Cezanne inspired still life

5th grade students are making a still life inspired by French artist, Paul Cezanne.

Cezanne's post-impressionist paintings showcase beautiful blending techniques that I wanted my students to replicate.  As students entered into the art room, I composed a still life for them to look at with a vase, flowers, and fruit.  We talked about how we could see simple shapes in the objects instead of feeling overwhelmed by the assignment.  We discussed while I demonstrated how an orange could be a circle, and apple similar to a heart and a pear like a letter "u".  Then we began to paint.  No drawing or sketching allowed!  We were committed to the lines that the brush and mind placed on the paper.