Student Worksheet

Thought-starter: Do environmental artists have a responsibility to communicate positive environmental behaviour?

Working in groups or pairs, read the following sections on landscape painting, land art and eco art. Look at the images and discuss the answers with your group. Fill in the answers independently.

Landscape painting

Although the modern day environmental movement didn’t really begin until the 1960’s, early examples of environmental art stem from landscape painting and representation. Artists (and poets and writers) often celebrated nature through their art. And when artists painted onsite they often developed a deep connection with the landscape they were observing and with the surrounding environment and weather. They bought these observations into their paintings and would record the scene in different weather conditions and at different times of the day. For example, Claude Monet and John Constable both spent much time creating multiple of works around single topics, such as Monet’s London series or Constable’s sky series.

Using Google Images, find an example of landscape painting that appeals to you or that you are inspired by.

What is the name of the artwork you have chosen, who is it by, and when was it painted?

What is it about this work that appeals to you?

What visual conventions has this artist used?

What do you think the artists intention might have been?

How do you think this work relates to the environmental awareness at that time?

Land art

With the rise of environmental awareness in the 1960’s and 70’s a group of artists began experimenting with sculpting the earth and creating artworks out of natural materials. Known as land art, much of this art was ephemeral, meaning that it was meant to erode over time. Because of it’s temporary nature much of this art could only be captured by camera and wasn’t held in galleries. Examples of this work include Robert Smithson and Andy Goldsworthy.

Land art is also known as earthworks or Earth art.

Using Google Images, find an example of land art that appeals to you or that you are inspired by.

What is the name of the artwork you have chosen, who is it by, and when was it painted?

What is it about this work that appeals to you?

What visual conventions has this artist used?

What do you think the artists intention might have been?

How do you think this work relates to the environmental awareness at that time?

Eco Art

A more contemporary form of environmental art is eco-art. It tends to have activism as it’s basis, with artists trying to improve the environment or make people aware of environmental issues. Artists identifying with this movement are more aware of the environmental impact of their art: they often emphasise the use of recycled materials and aim to leave the landscape they work in unharmed (unlike Smithson, for example, whose giant spiral required a bulldozer and significant earthworks).

Using Google Images, find an example of eco art that appeals to you or that you are inspired by.

What is the name of the artwork you have chosen, who is it by, and when was it painted?

What is it about this work that appeals to you?

What visual conventions has this artist used?

What do you think the artists intention might have been?

How do you think this work relates to the environmental awareness at that time?

Past meets future – select one of the following options:

Activity 1. Recreate the past.

Take a look at these two works of art:

Both of these works are adaptations of well known historical art works; however, both are modern versions with environmental messages.

Your task is to select a historical work of art that appeals to you or that inspires you and to re-create it, incorporating an environmental message into your work.

Each group should provide a short artists statement (maximum 100 words).

Activity 2. How would the artists of yesteryear respond to major environmental issues like climate change?

Select one artist pre-1950 whose work appeals to you or inspires you. Imagine that this artist has just learnt about climate change. Create an artwork in their style that responds to the topic of climate change.

Each group should provide a short artists statement (maximum 100 words).

Reflection questions

Working independently, you should also answer the following reflection questions:

Why did you select this artist or artwork to re-create?
What materials, techniques, technologies and processes have you used?
Do you think you successfully met the requirements of this activity? Why or why not?
How would you change your work and the creative process if you were to do it again?

History of environmental art

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