DRAWING PENCILS | OIL PASTELS | WATERCOLORS

Identity Through Distraction
Objectives: Students explore the qualities of abstract art and complete a two-dimensional or bas-relief painting employing shapes, lines, colors and textures that best describe their personality. Lesson Background: Have students look at a variety of work by Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944). Focus on "Dominant Curve", 1936 and "Around the Circle", 1940. Give a brief history about the artist; born in Russia but attended art school in Germany. From childhood he was very aware of colors and shapes around him. He was credited for creating the first completely nonobjective painting around 1910.
During his life many cultural and political changes took place; WWI broke out in 1914, the Russian revolution in 1917 and the invention of the camera caused painters like him to move beyond realism. He was friends with Stravinsky and many of his paintings are titled with music terminology. Kandinsky said "Paintings should represent a mood, not illustrate an object." As the students study the above painting(s) ask; What kind of mood is created? What is happening in the painting? What emotions are conveyed? Why do you think he chose certain shapes? Colors? Optional: Show examples of Frank Stellaís (b. 1939) abstract paintings, especially if you plan to utilize the bas-relief effect. Explain how he breaks the surfaces of traditional painting. Provide a list of words that describe personality traits, such as perplexing, serious, humorous, affectionate, and reserved. Have the students add to the list and then select two words which best describe "themselves". Have the students describe each word utilizing the elements of design - line, shape, color, texture and value. Ask them to be reflective as they draw this abstraction of their personalities.
Procedure: Develop "personality" shapes on scratch paper. Draw the personality abstraction, utilizing a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 25 shapes on 7" X 9" watercolor paper (120lb-140lb) or canson paper (navy, burgundy & black). Review basic color theory; complementary, analogous, warm vs. cool and monochromatic schemes. Explore color blending with oil pastels including tinting and shading colors by blending light and dark colors. Techniques Cover the entire paper with color, shapes, lines and textures. Clean oil pastels as needed with tissue or by rubbing them on clean paper. Cut and rearrange shapes on a background illustration board for a bas-relief effect. A second option for breaking up the flat surface is to cut extra shapes from a second sheet of paper. To create the levels mount on foam core or 3D-Oís.
Assesment/Reflections: Individual- Have each student reflect upon the initial word(s) selected and the finished painting. Write a written response to the following; How did I organize the work? What am I trying to say? Is this a successful piece? Give specific reasons for each response. Group- Have students view the work of the class in a critique. Answer the above questions. In addition, can you guess the individualís identity? Classroom Time: 4 to 5 minute sessions. Media Tools: 22 sets Portfolio Series Water soluble Oil Pastels (24 colors) graphite pencils sketch paper white charcoal pencils (for dark paper) 120lb-140lb watercolor paper or dark canson paper brushes water containers blunt tools for scraffitto (open paper clip, nail) scissors X-acto knives illustration board foam core board/3D-Oís glue Curricular Connections: European, Russian and American history/social studies. National Art Standard For Visual Tools: Students select media, techniques, and processes; analyze what makes them effective or not in communicating ideas; and reflect upon the effectiveness of their choices. Resources: Brommer, G.F. Discovering Art History 3rd edition, Davis: New York, 1997. Fineberg, J. Art Since 1940, H. Abrams: New York, 1995. Mittler, G.A. Art in Focus, Glencoe: Ohio, 1994. Scholastic Art, Dec/Jan. 1995-96, Jefferson City: Mo. Stella, F. Working Space, Havard Press; Mass., 1986. Watercolors by Kandinsky, Guggenheim Museum: New York, 1993. Glencoe Publishing: Ohio, Print Resources, F.Stellaís Hockenheim, 1982