We used Keith Haring's dancing figures as a way to discuss the Principles of Art. After much discussion, we decided that we were able to hit on every single one through a simple marker composition of two dancing figures! The kids had a great time with this one, and while the monotony of the radiating patterned lines got to some of them, they were proud of their finished product!
We discussed the Principles of Design and when finished, I had students write their "answers" down in groups. You can read what they wrote in quotes at the end of each Principle:Emphasis in a composition refers to developing points of interest to pull the viewer's eye to important parts of the body of the work. "The emphasis of this work is clearly the dancing figures, which are large and solid-colored. The "hot" color scheme also is brighter than the cool colors, giving a bit more emphasis to that figure and pattern."
Balance is a sense of stability in the body of work. Balance can be created by repeating same shapes and by creating a feeling of equal weight. "We worked to create balance by making our figures the same size on each side of the paper."
Harmony is achieved in a body of work by using similar elements throughout the work, harmony gives an uncomplicated look to your work. "The patterned lines give harmony to this composition. Because there are radiating lines everywhere, the composition is harmonious!"
Variety refers to the differences in the work, You can achieve variety by using difference shapes, textures, colors and values in your work. "Though both figures are the same (dancers) they had to be in different positions, which created variety!"
Movement adds excitement to your work by showing action and directing the viewers eye throughout the picture plane. "The radiating lines around the figures makes them look like they are moving, even though they are not!"
Rhythm is a type of movement in drawing and painting. It is seen in repeating of shapes and colors. Alternating lights and darks also give a sense of rhythm. "There is rhythm that we created by using patterns of hot colors and cool colors".
Proportion or scale refers to the relationships of the size of objects in a body of work. Proportions gives a sense of size seen as a relationship of objects. such as smallness or largeness. "If they head was too large, or the arms were too short or too long, the bodies would not have been in proportion."
Unity is seen in a painting or drawing when all the parts equal a whole. Your work should not appear disjointed or confusing. "The two parts of this drawing are unified because they represent Keith Haring's work and have patterns".
This work was done by my fourth graders, as was the writing.
I am just so excited about how these "viewfinder" projects turned out! If you missed how my fifth graders started this lesson on O'Keeffe, just check out their beginning stages right here.
This was a small assortment of MANY that I could speak of. Good thing I've dedicated two bulletin boards for their display!
My third, fourth, and fifth graders have examined the life and artwork of famed American artist Georgia O'Keeffe for the last two weeks. I wanted something natural that the kids were able to relate to...and something...um..."non-floral"?! I have had some shells in my cupboard that have been begging to be used for something, and this was the perfect project for my fourth graders!
If you live in an area where shells are NOT readily available, I've seen some shell packs in Sax Arts catalog. In fact, I think some of the shells we used were from that catalog! Each was assigned a shell and we drew in contour on day 1. On day 2 we made a 5-shade value scale and then used that to parallel into our lesson on shading and value.
I saw these on ARTolazzi's website and knew it was the perfect lesson for my first graders and Kindergartners! After all was said and done, they learned a LOT about geometric forms (circles, right triangles, etc) as well as collage!
For the snowflake "frame" they used pieces of cardboard dipped in white paint. They loved it, though some of them got VERY messy. First grade is doing a huge unit on penguins in their classrooms right now, so their teachers want these for writing prompts and for decoration. I love when teachers take a work of art one step further, or extend the lesson into their classes. It truly shows that art can run the course of all subject matters.
Speaking of that, I was reading in People Magazine this past weekend (on their last page- the "Top Five") about actor Ricky Gervaise. The question was for the actor to mention a "hidden or secret talent". He said he's gotten into painting lately. Abstract mostly. He also mentioned that he considered Art to be man's greatest achievement. 
They drew the enlarged version on a piece of black paper, making sure that whatever was seen in the viewfinder was showing on their black paper. 
We're working on blending with the oil pastels. This is a great project for them to really concentrate on a small area of a picture and to look and see how many "versions" of a color are really in that red flower!
So far, so good! I will definitely post some of the results. I like what I see so far, and so do they!
Who knew you could get all of that out of a little drawing of a tiger?! Well, to make them even more marketable, I tossed in a lesson on Henri Rousseau's love of jungle animals and composition, and I had a pretty well-rounded lesson.
I did this lesson last year with my kids and definitely plan to do it again this year!
This work was done by my fourth graders, as was the writing. 