native american ledger art lesson

Ledger drawing of a Cheyenne war chief and warriors (left) coming to a truce with a Crow war chief and warriors (right)

The following is a 3rd grade art lesson on Ledger Art with colored pencils, using Native American Rock Art symbols.

Scroll down to find:

examples of rock art images
step-by-step instructions with pictures of the project
a lesson plan (including California State Visual Art Standards)

native american colored pencil ledger project

This is a third grade Native American Ledger Art lesson plan using colored pencils. Students look at original ledger art, learn it's history + characteristics, then create their own piece. Since Ledger Art is primitive in its implementation, every student successfully completes this lesson. This lesson plan includes reference materials, introduces an artist whose style is influenced by Ledger art, and a lesson plan.

Mandan, Crow, Sioux, Pawnee, Arapaho, + Cheyenne

Ledger Book Art was started in prisons by Native Americans who lived in the plains states. It was historical records which grew out of pictographs. Records of hunts, brave deeds, Pow-Wows, + major events. Characteristics are flat colors, outlines, no shading, no sense of place, no depth or perspective. They had limited colors like red, blue, green, + pencils. Many Ledger art pieces were not signed, so artists are unknown.

Ledger Art Drawing of Lakota Dancers by Chief Blackhawk, born CA

Pawnee Indians Drawings Pencil
Artwork used for lesson below

draw a rectangle on an angle - notice placement on horizontal page

add curve for horse cheek

add back legs- 2 lines for each leg - erase unneeded lines on ends of legs

add 2 upward facing lines that gradually get closer to each other-curve on top line

erase end of original rectangular shape

erase unneeded lines- add hooves

add small open rectangle - add curve on top as seen in sample

add front legs-upperpart wider than lower part

2 overlapping triangles on back of horse

erase inside of triangles- add 2 thin lines on each side for arms

agg 2 vertical lines for neck - add circle for head

add 2 lines for legs, feet - notice angles of lines + width between lines

add circle inside circle hanging on 1 hand for shield - add horse blanket with parallel, angled lines-rectangle on upper body

add rectangular shapes for legs- arms, neck, head, belt on enemy

add black

add written details as original artist did

join horse shapes - add 2 triangles 4 rider body - add arms, legs - add mane + tail hairs with pencil - curves on ends of lines around circle shield

add feet on enemy + curved triangular shape on enemy's chest

add a blue color

finished work on old math handouts

horse rider is in battle - draw curved rectangle, rectangle for neck + circle for head head of slain enemy - triangles at ends of curves for feathers around shield

add one color at a time - use limited number of colors

add green - 4th color

finished work - horse may be colored or not colored

decorative spots may be added on horse body

completed drawing

ledger art lesson plan

objective

Students will, successfully make a drawing in the traditional ‘Ledger Art’ style. They will gain knowledge about artist ‘Jose Bedia’ and his personal original Ledger Art collection. They will learn + know the characteristics and origin of Ledger Art made by the Plains Native Americans.

materials

- lined, used or old paper (eg. math sheets, maps, documents)
- pencils
- erasers
- colored pencils (red, green, blue, turquoise)

activity

Show students examples of actual ledger art + explain its origins.
Demonstrate drawing large enough for all students in class to see details.
Show students the artwork + Ledger art collections of Jose Bedia for inspiration.

4. See example pictures for illustration of drawing steps.
5. Use only colors which the Native Americans were able to use. (red, blue, green, graphite)
6. Use lined paper held horizontal, with the lines vertical. The Original Ledger Art was drawn on ledger books, that were recycled, + held horizontally.

vocabulary words

Balance - Visual equilibrium in a composition; achieved by organizing the weight and attention of all elements in an artwork. Types of balance are symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial, and crystallographic.
Color - The visual sensation dependent on the reflection or absorption of light from a given surface. The three characteristics of color are hue, value. and intensity. Color Harmony; The use of compatible colors to help unify a composition.

Ledger - A book or other collection of financial accounts of a particular type.
Line - A point moving in space. Line can vary in width, length, curvature, color, or direction.
Outline - A line or set of lines enclosing or indicating the shape of an object in a sketch or diagram. To draw, trace, or define the outer edge or shape of (something). (verb)
Plains Indian - A member of any of various North American Indian peoples who formerly inhabited the Great Plains. (Cheyenne, Comanche, Blackfoot, Cree, Sioux)
Perspective -A system of rendering the illusion of three-dimensional depth on a flat, two-dimensional surface.
Space - An area in which objects or images can exist.- Variety - The differences which give a design visual and conceptual interest; notability, use of contrast, emphasis, differences in size and so forth.
Value - Lightness or darkness of a hue or neutral color. A value scale shows the range of values from black to white.

curriculum tie-in

- Native American History

ca state visual arts content standards

2.0 CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Communication and Expression Through Original Works of Art
2.4 Create a work of art based on the observation of objects and scenes in daily life, emphasizing value change.
3.0 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT
Role and Development of the Visual Arts
3.1 Compare and describe various works of art that have similar theme and were created at different time periods.

ledger art project