Proud as a Peacock� �

Created by Lee-Jean Lin

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January 2025

Motivation/Objectives

• Learn about James Abbott McNeill Whistler and his “Peacock Room”
• Create their impression of a peacock using oil pastels contrasted against a textured black sandpaper background

Peacock Room - Harmony in Blue and Gold

• James Whistler: Leader of the Aesthetic Movement
• F. Leyland hired J. Whistler to “touch up” the dining room in his London home (1876-77)

Peacock Room – North Wall�The Princess from the Land of Porcelain�

height 13’ 11 5/8”, width 33’2 “, depth 19’ 9 ½”

�The Princess from � the Land of Porcelain�� 34 x 61.5 cm

Peacock Room – North East Corner

Peacock Room - Shutters (East Wall)�

Peacock Room �- Center shutters� (close up view)��

Peacock Room �- Side shutters� (close up view)�

Peacock Room - West Wall

Peacock Room – West Wall��

Peacock Room - Ceiling�

Peacock Room - South Wall Mural�

Peacock Room - South Wall Mural �

Peacock Room - South Wall Mural �

Peacocks – Front View

Peacocks – Side View

Peacocks – Rear View

Peacock Feathers

Peacock – Crayon Sketch

Peacock – Crayon Sketch

Peacock – Crayon Sketch

Peacock – Crayon Sketch

Peacock – Crayon Sketch

Peacock – Crayon Sketch

Peacock – Crayon Sketch (Side View)

Peacock – Crayon Sketch (Side View)

Peacock – Crayon Sketch (Side View)

Peacock – Crayon Sketch (Side View)

Peacock – Crayon Sketch (Back View)

Peacock – Crayon Sketch (Back View)

Peacock – Crayon Sketch (Back View)

Peacock – Crayon Sketch (Finished Front View)

Peacock – Color the body

Peacock – Color the body

Peacock – Add highlight on one side

Peacock – Add small tail feathers

Peacock – Color the center of the “eye” (purple)

Peacock – Draw in the 2^nd color (blue)

Peacock – Draw in the 3^rd color (orange)

Peacock – Draw in the 4^th color (yellow)

Peacock – Fill in the side feathers

Peacock – Fill in the side feathers

Peacock – Fill in the side feathers (purple)

Peacock – Fill in the side feathers (yellow)

Peacock – Add crown

Peacock – Draw the eye, “eye brow” and beak

Peacock – Finished!!

Questions to stimulate thinking & discussion�

Have students reflect on their project by asking these grade level questions.

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TK-1st

• Who here has seen a real peacock?
• What colors do you see in peacock feathers? What colors did you use in your picture and why?

2nd-3rd

• How is your picture similar to the peacocks painted by Mr. Whistler? How is it different?
• What do you remember about the story of the “Peacock Room?”

Questions to stimulate thinking & discussion�

4th-5th

• How would you describe the influence of Japanese art in Mr. Whistler’s work?
• How did you use it in your artwork?

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If time is short, the following questions are appropriate for all grade levels:

• Are you happy with your project? What do you like best about your project? What might you change?