Greek Vase Worksheets and Pattern Samples

This file contains 5 line drawings of Ancient Greek Vases (each 1 letter-size page), and two pages of sample patterns (66 patterns total). There are really three different vase shapes, but for two of them I have offered you two versions with different proportions.

These sheets could be used with a wide variety of grade levels. I use them with my Grade 10 Visual Arts class during the Greek Art History Unit. Students select from the 3 blank vases (which I have photocopied onto red copy paper) to create their designs. I have students start by creating a "Geometric Style" vase creating many horizontal bands of patterns. Sometimes I give the students the pattern sample sheets as reference, and sometimes I project the sample sheets and have the students create their own sample sheets in their sketchbooks using mine as a starting point. I have the students create a second vase in the "Red-Figure" or "Black-Figure" style also. Having the sheets already copied onto red paper makes the assignment more about good line work and control of their tools (black markers, Sharpies, black fine pens, etc.) than about colouring in the background. I usually copy a lot of each of the three vases, as I let students select which ever ones they want to use.

I have also added the pages into a Google doc and provided the link for you to access that file.