Preschool Art Study: Painting Sunflowers

In July, our activities focused on art with the Art Studio kit from Mother Goose Time. Preschool Art Study: Painting Sunflowers

The children were inspired to draw and paint sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh’s famous Vase with 12 Sunflowers. Flower cut out shapes came with the kit and I did put them out, but first offered plain cardstock to see if they would draw and paint their own sunflowers.

I introduced Vincent Van Gogh’s sunflower art with the poster included in the daily bag. We looked at a picture of him online too, so they knew what he looked like and that we were talking about a real person. I explained that he lived a long, long time ago but we still like his art.

Materials provided:

crayons
twig pencils
paint: green, yellow, brown
Sunflower seeds
trays for painting on, defining work space
Mirrors
Real sunflowers, various sizes & colors (from our garden)
flower shape cut outs
glue
magnifying glasses

I wanted this to be more than a craft or art time. I was hoping my group could appreciate the beauty of the sunflowers, the colors and explore the seeds and petals, and check them out up close.

We talked about the colors and shapes of the sunflowers.

I encouraged the older ones to draw the sunflowers first and then paint.

The sunflower seeds were put out in a dish to use if they desired. I saw one child play with them in his hand, feeling them and checking them out. One of the younger ones, 2 years old, sprinkled them on his page with a mixture of glue and paint. Others were just pleased to paint a sunflower and move on.