for Middle and High School Teachers

My Personal Education Philosophy

      I believe primarily in the perennialist philosophy of education when instructing the young in a formal institutional environment. As a teacher, I believe that it is my obligation to pass down information collected by those who are most successful within a given area of expertise. This presumption does not necessarily mean that all of our best knowledge comes from western European studies. Every educational philosophy should also be examined and considered in the overall application of learning within a person's life span. Essentialism, romanticism and progressivism all contribute dynamic methods for imparting knowledge, but it is classical thought and subject matter knowledge that create both a stable, well informed individual and a sophisticated society at large.

         My goal as an art educator is to consider and implement two important points that are all about time and timing. How much time do I have to teach the very best information about art to children and what is the proper time in which to do it? In the field of art, there is more knowledge to be had than there is time given to teach it. Therefore, I must make critical decisions about what is best for children to learn within the few years that I have to teach them. Although much of this material is already suggested by the state GLEs, I must also consider the very large body of excellent material that is not. What will my students need to know about art that will be personally relevant to each of their individual needs, culture and future goals? Art is more than a career for a few talented individuals. Art is a language that when used properly may open up doors to creative processing in other fields of study. Art is a therapy to those who have difficulty communicating emotional issues. Art may also speak to our understanding of the universe, our own culture's wisdom and even how we view God. There is so much to learn through art as well as about art.

      Timing is critical in teaching art successfully, because so much of what children learn about art is dependent upon the development of their brain, their environment, and receptiveness to experiencing new ideas. Age appropriate lesson plans have long been a key factor in the appropriate transmission of artistic knowledge. Watching students carefully and identifying with their creative ideas all play into the introduction of particular lessons as well. Some students advance slowly and others quickly through projects. I will need to provide an ample variety of lessons for those who are advanced and ample time for those who can‘t finish within a brief allotment of time. These things I have learned by observation and discussion with other experienced art teachers.

      I will also develop curriculum based upon theories like Gardner's intelligences and Bloom's Taxonomy. These gentlemen have greatly influenced how I will interact with students.  Gardner believed all children to process information through multiple capacities such as: linguistics, visual and spatial relationships, mathematical, and musical. Because I believe this to be true as well, I will develop art lesson plans that combine multiple interests with art. This curriculum will touch on areas of "intelligence," i.e. "interests," that many children have already. For example, Gardner recently identified another member of the multiple intelligence family-- the naturalist intelligence. The naturalist is a person who has an aptitude for understanding and collecting knowledge of the natural world. This kind of child would be an example of a student predisposed to artistic studies in botany. Feeding a child's natural instinctive inclinations with artistic lesson plans will help him to develop an appetite for art. There are ample opportunities in the arts to reinforce curriculum that taps into all kinds of multiple intelligences.

     Bloom's Taxonomy is a classic theory of developing learning strategies based upon the incremental development of higher-order-thinking. This type of theory lends itself perfectly to the teaching of art. As children progresses through their work, I will advance their learning through different manipulations of the materials and also gradually teach them abstract ways of interpreting their artistic subject.

      The student's role in the classroom is to participate with enthusiasm! However, I would consider it my primary responsibility to create an artistic environment that will spark their creative interests. What I expect from children immediately is that they will be children. They may be full of giggles, or other times act moody. Sometimes they are deep into their thoughts, and yes, sometimes they can even be very disruptive. I would not expect them to be any other way and that is why it is so important for my students and myself to maintain a good amount of order and a good amount of humor during art class.

"Three Machines" by Wayne Thiebaud

"Art is not delivered like the morning paper; it has to be stolen from Mount Olympus." Wayne Theibaud

Wayne Thiebaud (born November 15, 1920) is an American painter whose most famous works are of cakes, pastries, boots, toilets, toys and lipsticks. His last name is pronounced "Tee-bo." He is associated with the Pop art movement because of his interest in objects of mass culture, although his works, executed during the fifties and sixties, slightly predate the works of the classic pop artists. Thiebaud uses heavy pigment and exaggerated colors to depict his subjects, and the well-defined shadows characteristic of advertisements are almost always included in his work.