Illuminated views

Art 1 was studying renaissance and how books were made at this time with a scribe and an illuminater who adds decoration.  Well usually i just have them make an illuminated letter on paper with colored pencils, but this year I wanted to do something different.

I have been following Art of the Apex and I was very intrigued by their project based lessons.  I figured if I was ever going to try a lesson where they could do what they wanted, this was the lesson.  So we took the first day to look at illuminated letters and various designs that could be made in and on them.  In table groups I had them list mediums for both 2D and 3D illuminated letters.  After they had made lists,  I then told them that they could do their letter anyway they wanted using any medium that I had or that they could bring.

I was very impressed by how fast they started throwing out ideas.  I did make them stop and I showed how to paper mache and build a cardboard base.  Otherwise they were given access to any supplies I had.

I am very impressed with what they created.  I know I should edit and not show all of these, but I am proud of them.

Austin F. - String art

Aleah B. - Tile and paint

Bree H. - Yarn

Emily H. - pop cans

Levi B. - Clay

Jack G. - pencil and marker

Adan M. - paper mache and paint

Paige Q. - Mixed Media

Mikayla R. - paper mache

Mycah W. - Tile and paint

Regan A. - paper mache

Eli H. - paper mache and crayons

Bella J. - paper mache and fabric

Hawa M. - paint and cardboard (inside)

Hawa - outside

Jacob H. - Metal work

Malary M. - yarn, glitter and paper

Yeva S. - paper mache, mixed media

Carter H. - bedazzled

Nitanga S. - paper mache and paint

Bridget B. - paper mache

Sam S. - paper mache

Alex W. - metallic colored pencil

Morgan H. - tile and paint

A different type of face

Since Art 1 was on a portrait kick I decided to keep with that theme and introduce them to Guiseppe Arcimboldo.  He was an artist that painted portraits using fruits, vegetables and other natural items.  I decided that I didn't want to have them draw another picture so instead we used magazines and they had to use a theme to create their faces.

I am not sure if i am in love with this project.  Even the ones that were done really nice look like they were done by elementary students.  If anyone has any suggestions to make this project better I would love to hear the ideas.

Tis the season

The latest challenge for my advanced classes was by student request...Christmas.  I didn't just want a bunch of simple christmas trees or houses with lights and snowmen, like they did when they were 5.  So I put some criteria on the challenge.
1. They had to draw for their inspiration.  I had about 30 christmas ideas in a coffee can.
2. It had to be 12 x 12, NO exceptions.
3. It had to be made out of paper products.  So paper, tissue paper, cardboard and I did give them aluminum foil and ribbon and glitter for details and small touches.
4. It had to be a low relief sculpture.
5. It had to be 90% one color.  This one was not their favorite.

Once they heard the last rule, most of them figured out that they were going to have to zoom in on the object to keep it 90% one color.  Overall I was really happy with how they came out.

Brooke O. - Ribbons and bows

Danica H. - Poinsettia 

Sydney Hag. - Snowman

Jozlynn P. - Santa

Kamber L. - Berries and Ivy

Kelsey C. -Star

Kiana K. - Toys

Sabrina L. - Candy Canes

Sammy K. - Angel

Sarah C. - Cookies

Mariah B. - Candle

Plastered Canvas

I left our state art convention wondering if you could add plaster of paris to acrylic paint and get it to stick to a canvas.  So how else do you find out other than to just experiment.

Guess what, it works.  Now if I could only get students to have fun playing in the mud.  Why are they happy to make a mess unless you hand them messy stuff.

Anyways, we mixed the plaster of paris with acrylic paint, there really isn't an exact amount we just made it look like thick pancake batter.  Then we put it on a canvas and used palette knives to move the mixture around to create either shapes or textures.  Afterwards we watered down acrylic paints and applied layers of color with brushes and sponges to get the desired affects.  This step took some time and some had difficulty with it, but if it was horrible coloring all they had to do was paint over it and start over.

Sydney Hag.

KaSandra K.

Kiana K.

Meghan H.

Sydney Hau.

Cut yourself out

I love our state art conventions because I find so many great lessons.  The next lesson I found was a self portrait project that involved photoshop and giant paper and oil pastels.

I love any project that takes kids out of their comfort zone,  I know it kind of makes me a bully, but it is for the sake of their creativity.  :)   Anyways, I loved that this project was done on a large scale and it made them break down their faces into shapes.  Not just one, but two comfort zones collapsed.  If only I knew how to write an evil laugh.

So, first they had to have a picture of themselves.  Thank goodness for their cell phones and all of the selfies that they take.  Next they had to put that picture and put it into photoshop and alter it using the cutout filter.  Once they adjusted the different levels and got the image the way they wanted they had to print it out.  Then they could either free draw it or grid the image onto an 18x24 piece of tagboard.  Once they drew the outlines of the broken down shapes they then could color in the shapes with either oil pastels or markers.  As you will see none of the marker ones made my blog.  I won't offer that choice again.  They weren't horrible, but not my favorites.

Brandon S.

Kamber L.

Marcelle W.

Mariah B.

Sabrina L.