Perspective painting: using Van Gogh's bedroom at Arles as a model, Joni Gray's fourth graders learn about perspective - and more

This group of budding fourth-grade artists in Baldwinsville, New York began their study of Van Gogh by investigating his art and life on the computer. They practiced painting still lifes then learned techniques for drawing in perspective creating colorful images of their own bedrooms. Their teacher shared relevant literature such as The Starry Night by Neil Waldman and The Van Gogh Cafe by Cynthia Rylant Students extended their learining through working on time lines, biographical reports and maps showing the places where Van Gogh lived. Finally the students set up their own art gallery to a recorded guided tour on headphones.

Step 1: Use a pencil to draw a rectangle in the very center of the page.

Step 2: Draw diagonal lines from corner to corner, intersecting in the middle.

Step 3: Erase the shape of the X inside the center rectangle.

Step 4: Using these guides as the walls, floor, and ceiling, draw and paint the rest of the room.