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A dramatised autobiography of the artist Vincent van Gogh talking about his work. He tells how he drew and painted farmers and people who worked on the land in Holland, using dark colours to represent the gloominess of their labour. After moving to France he began to paint using brighter colours, drawing the landscapes and using nature as an inspiration for his work. Painting at particular times of day meant he was reliant on the light available, so he started to paint using quick strokes, using thick paint so that people could feel his paintings. He encourages the children watching to paint their impressions of things around them.

This clip could be used to provide background knowledge on Van Gogh whilst learning about famous artists or Impressionism.

Students could research a variety of artists and their influences, and then write a magazine style article about their inspirations. Using their knowledge about his painting style and using quick strokes and thick paint, students could be set a challenge to paint a still life or natural scene under timed conditions. During the activity, students could be reminded about Van Gogh’s concept of creating an impression using paint rather than creating a realistic representation.