Marc Chagall's - Peace Windows

Medium: Tissue Paper and Oil Pastels

Reason for Lesson: To learn and understand who Marc Chagall was as an artist and create artwork in his style.

Late in his career, artist Marc Chagall produced a number of paintings in glass, including the Peace Window in the United Nations World Headquarters. Created as a living memorial to all who had lost their lives in the cause of peace, Chagall’s colorful, dream-like images symbolize peace, love, tolerance and faith.

In reality, Marc Chagall’s life was filled with tragic events and the world he lived in was anything but peaceful. In light of this fact, students can begin to understand an artist’s ability to share healing, inspiration and encouragement.

Using “peace” as a theme, students create transparent paintings with floating imagery and Chagall-like colors. 

Prep Time: Including time to study about Marc Chagall's work this project takes about 1/2 to prepare.  

How to Prep:

View images of Marc Chagall’s paintings and glass. Recommended resource: Artists of the 20th Century: Marc Chagall DVD (70096-1010).  Cut tissue into 6" x 6" squares.  Use the following prompts for discussion and to generate ideas:  What are some of the symbols we use to show “peace”? (peace icon, dove, “V” with fingers, etc.)  What are some things you can think of that we say are “peaceful”? (a sleeping baby, a garden, a clear starry sky, a fish pond, a waterfall, etc.)  What are some things that you do that make you feel “at peace”? (reading, hugging, sleeping, drawing, etc.

Class Time: 1 - 1 1/2 hour

Materials: 8 1/2 x 11 paper, tissue paper in blue and green, liquid glue, oil pastel. 

Instructions to Lead Lesson: 

Drawing on their responses to these questions, students draw five or six images using crayons on colored tissue. Each image should have a solid crayon outline (this will act as a resist when the paint is applied). Cut around the images, turn them over and repeat the drawing so it is visible on both sides.

Open the laminating pouch and roll the top under so it stays open. Mix glue with a little water so it can be easily brushed onto the tissue paper shapes. Brush one side, stick it down on the laminating pouch, then repeat on the other side, applying glue so that it extends over the edges of the shape. Allow to dry.

Tear white tissue paper into pieces, approximately 4" x 6". Bunch a piece of the paper and apply it thickly to an open area on the pouch. Liberally brush clear water over the bunch, pressing it down with fingers to flatten and position around the image shapes. Apply tissue right up to, but not overlapping, the shapes.

Apply liquid watercolor directly onto the wet tissue and watch it bleed and flow randomly, picking up the For tight places, brush glitter watercolor around the shapes — it has a thicker consistency and will not flow as readily.

Continue to bunch and paint the paper until the surface of the pouch is covered. Allow to dry open overnight.

Using a regular household iron on a nylon or polyester setting, seal the pouch.

On both sides of the window, use a permanent black chisel-tip marker to draw a frame and outline the shapes. Look for lines forming in the tissue paper inside and trace them to form "lead" line