My grade 7s are wrapping up their unit on collage. It was sort of an extension from their line drawing unit, where we looked at how we can represent ideas in different forms and mediums. Overall, I’m pleased with the results. The collages were given a coat of gel medium for extra strength and binding. View via the slideshow below or directly through Flickr here.
My grade 6s have finished their unit on printing. It was a tight squeeze but we managed to get it done. View the slideshow below or via Flickr here. (More will be uploaded from 2 other classes in the near future.)
As digital tools transform the way artists find and rework images, the concept of what is fair use—legally as well as artistically—is becoming more complicated
In the March issue of ARTnews magazine, there was a great article entitled “Copy Right” (read online here). In it they talk about the art of creative re-use. I’ve always wanted to do a remix type of art unit, but have never really had the time to implement it, or had the chance to squeeze it into a year group. That time has come, but in a technology class.
Recently, my co-workers Kim Cofino, Damien Pitter and I had a full day planning session developing new technology units as our “technology as a subject” class moves up from grade 6 & 7 all the way to grade 10. A remix unit was agreed upon, and I immediately remembered the above mentioned article. You see, I’ll be teaching tech again next year to grades 7 & 8, and though this unit would be for grade 10, I’m still thinking how to make it a transdisciplinary unit with my grade 10 art class.
We’re still in the planning phase but we decided to lift the above quote as the unit concept (Digital tools transform the way people find and rework media into original creations). Of course, something like this is also in the works; “Intellectual property rights must be respected through the creation of remixed media.” Our unit question might go along something like this: “How can existing works be used as building blocks to something creative and original?”
Now, the unit may take more of a video/audio mashup approach, but anything is possible. Which brings me back to the visual arts. As an art teacher, how can I connect and scaffold with this unit? That will be my next post. Stay tuned, and of course, if you have some ideas, drop them in the comments section!
OK, hopefully this will be the last in my book referrals. Here are some more art books I found whilst on holiday:
CREATIVE TECHNIQUES: WATERCOLOR
“This new title gives art students and hobbyists a complete course in the many different techniques applicable to watercolor painting. An introductory chapter describes the pigments, brushes, papers, and other needed equipment, and shows how to use them to best effect. Following chapters present 14 distinct approaches to watercolor art, each approach starting with an example of a finished work by a famous watercolor artist. Among them are a Cézanne painting of a woodland scene that emphasizes the transparent effects that can be achieved with watercolors. A strikingly different exercise shows a Turner seascape, and demonstrates how he achieved dramatic effects by applying pigments to wet paper. A watercolor portrait by pop artist Chuck Close demonstrates the pointillist technique, and Robert Delaunay’s Hommage à Bleriot, demonstrates use of watercolor in abstract art. Students are presented with step-by-step exercises to master these and the other creative techniques shown throughout the book. Full-color photos, reproductions, and illustrations on every page.”
150 PROJECTS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS
“Titles in Barron’s Aspire Series offer students of the arts self-teaching tutorials in the form of progressively more challenging projects for them to complete. Carefully structured lessons encourage students to develop their own styles and aspire toward professional careers. In this book, author John Easterby describes photography as the art of storytelling through visual images. Focusing primarily on digital photography, he discusses cameras of different types and sizes and the uses of supporting photographic tools, such as tripods, interchangeable lenses, and lights. He advises on studying the work of professional photographers in galleries, books, and magazines as an important first step in understanding how to look at photos. Tutorial projects include “remaking” a well-known photo by a famous photographer, shooting a natural light portrait, using backlighting, shooting scenes at night, expressing movement in photos, freezing action, keeping a photographic diary, photographing sports events and crowd scenes, using a series of pictures to tell a photo story, and many others. Readers learn how to set up a desktop studio, edit images, and build their portfolio. The enlightening text is supplemented with more than 400 instructive illustrations.”
You may also be interested in 200 PROJECTS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR ART SKILLS.
If you are a teacher, perhaps request an examination copy?
With summer vacation in full swing, I’ve been trying to catch up on all the books I have ordered this year. The first book on the art of collage I highly recommend is Masters: Collage: Major Works by Leading Artists, which was compiled by Randel Plowman, who also runs the popular Collage A Day blog. This collection doesn’t offer any how-to’s, but provides rich examples from 40 different artists and serves as a valuable resource for inspiration.
The second is Collage Lab by Bee Shay. This one offers 52 experiments, investigations and exploratory projects in the field of collage. It explores texture, surface design, imagery etc. Very useful if you teach a unit on collage or wish to investigate the medium further. I highly recommend both very much. Now I have to get back and continue with the other orders.
I’d love to try this with my students. Drawing without pencils! Simon Schubert uses paper creases and folds to create his art. This guy has popped through my RSS Reader twice now in the last few months. For other ideas with paper, check my wiki here.
I stumbled across an Eric Carle exhibit yesterday while biking around Yokohama at Sogo department store (6th floor-info here in Japanese only). The Very Hungry Caterpillar is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary this year and as a previous kindergarten teacher, I have always loved his books for their simplicity and artwork.
The exhibit also shows several examples of the planning and draft phases he goes through to create his stories. They also provide an insightful video of him creating the caterpillar pictured left. His books are so enjoyable and easy to create cross-curricular activities with.
Last year grade 1 students created ‘paint’ pictures using KidPix based on the book Little Cloud. They completed these in one or two 45 minute lessons and were all compiled into a class book. My example for the students is pictured right. Of course, creating actual collages from painted paper works too! If you are interested in collage, also have a look at the work of Peter Clark.
