Artists often paint expressively. This means that rather than representing something they see “realistically” they paint the images as they feel and experience them. Think of times when you were outdoors on cold winter days and the sunlight reflected from newly fallen snow. What colors did you see? Do you remember how the shadows cast on the snow were not white, but grays, blues, lavenders?

An important part of impressionist painting technique is how artists use of many colors to paint a single object. Our eyes mix together these colors and our perception seems richer.

Let’s create our own landscape painting using some of the impressionist techniques with color. Select a scene that incorporates at least three of the following: Trees, sky and a building. Now using a rainbow selection of colors (paint, colored pencils or cray-pas) create your own expressive painting. No Rules apply!

Paintings can tell tales. Look closely at the painting of View of the Almshouse and write a story about the woman with the fancy hat. Be sure to include details about where she has been, where she was going and what her life was like. Try to include details from the painting that help us understand life at the Almshouse during the late 1800s.

Collect together at least five objects that tell something about your favorite hobby. Arrange them into a pleasing “picture” or still life. Then take a photograph of the objects, develop it and give it to a classmate or family member who does not know you well. Ask them to write a story about the person who created this still life arrangement. What will they learn about you?

You are the first news reporter on the scene of a fire that is burning out of control at the Walt Whitman Bridge that connects New Jersey and Philadelphia. Hundreds of cars are backed up waiting and people are lined-up by the sides of the highway watching the spectacular flames soar in the night sky.

Your job is to write an account for the newspaper and take photographs for the article. Your article can be no longer than one page and must include a short, but powerful headline.

OOOPs-no camera! Now you must sketch a picture of the fire to accompany your lead story. Using only a pencil and paper, please draw exactly what you see!