Van Gogh Irises Art Project Spring Art Lesson Artist Study Flower Art Activity

In this Van Gogh Irises Art Project, students create an irises artwork inspired by Vincent van Gogh using oil pastel and watercolor paint. The finished pieces are full of movement, color and expressive line, with blue and purple irises against green leaves and earthy ground.

It is for teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers, and fits artist study units, flower art projects, elementary and upper elementary art, spring art lessons and sub plans. A poem hook and a student reading page introduce Van Gogh's life, his bold colors, expressive brushstrokes and love of painting nature.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

★★★★ “A fun and easy to use art activity that is something different for the students.” Tracy R.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDF)

• Cover Page and About the Resource page
• Critical Thinking Questions page
• 3 Lesson Plan pages
• Poem Hook page about Vincent van Gogh
• Student Reading page about Vincent van Gogh
• Color Poster Sample page
• Rubric page
• KWL Chart page
• The Message reflection page
• Analyze: Elements and Principles reflection page
• Compare and Contrast page
• Questions and Wonders page
• Goal Setting page
• 2 Artwork Reflection pages
• Peer Feedback page
• Artist's Statement pages
• Full-page Example Artwork
• How-to Draw: Irises page
• Step-by-Step Tutorial with visual and text directions for drawing, texture lines, color and painting

HOW TO USE IT

Introduce Van Gogh with the poem hook and reading page, then guide students through the step-by-step tutorial. The steps are broken down clearly, so the lesson looks impressive but stays teachable. Students work with bold blues, purples, greens and yellows and explore Van Gogh-inspired lines.

The example shows large blue-purple irises with yellow centers, sweeping green leaves, warm brown earth and soft green watercolor background areas. Finished pieces suit spring bulletin boards, artist study and hallway displays, portfolios and art shows.

FAQ

Who is this for?

Teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers who want a bright, engaging Van Gogh flower art lesson.

What materials do I need?

Oil pastels, card stock or thicker paper, and watercolor paint. Tempera paint is noted as an option.

Does it include information about the artist?

Yes. It includes a poem hook and a student reading page about Vincent van Gogh.

Are there reflection or assessment pages?

Yes. A rubric, KWL chart, reflections, peer feedback, goal setting and artist statement pages are included.

Is it editable?

No. It is a non-editable PDF.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) creates visual art resources for teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers who want meaningful, easy-to-teach art lessons for kids. She was the featured cover educator in OCO Magazine for October 2025 and has been featured on NBC LX. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

This resource is for single educator use only.

YOU MAY: use this resource as a single educator. Please purchase additional licenses if more than one teacher will be using it.

YOU MAY NOT: share, copy, upload, post online, distribute or resell this resource in any form.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic