What does the landscape say about YOU?

Happy Friday! In honor of the weekend, I’d like to share with you a unit that I recently finished with a group of Art I students. This unit explored the connection between the concept of IDENTITY and landscape. (Of course, at the heart of the lesson was artful explorations–both of the natural environment and SELF).

Prior to beginning their main project, students began thinking about their own identity through the creation of Identity Thumbprints. For this mini-assignment, I asked the students to either A.) Think of a song that they relate with; or B.) Write out words that describe who they are. They then selected 5-8 words to STYLIZE. Finally, they drew the lines for a thumbprint and wrote their words along the lines. Here are a few finished works:

 

For the second mini-explorations, students went outside to do a little nature sketching. For this assignment, I asked students to fold their paper into thirds. In the first section, they were asked to fill the space with CONTOUR LINE DRAWINGS. The middle section was to be filled with BLIND CONTOUR LINE DRAWINGS. And last of all, the final section was filled with BOTH contour and blind contour line drawings. After they had finished their sketches, we returned to the classroom, where students added shading, textures, and patterns to at least 4 different areas of their drawings. In addition, they had the task of connecting all three sections together. Here are a few examples:

After exploring both their own identity and the landscape, students began working on their own IDENTITY LANDSCAPES. For this mixed media project, students were given the freedom to express themselves through whatever art media they wished to use.

A few students chose to work directly from their nature sketches. Most, however, decided to create their own abstractions, using some of the shapes and forms they had studied in their sketches. The results–and concepts BEHIND the results–were fantastic! Here are a few finished projects:

 

The students seemed to really stay engaged with this project. In fact, many of the students would ask to take their projects home to work on, or they would come in outside of class, asking to work on their projects. That, in-and-of-itself is a victory for art! Giving students the opportunity to explore art media and concepts in their OWN ways provides them the opportunity to truly learn–and discover the art medium that really works for them!

I hope you enjoy this lesson–and if you decide to try it, let me know! I’d love to hear about it.

‘Til later…happy explorations!

April’s Nature Art Challenge…Tomorrow!

Happy Saturday!

The Texas Art Education Association conference today was absolutely fantastic! I had a wonderful time presenting, attending workshops, and meeting new faces. Attending conferences is such a great way to get new ideas and rework old ideas as well. That being said, I am now even more excited to begin this month’s Nature Art Challenge: Exploring the Environment through ANIMATION!

The challenge will begin tomorrow, April 1st, and run through April 7th, so start thinking of possible themes/topics/subjects for your animation! During this challenge week, I will be presenting a variety of ideas for animation, so feel free to use any and/or ALL of my ideas in the development of your own animation.

In preparation for the challenge, I wanted to post a few ideas that I found in my online hunting:

Stop Motion Paper Animation:

Stop Motion Pen & Ink Drawing:

Those are just a few examples to inspire your creativity!

‘Til tomorrow…happy explorations!

Weaving and Storytelling: A Beautiful Combination!

Happy Friday! After a busy week on my feet, it feels so wonderful to kick back, relax, and check out new artists and ideas out there!

Here are a couple of wonderful blogs that I happened across:

New City Arts

The Crafty Crow

If you click on the above link for New City Arts’ blog, you will be able to read more about this awesome weaving project they did with third grade artists. While studying the ancient art of weaving and its connection to the art of storytelling, students created their own stories using colors and patterns in a weaving. Here are a few of the students’ weavings:

This is such a wonderful idea for a lesson–and it’s just brimming with possibilities for artful explorations into the natural environment! My creative gears are already set in motion!

Enjoy browsing through some of the other projects on these blogs! And I hope you are able to step outside to enjoy a little fresh air and natural beauty this weekend!

‘Til later…happy explorations!

Recycled Basket Weaving Project Idea!

In the midst of holiday travels, cookie decorating, and wonderful times with family and friends, I thought I’d sneak in a quick  post for a homemade recycled gift idea. Gail’s blog: that artist woman provides a variety of art project ideas. One of her recycled art projects, Recycled Basket Weaving, is a quick and easy  way to reuse plastic and paper cups and bowls–and the finished project looks awesome! If you’re looking for a last minute gift idea, or just a fun little side project, give these a try!

‘Til later, happy explorations!

and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Working with Textures in Nature: Charla Puryear

Looks like the holidays and my work load got the best of me–managing to pull me away from a new post for an entire week! My sole consolation is that I will soon be posting for a week straight–as the time for another Nature Challenge draws near!

In the meantime, I’d like to share with you the work of another environmental artist, Charla Puryear. As both a painter and sculptor, Charla Puryear works with the natural textures found in nature–particularly the surfaces of rocks.

Through the art of “frottage,” or rubbing, Puryear creates beautiful paintings and images.

To create these images, she wraps a piece of canvas around a rock or tree, applies paint to the canvas, and then by rubbing transfers the texture of the object onto the canvas.

