Who is she and why is she smiling? Delve into this art question as students paint their interpretation of the Mona Lisa.
1.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is one of the most well know paintings in the world. It has also been the source of many interpretations as to who is in the portrait and what the mysterious smile on her face represents. The painting has been stolen and recovered, admired and debated. Encourage a discussion with the class. What are their interpretations of this art icon? Think of serious or whimsical; classical or modern responses. Be creative.
2.
Ask each student to come up with their own reason for the famous smile. What happened before the portrait? Where was she headed after it was complete?
3.
Use a colored pencil to sketch the Mona Lisa on a piece of construction paper. Add props in her hands and add details in the background to help illustrate why the mysterious smile is there.
4.
Paint the portrait with Crayola® Washable Kid’s Paints. Use a variety of techniques to create the masterpiece. Vary the painted lines width by pressing down harder during the middle of a brush stroke to create a "thick and thin" effect. Try a hard-edge style of painting by using a flat watercolor brush loaded with paint to create even strokes and to build up an even bead (thick edge) around the color. To keep colors from blending, allow an area to dry before applying wet paint to adjacent areas.
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