Remembered Landscapes: Nancy Grossman

Overview

In this lesson, you will look closely at a collage by Nancy Grossman for inspiration and explore how color, shape, and composition can describe the memory of a landscape or place.

Grade Level

3-5

Media

Collage

Teaching Guide

Materials and Tools

A variety of scrap paper, fabric, and/or found materials
9 x 12” heavyweight paper for painting and background
Watercolor or tempera paint
Scissors
Glue

Activities

Close Looking: Nancy Grossman

Guiding Questions:
How can we make art about memories of landscapes or places?
How can color, shape, and composition convey what a landscape or place looks and feels like?

Let’s look at a collage artwork by Nancy Grossman for inspiration.

Nancy Grossman (b.1940), *For B.B. – Of Swimming in Lakes and Rivers*, 1985, collage of various papers on paper, 22 1/4 x 30 1/4 inches / 56.5 x 76.8 cm, signed; © Nancy Grossman, Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York, NY

What colors do you see in this artwork?
What do these colors remind you of?
What shapes do you notice?
What do you notice about how the shapes are arranged? Do any shapes look like they are layered on top of other shapes? How can you tell?
How does the arrangement of shapes make you feel?
What materials do you think Nancy Grossman used to make this? How can you tell?
The title of this collage is, For B.B. – Of Swimming in Lakes and Rivers. Why do you think this is the title?

Nancy Grossman is an American artist based in New York, active since the 1960s. She is known for her sculptures that combine fabric and found objects, as well as her collages that incorporate painted papers and salvaged materials. Her work explores themes of memory, identity, and emotion, inviting viewers to engage with their own personal memories and experiences.

Planning Collages

What landscape or place do you remember that you’d like to create an artwork about?
Think about the colors of that space. Were they bright or muted?
What kinds of shapes do you recall? Were there geometric shapes (like buildings) or organic shapes (like trees, clouds, or mountains)?
What emotions or feelings come to mind when you remember this place?

Making Painted Paper

Nancy Grossman often painted her own paper for collage, which she then cut up to create her works.

Use watercolor or tempera paint to make a few sheets of painted paper inspired by the colors you remember from your chosen landscape.
Don’t worry about painting specific objects; just focus on covering the entire paper with color. We will cut or tear it later!
Experiment with light and dark areas to create variety. Let your papers dry before the next step.

Cutting Shapes

If you’re new to collage, explore introductory resources.

Begin cutting shapes that remind you of your landscape or place using your painted paper and other papers you’ve collected. You can make multiples of each shape if needed.
Don’t worry about being exact or making specific objects. You can also tear the paper for a different effect. How does a torn edge feel different from a cut one?
Tip: To cut two of the same shape at once, stack two pieces of paper together.

Arranging and Gluing Shapes

Arrange your shapes on the background paper. Experiment with the leftover scraps too; they might be useful in your design!
Start with a base layer, then add smaller shapes on top.
Once you’re happy with the arrangement, glue your shapes down, making sure to spread the glue to the edges.

Reflection

Look at your collage.

What kind of landscape or place did you remember?
What colors did you use?
What shapes did you use in your collage?
How did you arrange them to convey the feeling of this landscape or place?

Resources

For more inspiration, explore Nancy Grossman’s work in Romare Bearden & Nancy Grossman: Collage in Dialogue on the Michael Rosenfeld Gallery website or in New York City from September 5 – November 2, 2024.

Credits

Written By:
Andrea Burgay, Director of Digital Learning