3-4 Activities

These activities for Marine Art were updated in late 2008 and early 2009, along with the Learning Results.

Ideas to try....

Art and English Language Arts

Create a marine picture, using your choices of media to depict a shore scene, a fleet of vessels, or a ship portrait. Make up and write a story that reflects the activity in the artwork, and, at the same time, reflects your interests and abilities.

Look at the paintings of some famous American or European artists and write about their work. What makes their work well known in society? Are there characteristics you see of a “good” painting or the work of a well-known artist?

History

Compare paintings by American, British, and Chinese artists. Do you think their styles look different? Do styles vary over different periods in art history? Do artists use different media in different periods to depict their subject?

Science and Technology

Marine paintings can show ships that are powered by wind, steam, diesel, and even nuclear fuels. Smaller craft are often human-powered. Discuss how different forms of energy have been used to propel vessels over the years, and why there were times when sailing vessels were used when diesel engines were available. How do artists depict different kinds of vessels?

When looking at marine paintings of sailing vessels, consider how the artist uses shapes of sails, shapes of waves, and shapes of different parts of the vessel to provide balance and strength to the image. Note differences between square-sailed vessels and vessels with triangular and trapezoidal sails.

Career and Education Development

Discuss the skills artists need to create fine paintings or other kinds of artwork. Marine art involves  drawing; seeing and recognizing light, colors, and shades; the craftsmanship of applying paint precisely; the artistry of showing motion; and the technical understanding to depict vessels precisely. Apply these skills to your own artwork.