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!

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!

Nature Sketch Challenge- DAY FOUR!

Wow! Yesterday’s sketch was much harder for me than I had thought it would be. However, I definitely learned a lot about my flower! For instance, just from an initial glance, I would not have noticed that the petals were actually striped, with a lighter yellow stripe running down the middle. I also would’ve never seen the underside of the petals, with have some dark green on the edges! What a great opportunity to really get to know one of the little, overlooked gems in nature.

Onto today’s sketch suggestion:

Sketch a sound!

For this lesson, locate a nice place to sit or stand and spend about a minute or so just listening to the sounds around you. After about a minute of listening, choose one sound to track down. Once you locate the source of the sound, draw it, as well as some of the environment surrounding it.

I will post my sketch later today. Happy Sketching!

Today’s Sketch: 

Nature Sketch Challenge: DAY ONE!

Beginning today, October 3rd, through Monday, October 10th, I will be posting daily sketch inspirations, along with a picture of my daily nature sketch. One whole week of nature journaling–and it’s off to a great start with an absolutely beautiful day!

For those of you with limited drawing/art experience, my sketch idea for today will be a great way to loosen you up and get your creative juices flowing!

Inspiration: BLIND CONTOUR DRAWING

A great way to get warmed up is with a blind contour drawing, which is drawing something without looking at the page or lifting your pencil/pen from the paper.

Activity: Find a flower or leaf to draw. Look at the flower closely, following the outlines of the petals/edges of leaf. Do not lift your pencil until you are done with all of the details of your subject (flower/leaf).

Complete several contour drawings, exploring your subject from different angles and perspectives. Do not turn the page. Complete all blind contour drawings on one page.

As you look at your subject, concentrate on understanding, seeing, and recording all of the details you observe. The goal with this exercise is to sharpen your observations skills, not to create a finished masterpiece. By the end of this exercise, if done right, your paper will look like a page of nothing but lines and marks. (If you’d like, you can write your thoughts, descriptions, or anything else you’d like to your sketches when your page is complete).

Enjoy the PROCESS, not the product. And enjoy getting to know your chosen subject a little better

Happy drawing! I will add my day’s sketch to this post this evening. Looking forward to the process!

Today’s sketch: