Georgia O'Keeffe[American Painter, 1887-1986]

What is the main idea (focus) of this painting?

A Flower

What style of art do you think this

is?

Abstract

Georgia O’Keeffe was born on her family’s large Wisconsin farm in 1887.

Georgia’s mother thought art was very important,

and made sure that Georgia had art lessons while she was growing

up.

How old was she when she first started private

art lessons?

10 yrs. old

She did so well with her lessons that her parents encouraged Georgia to go to art

college.

After finishing art school, Georgia

decided to teach art in Texas, but she

was not fulfilled. She longed to show and sell her own artwork.

Georgia moved to New York so that she

could sell her paintings in the big city’s

galleries.

She would become one of America’s most

famous painters.

Who was Georgia married to?

The Famous American Photographer Alfred

Stieglitz

Why do you think she chose to paint flowers?

She usually made her flowers very large. She hoped they would make

people feel the same wonderful way she felt

when she looked at real flowers.

Georgia thought her large flower paintings might

get even busy New Yorkers to stop and

notice them.

Would you notice these?

She would also paint other items from

nature. What is this a painting of?

Can you tell what Georgia was looking at while she painted this

picture?

Her paintings are usually

very clear and bright, but she did use dark

colors occasionally.

Georgia would often try to imitate natural things while she looked at them, but she

would sometimes paint shapes and colors that she saw in her mind.

• Do you think she looked at something when she painted this, or did she use her imagination?

Even when she painted from her imagination, her artworks still look

like something from nature.

While visiting some friends from New Mexico, Georgia O’Keeffe discovered that she loved the

scenery there.

Georgia was

interested in painting all kinds of

natural things she

saw in New Mexico,

even bones!

Sometimes she would paint bones and

flowers together!

Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings can be

found in museums all over our country and the world. She even has a whole

museum dedicated to her. It is called

the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

Where is the museum located?

Georgia O’Keeffe lived to be 98 years old. Women were not usually artists in the time Georgia lived. She was a

pioneer!

Raise your hand if you like this painting?

“Nobody sees a flower, really, it is so small. We haven't time - and to see takes time like to have a friend takes time.  If I could paint the flower exactly as I see it no one would see what I see because I would paint it small like the flower is small. So I said to myself - I'll paint what I see - what the flower is to me but I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it - I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers.”- Georgia O'Keeffe