She writes, “This image provides the sketch for my painting, which is completed in my studio. This painting process is my way of documenting nature, partnering with it, amplifying its voice and sharing it with others.”

Often, Puryear will leave her subjects (trees, rocks,etc) wrapped in canvas for days or weeks in order to allow for interactions with the natural elements.

Click on the link provided above to view more of her works. Her work illustrates a wonderful example of a way in which TEXTURES within the natural world might be artfully explored.

Tomorrow I will post more about my next Nature Challenge, which will begin on Thursday, December 1!

‘Til then…Happy Monday!

Nature Photography Challenge!!

After what I deemed to be a successful Nature Sketch Challenge in the beginning of October, I decided it was time to explore another artistic process through which nature can be explored and understood—Nature Photography! In past posts, I have mentioned photography, however, during the first week of November, I would like to explore the possibilities of this medium in greater depth. So, from November 1 – November 8, I will be posting suggestions for Nature Photography, along with my BEST nature shot of the day. Along with the image, I will provide an explanation for why I consider it to be my BEST, along with a short sentence about the insights I gained on that particular day.

As was the case with last month’s challenge, I invite anyone who is interested in a good challenge to participate with me–sharing your images and insights as well!

For the rest of this week, I will post various Nature Photographer’s works for inspiration and motivation for the coming challenge!

Who’s in?

Artist/Naturalist Beatrix Potter

When I think of what an Environmental Artist, or Nature Artist should be, I’ll tell you who doesn’t come to mind–Beatrix Potter. However, she definitely fits the description of an artist who was deeply inspired by nature.

Although she is best known for her illustrated children’s books, Beatrix spent a good portion of her childhood outdoors, where she sketched and painted any animals she could find. She also loved to paint mushrooms. She and her brother often collected and caught things, which she would take to her room to sketch and study.

Later in life, Beatrix became widely respected as an expert on fungi and lichens, making many new discoveries about lichens. In addition to her book illustrations, she painted landscapes and over 270 watercolors paintings of mushrooms.

Her work as an artist and naturalist lends itself to numerous lessons in environmental art, creative writing, nature sketching, and environmental education. For example, the creation of her well known “Peter Rabbit” character could inspire a similar art lesson, in which students choose a plant or animal to study through sketching, and then morph into a fictitious character.

Just an idea.. For more on the life of Beatrix Potter, check out this awesome website!

Some words from John Muir

I realized after my last entry that I did not actually include any samples of John Muir’s writings about trees. Here are a few to inspire:

“I never saw a discontented tree.  They grip the ground as though they liked it, and though fast rooted they travel about as far as we do.  They go wandering forth in all directions with every wind, going and coming like ourselves, traveling with us around the sun two million miles a day, and through space heaven knows how fast and far!”

“A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship.  But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.  Every hidden cell is throbbing with music and life, every fiber thrilling like harp strings, while incense is ever flowing from the balsam bells and leaves.  No wonder the hills and groves were God’s first temples, and the more they are cut down and hewn into cathedrals and churches, the farther off and dimmer seems the Lord himself.”

“We all travel the milky way together, trees and men… trees are travellers, in the ordinary sense.  They make journeys, not very extensive ones, it is true:  but our own little comes and goes are only little more than tree-wavings – many of them not so much”

And if you’re inspired to read one of his stories, click here to check out John Muir’s recount of one of his experiences climbing to the top of a 100-foot Douglas Spruce!

Enjoy!

Lesson Plan: Story of a Tree

Begin the lesson by talking about the life cycle of a tree. Take your students outside and gather around the base of a tree (size doesn’t matter). Begin reading an excerpt from the writings of John Muir. He often will tell stories about his observations–speculating about what a tree, plant, animal, or other element of nature may of seen or experienced. After reading the excerpt, ask your students to think about the life of this tree they are observing–How did it get here? What types of difficulties might it have experienced as it was growing up? Are their any clues that have been left behind on the trunk, branches, or leaves of the tree that would further illustrate it’s life? Have the students write and/or draw a story about their tree. Ideally, they might incorporate both text and images into their stories.

(If you want to take this project a step further, you might want to first have a paper or book-making lesson using recycled paper and materials. The students could then rewrite their books onto this paper.)

Sketchbook Challenge: DAY SEVEN!

Today is the seventh and final day of the sketchbook challenge, so get your pencils ready! I’ve really enjoyed my sketching experiences so far, and definitely hope to continue incorporating nature journaling into my weekly routine! Through this process, I feel as though I have become a little more aware and appreciative of the beauty found within the living, breathing world around me.

Now, for the final sketchbook challenge:

Sketch a “snapshot” of a scene that you walk by on a daily basis

Since most of us are living in a more urban environment, this “snapshot” may include some man-made, industrial objects as well. Perhaps it is the view from outside your doorstep…or an area that you walk by every day on your way to your car. Try to find an area that is mostly natural–though it can include some industrial or man-made objects as well.

Happy Sketching! I will post my sketch later this evening.

Today’s Sketch: