Oct 29, 2021 Activities & Education Learn about Will Barnet’s work Summer Night. Then make a pop-up book inspired by the eerie beauty of this painting. Will Barnet (1911 – 2012), Summer Night, 1974-1976, oil on canvas, 37 3/4 x 36 3/4 in. (95.9 x 93.3 cm), Framed: 39 in. × 38 in. × 1 7/8 in. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2006.22 Look Closer: Will Barnet was an American artist known for his works depicting the human figure and animals, both in scenes of daily life and in dreamlike worlds. What kind of scene do you see in this painting? Do you think this is a real-life scene or a dream? Barnet took inspiration from his home in Maine to make Summer Night. How does your home inspire you? Barnet lived to be over 100 years old. He made art through many different American art movements, which means he saw art styles change over a long time. Which one do you think inspired him for this piece? Which art movement could you use for your pop-up book? Activity: Make an Eerie Pop-Up Book! Materials: Watercolor paints Paintbrushes Scissors Glue stick Watercolor paper Black construction paper Instructions: Step 1: Start by folding your watercolor paper in half. One side will be the ground, the other the sky. Step 2: Paint each side of the paper. I chose green for the ground and red and orange to create a sunset scene in the sky. Step 3: Add any details with black paint that you want to be furthest in the background. Step 4: Cut out the items that will “pop out” of your book page. Step 5: Cut two lines of even length along the folded edge of the paper. The number of items you cut out will determine how many cuts you need. Step 6: Place glue on the paper fold, then apply your black cutouts. Helpful Hint: Make more pages of your book! Glue the back of one page to the back of the next to flip through your creations. Have fun exploring! Share your pop-up book with us on social media – tag #crystalbridges on Instagram. Written by Marlie Allgood, art instructor, Crystal Bridges.
