Color, Architecture, and the Loup Garou: Watchdog, 1984

Color, Architecture, and the Loup Garou: Watchdog, 1984
Objectives:
• Students will learn about color and the unique
architecture of Louisiana.
• Students will create pictures incorporating
both color and architecture to provide the
Blue Dog with a new home in which to reside
and haunt.
Goals:
• For students to understand how the
geographic characteristics of Louisiana led to
the architectural styles indicative of the area.
• For students to understand the basics of color
and gain a greater appreciation for color.
Materials:
• Paper or Board
• Oil Pastels
• Photocopies, Scissors, and Adhesive (if
appropriate)
Procedure:
After reading the legend of the loup garou, introduce
students to Rodrigue’s Watchdog, the first painting which
depicted George’s now famous Blue Dog. Use this
painting to introduce the concept of primary colors.
Discuss how primary colors are used to create all other
colors (i.e. secondary colors, tertiary colors, etc.) and
how color can be used to convey emotion. Consider
asking students such questions as: Has anyone in the
class ever seen a dog that is blue in color? Do you think
the artist was trying to paint a realistic dog? Why do you
think the artist chose to paint his dog blue? How does
blue make them feel? Would the loup garou have the
same effect in this painting if it were red? Does the color
blue better convey the feeling of a cool night? What color
would you use to convey the feeling of a hot summer
day?
Discuss the house in the background of this painting as it
pertains to the architectural styles unique to Louisiana.
Explain to students how geographic factors determined many of these characteristics (i.e.
raised houses, shotgun houses, houseboats, etc).
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After these discussions, have students use oil pastel
to draw their own loup garou in the primary color of
their choice and a background that makes use of
secondary colors. The background should also
contain one of the Louisiana style dwellings studied
in class. Students can then either draw the house into
the background or collage in a photocopy of a
Louisiana dwelling to color over, depending on age.
Remember that Louisiana has many styles to choose
from, the Spanish-style stucco buildings of the
French Quarter to the oak alley plantations located
on River Road.
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