Maple leaf parade time!

So this year for the maple leaf parade I am planning on letting my students paint my bus! each student will make a design, I will choose to 1 for the driver and 1 for the passenger side. I have painted my bus with a special material called plastic dip. students paint temperature on the plastic dip, after the parade it should peel off!

Positive negative space lesson

 Original lesson at http://macresartroom.blogspot.com/2011/10/colors-on-walls.html

Sub Lesson October 4, 2014                                            Mintert

Positive Negative Space Project 2

Materials:  12x18 paper

4x4 square of paper for tracing shape.

Scissors

Colored Pencil Sets

        Start by distributing a 12x18 sheet of drawing paper and tell them “in the upper left hand corner put your first and last name, todays date, and class hour of what will be the back”- we start all drawing projects this way.

The students are asked to choose a simple shape and create a pattern of that shape to trace onto the small paper.  This shape could be almost anything.  Some example possibilities are music notes, maple leaf, hearts, peace signs, stars, numbers, letters, flowers, geometric shapes, etc.   They draw it on the small square, and cut it out. It could have open space inside if they want, like in the peace sign.

The students then are to trace the shape over and over across the paper overlapping the shapes to create interesting negative shapes. Students have learned about negative shapes, ask them if they know what that means.  Then they erase the lines where the shapes overlap.

 After they complete their composition, they add color to the background with colored pencils.  They get to choose the colors and patterns to enhance their design. The coloring should be solid and complete, no wimpy coloring.  They must use at least 3 colors. They can use stripes, geometric patterns, waves, curls, zig zags, etc.  Remind the students to “Take a set, use a set, return a set.”  There are enough sets for every student to have their own set.  They are brand new so make sure they are being respectful with them.

Here is how they will be graded:

Overlapping shapes-      30 points

Do your shapes overlap or are there a lot of gaps?

Completed coloring-      30 points

are all the background areas filled in with solid color?

Craftsmanship-                40 points

How well did you draw and color?  Is it neat or sloppy?

________________________________________

Total                                 100 points

 

Unpeeled project at knobnoster

This is my photo or teachers learning about the junior high lesson, unpeeled project.  I presented it at the Fall Confrence to fellow art teachers for Missouri Art Educators Association.  Had about 40 attendees.  

Here is the lesson.

Peeled Project   

Fred Mintert 

mintertf@carthagetigers.org www.mrmintart.blogspot.com

“Only those who attempt the absurd achieve the impossible.  I think its in my basement… Let me go upstairs and check.”

 -M. C. Escher

Ribbon Based Transformation

Escher was a revolutionary artist for many reasons.  Often bending reality for interesting visual effects, this artist utilized mathematics and creativity to make very unique art.  One type of image I call Ribbon Imagery.  “Bonds Of Union” -1956, “Rind”-1955, “Spirals”-1953 are all examples of a curling ribbon like structure that forms a greater image.  As in the example above, it appears like the artist has peeled apart the subject and left openings.  This illusion can be achieved by students from junior high to high school.

Materials:     Prints or presentation of M. C. Escher’s work.

                    Markers

                    Colored Pencils

                    Drawing paper

Directions:

1.    Start by showing a wide ribbon with curls.  Next, draw on the board a scroll/ flag shape for students to practice.  Once they get a simple one done, give them more challenging ones to try.  Examples:

Basically, their understanding starts with a curvy line.  The line extends on edges in one uniform direction, and then a back/bottom edge is added that matches.  This initial stage is hard to describe and start understanding.  With some practice, students start getting the concept.

2.    Stage 2 practices start by lightly drawing a cylinder shape, and try to get the thing to look like a ribbon with gaps.  Shade the back sections darker, and towards the edges of the front of the ribbon.  Example:

3.    Show a power point presentation of some M.C. Escher images that have this similar transformation.   (I can send you mine from Smartboard Notebook if you e-mail me.)  Several include, “Spirals- 1953, Moebius Strip I-1961,   Bonds of Union, Spiral Sphere, and Rind.

4.    Students draw an object for transformation.  I typically have books of animals and cars available for those who can’t come up with their own ideas.

5.    Once it is drawn, then some parts are removed and strips are drawn along to make ribbons.  They should curl, especially at the edges, as if a graph was run across the surface.  The lines should in other words show the contours of the object.        (forming bumps up where necessary, and indenting in as well.)

6.    The ribbon form is finished by connecting one row to the next in the empty space.  This should make it appear as the object is hollow and you are seeing all the way to the other side where the ribbon continues.  A left top side “connects” visually to a top right side of the row above or below, or vice –versa.  As it passes behind itself or another ribbon, it disappears, but if the direction of line is correct, eye will visually connect the two via the implied line.

7.    The front is colored like normal, and the back with some contrasting color., again, like ribbon, going from light to dark near the edges….

Henri Matisse Inspired Art

Drawing on the right side of the brain

We have started with some pre instruction drawings:  self portraits and a person from memory.  Next is upside down drawings

Brand new classroom!

It has been and hectic summer rushing around to arrange a brand new classroom.  The maintenance dept. Has been tearing down walls, reinstalling the ceiling, installing new equipment, new air conditioner, new heater, installing doors, installing locks, walks, moving all supplies, preparing for longer class periods, new phones, new intercom, framing out windows, you name it it's been done!