Alma Woodsey Thomas

Photo of Artist:

2-3 Images of work:

Years: 1891–1978

Quick Bio:

-She lived and worked in D.C. and attended Howard University

-She was a junior high school teacher

-She taught while painting part-time

-after retiring she explored abstraction

-at the age of 75 she debuted her abstracted work in an exhibition at Howard

-an important role model for older artists and African Americans

*first African American to have a solo exhibit at the Whitney Museum

artwork inspired by:

Byzantine mosaics

Pointillist techniques

Georges Seurat

Washington School of Color

Resources/links:

Lesson Plan ideas:

- students created a wash with concentric circles in watercolors

- layered various colors with small markings on top

- color, brush control, layering

Student examples:

Ranney Artist Archive