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YAYOI KUSAMA

“The Polka Dot Princess”

  • Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

  • E. Q.: How can I use the works of famous artists to inspire my own work?

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Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

Kusama

and Nature

Yayoi Kusama has been inspired by nature since she was a young girl.

She is still inspired by nature in her works today.

Let’s look at some of her artworks to see how her art can inspire us.

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Look at how Kusama is inspired by nature. What objects from nature can we see in her artworks?

What kinds of shapes could you use to draw fish?

Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

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What kinds of shapes could you use to draw butterflies?

Does she use only a few colors or many?

How does she group the colors so you can tell the background from the butterflies?

Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

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How does she organize the colors on the butterflies to help show you the details?

Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

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Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

How would you describe the patterns Kusama created? Try to use line, shape, and color vocabulary words.

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Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

How would you describe the different dots Kusama used to create patterns in her mushrooms?

How are these dots like some of the dots Vashti painted in the book “The Dot?”

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Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

Describe which one of these pumpkin artworks you like better. Try to use art vocabulary.

Why do you like this painting the best?

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Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

Kusama is also known for her large installations. An installation is a sculpture exhibit designed to fill up an entire room or space.

Kusama used mirrors in the installation at the bottom to make it look like the pumpkins keep going for infinity.

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Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

What do you think of these two installations?

How did Kusama use dots differently in these two artworks?

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Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

What do you think about these two installations?

How did Kusama use mirrors? How can you tell?

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Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

Kusama in NYC: This giant balloon designed by Kusama was flown in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in 2019.

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Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

Kusama in NYC: The New York Botanical Garden had an exhibit of Kusama’s works in 2021.

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Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

Kusama in NYC: The store Louis Vuitton has partnered with Kusama for some of its clothes and accessories in 2023.

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Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

DAY 1 ART ACTIVITY:

  • Think about what objects in nature Yayoi Kusama used to inspire the artworks we looked at today.
  • What kinds of things in nature could inspire you?
  • Create a sketch of an object from nature.
    • It could be a plant or an animal.
    • Draw big enough to FILL YOUR PAGE!!
    • Work to keep your drawing NEAT!
    • Add color if you want to .
    • You DO NOT need to draw using dots like Kusama does. For now just focus on drawing the shape and details of the object.

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Learning Target: I will look at the works of Yayoi Kusama to discover how she used dots and other elements of art in her work.

DAY 2 ART ACTIVITY:

  • Continue sketching objects from nature.
  • Focus on using the Element of shape to draw the object. (Use the ideas at the right to help you.)
    • It could be a plant or an animal.
    • Draw big enough to FILL YOUR PAGE!!
    • Work to keep your drawing NEAT!
    • You DO NOT need to draw using dots like Kusama does. For now just focus on drawing the shape and details of the object.