Monday, May 5, 2014

Apple Drawing and Painting




We will draw the apple in front of you.  We want the apple to look 3D (like it has form) instead of 2D (a shape).  After drawing the apple, we will paint it.







Cross contour lines
1.  Bite into the apple.  Why?  Because drawing a perfectly round apple is boring!

2.  Draw the outline of the apple.


3.  Sketch the cross contour lines (vertical and horizontal).  

4.  Draw in the shadows.  Follow the direction of the cross contour lines - if your cross contour lines are curved, your shadow lines should be curved too.

Draw in the shadows


5.  Look carefully at where the light reflects off the table and apple.  It may surprise you!

6.  Don’t forget to draw the shadow!

7.  Take 3 pictures of the apple.  If you tap on the screen, the camera will focus on a different part of the frame: Shadow on the table, the darkest part on the apple, the lightest part on the apple.
Focused on the lightest part of the apple

Focused on the darkest part of the apple

Focused on the shadow





Friday, May 2, 2014

Under the Microscope Evaluation

Download your finished painting from below.

Grade yourself on a scale from 1-10:
     1. Technique | Is your composition carefully painted?  Are there crisp lines? Did you put forth effort?
     2. Evidence of form | Did you blend paint in a way to illustrate form?
     3. Contrast | Is there contrast between light and dark or texture?
     4. Balance | Is there balance between light and dark, and your chosen complementary colors?
iPhone ear buds

Engagement ring

Rainbow Skink Paw

Tomato Plant Leaf

Scorpion Sensory Comb

Snowflake

Flower Anther

Bike Chain

Scorpion Teeth Dorsals

Bee Salivary Lips

Scorpion Fulcrum

Butterfly Wing

Key


Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Personal Tile

Personal Tile, 2012, Janna DeWan

Project: Ceramic tile
Adinkran Symbols
Objective: to create a personal logo.

                   63 African Symbols for Creative Design

Through the use of clay, you will create a personal symbol, or logo, that represents you.  You will be inventing your own original design based on Adinkran symbols of West Africa.  Be sure not to copy their symbols, instead be inspired.  You are invited to augment shapes, move lines, combine symbols together, etc.

Step 1: Write down at least 5 adjectives that describe you
Step 2: Find similar words in the list of Adinkran symbols.
Step 3: Sketch the similar symbols 
Adinkra stamps carved in Ghana.
Step 4: Brainstorm a few different personal logos based on the Adinkran symbols you chose.  You do not necessarily need to use all 5 symbols.  You may choose to be inspired by only one, or combine two.  Remember, sometimes a simple and bold logo design is more effective than a cluttered and busy one.
Step 5: Cut out an 8"x8" clay slab at 1/2" thick
Step 6: Decide which parts of your design will be additive (adding clay) and subtractive (carving into the clay)
Step 7: Finishing touches: add any texture and smooth out all the edges.  
Step 8: Apply colored slip
Step 9: Sgraffito
Step 10: Place in kiln room
Anthony Boakye uses a comb to mark parallel
lines on an adinkra cloth in Ntonso, Ghana.

1817 Adinkra cloth
BLOG POST:

Attach a photo of your tile.
Explain which Adinkran symbol you based your design off of and why (5 sentences).

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Under the Microscope


All 3 images have been household items or insects that have been magnified hundreds or thousands of times.  What could they be?


Each student will choose a b&w photograph to do a 6"x6" value study in paint.  Choose carefully.  I have picked out 20 images that vary in difficulty.


You will be painting with 4 colors: black, white, and 2 complementary colors.
It is up to you to decide how to design the color scheme.













Friday, April 11, 2014

Punk Heads Self Evaluation

Post a picture of your finished Punk Head AND a picture of the second grader's painting that inspired you work.  Click here to find images of the band members.

Describe the original band member.  What does he/she/it play?  What do you think its character is like?

How did the band member painting inspire your Punk Head.  Did you embellish upon the original design?

In terms of craftsmanship, how successful is your piece?  Is everything smoothed out?  Is it constructed well?  Is it interesting from all angles?  How did you decide to glaze it?

3D design: Household Item


Interpret your 2D design into a 3D household item.  We will be working in clay, primarily with slab technique.  Your object may be life size (i.e. bowl, mug, lamp) or a model of an object (i.e. couch, TV).

Possible ideas:

Design your object first before working in clay.  In your journal, use this template to work through ideas:


SELF EVALUATION:

Post a picture of your finished ceramic piece.  Describe your object using elements of art vocabulary.

What principle of design did you choose to illustrate?

How does your 3D object relate to your 2D design?  How successful is this relationship?

What was challenging or difficult about working with clay slabs?

Are you pleased with your piece?  Is there something you wish you could revise?  What is your favorite aspect of your project?

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Architectural Sculptures

 In class we looked at several architects and their building designs:

Frank Lloyd Wright
I.M. Pei
Frank Gehry
Jeanne Gang
Michael Graves
Zaha Hadid
Philip Johnson
Kazuyo Sajima
Santiago Calatrava




Pick one architect (the list above are only suggestions) to inspire a sculptural design project.

This may a bird house, building, car, box, abstract sculpture, etc.

Be inspired by the architect's work, do not copy his/her design.

We will be working primarily with slabs.

Sketch at least 3 different designs and choose your favorite one.