Vibrant Van Gogh

Overview

This 1-hour creative art session invites Year 5 pupils to explore the iconic self-portraits of Vincent van Gogh through watercolour painting on A5 card. Pupils will develop their understanding of expressive portraiture, texture techniques, and colour mixing, linking directly with the National Curriculum for England’s Art and Design objectives.

National Curriculum Links

• KS2 Art and Design:
  • To create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas.
  • To improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing and painting with a range of materials.
  • To learn about great artists, architects and designers in history.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will:

• Identify key features of Van Gogh’s self-portraits, noting his use of colour, texture, and emotional expression.
• Experiment with watercolour techniques such as layering, wet-on-wet, and dry brush to capture the essence of Van Gogh’s style.
• Produce a small-scale expressive self-portrait inspired by Van Gogh, focusing on colour and brushstroke techniques.
• Reflect verbally or in writing on their creative choices and how Van Gogh’s techniques influenced their work.

Resources

• A5 watercolour card (1 per pupil)
• Watercolour paint sets and brushes (variety of sizes)
• Pencils and fine black pens
• Printouts of selected Van Gogh self-portraits (e.g., 1887 and 1889)
• Water pots, paper towels
• Mirrors (optional, for pupils to observe their faces)

Lesson Structure

1. Engage & Explore (10 minutes)

• Visual Stimulus: Show pupils 2-3 images of Van Gogh’s self-portraits projected or printed (focus on those with vivid brushwork and colour).
• Discussion: Prompt with questions:
  • What do you notice about the colours Van Gogh uses?
  • How do the brushstrokes make the portrait feel?
  • What emotions do you think the paintings express?
• Mini Demonstration: Briefly demonstrate how to apply watercolour techniques that mimic Van Gogh’s paint texture: wet-on-wet for blending colours and dry brush for textured marks.

2. Create (35 minutes)

• Self-Portrait Planning: Pupils make quick pencil sketches on scrap paper, experimenting with exaggerated colour to express emotions (using mirrors if available).
• Watercolour Painting: Pupils transfer their sketches to A5 watercolour card and paint their portraits using watercolour techniques inspired by Van Gogh. Encourage layering and bold brushstrokes.
• Teachers circulate to encourage individual experimentation and support with techniques.

3. Reflect & Evaluate (10 minutes)

• Pair pupils to discuss the colours and brushwork choices they made and how these relate to Van Gogh’s style and emotional tone.
• Select 4-5 pupils to share their work and thoughts with the class.
• Optionally, pupils annotate their portrait backs with one sentence describing their artistic decisions.

Assessment & Differentiation

• Formative Assessment: Teacher notes on pupil engagement, ability to use watercolour techniques, and understanding of Van Gogh’s portrait style during activities and discussion.
• Differentiation:
  • Support with sketching and colour mixing for pupils needing additional help.
  • Extension challenge for more able pupils: include expressive brushwork inspired by Van Gogh’s impasto effect by layering paint thicker or using dry brush technique meticulously.

Cross-Curricular Links

• English: Descriptive vocabulary linked to emotions and colours during discussions.
• History: Contextual understanding of Van Gogh’s life and times through brief storytelling.

This lesson plan is designed to be vibrant, immersive, and to deepen pupils’ artistic skills and appreciation in line with the National Curriculum’s requirements for KS2 Art and Design, making Van Gogh’s enduring legacy both accessible and inspiring.