Greek Vasepainting Project for Kids

Exekias black-figure vase

Berlin Painter red-figure vase

If you need an art project, or something the kids can do sitting down, here's a suggestion for that.

There are two main styles in Greek vase painting – black figure and red figure. Mostly before about 530 BC people painted in black figure, and after that time people gradually began to paint in red figure.

Black figure is called that because the people (the figures) are black, and the background is red. In red figure, on the other hand, the people are red, and the background is black. (More about black figure and red figure).

You might have the children draw first a black-figure picture and then a red-figure picture and discuss what the differences were between them. (for instance, it’s easier to draw in black-figure because you don’t have to color in the whole background, but in red-figure it’s easier to show the expression on somebody’s face, or her muscles).

For more information, check out these books from Amazon.com or from your library:

A Greek Potter, by Giovanni Caselli (1986). A day in the life of a Greek potter, for kids ages 9-12.

Hands-On Ancient People, Volume 2: Art Activities about Minoans, Mycenaeans, Trojans, Ancient Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans, by Yvonne Merrill (2004). For kids - has a project for making your own Greek amphora.

The History of Greek Vases, by John Boardman (2001). For adults, but clear and readable, by an expert who has written most of the main books on Greek pottery.

Understanding Greek Vases: A Guide to Terms, Styles, and Techniques (Getty Museum Publications 2002) by Andrew J. Clark, Maya Elston, Mary Louise Hart.

Looking at Greek Vases, by Tom Rasmussen, Nigel Spivey (1991) (each chapter is written by a different specialist, but the book as a whole is intended for non-specialists).

Other activities:

More about Greek vase-painting
Main Greek project page
Main Ancient Greece page

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