QUESTIONS FOR THE MIXED MEDIA ARTIST

KINDLY TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT

THESE THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS.

 THANKS! 

• What art do you make? What makes you create, and why?

(I paint, collage, and make assemblages, because I need an outlet for my energy and I get ideas that just have to come out!)

•  What problems have you encountered on your journey to create art?

(I became deaf and couldn't listen to music, which previously really inspired my art. I also had a long recovery from a terrible accident, & I couldn't do much in a prone position.)

•  How is your artwork unique? What makes a creation of yours different?

(I have eclectic tastes and a mind that often appreciates the strange and weird. I also taught art and am inspired by many different ways of doing things. I love to experiment!)

Please take minute to comment...I'd love to hear from you!

Paula

  

PET PEEVES & SUGGESTIONS: ART-MAKING DO'S & DON'TS

Today's post is about some of the things that I, as a visual arts educator, believe in. You may not agree with everything here, and that's okay, but I feel each of the following.

1. If at all possible, don't trace. You'll learn with drawing practice...the more the better. Tracing is often a crutch.
2. DO substitute materials and use what you have on hand. Save our resources, don't waste. Such experimentation with media, tools, substrates and more may lead to some pleasant surprises!
3. Don't rely on reference photos if you can help it. Draw from life or your own imagination.
4. Pretty or cute aren't necessary in an artwork. Nor is "whimsical."
5. DO explore outside your comfort zone. And play, play, play!

A DRAWING PRACTICE ALL ABOUT FORM, LIGHT, & SHADE

DRAPERY: A STUDY IN HIGHLIGHTS & SHADOWS

First, arrange a good-sized rectangle of fabric on a large piece of corrugated cardboard. When you arrive at a shape you like, with "bumps and hollows," ridges and valleys, fix it in place with stick pins.

Don't be too easy on yourself! Make it a challenge.

Place the arrangement on a table with a strong light source striking it, mostly from one direction.

 

Choose white or cream drawing paper, toned pastels paper, or one of your other favorite papers for this drawing.

Notice how the shadow on the "table" grounds the drapery.

Very lightly, sketch the outer contours of the main shape first, as well as lines to suggest the inner forms.

 

I and my students used Berol Prismacolor colored pencils, but chalk or oil pastels will do, too.

 

DRAWING TIPS                                  

Leave bare paper where you want

strong highlights. You can always

add white later if your paper is toned. 

The best finished drawings will have more than a single color!

An orange fabric might have burnt sienna in its crevices.

Mix blues, violets, grays, and/or other hues into the shaded

areas and have fun "molding" and rounding the folds,

working in their directions.

A grounding shadow keeps the object from "floating."

ANOTHER DRAWING TIP
Berol makes a waxy blender pencil that is very useful with their colored pencils.

TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF                        
OR AN ADVANCED STUDENT
Use striped cloth! This is an
excellent drawing project
for gifted students.              

THANKS FOR FOLLOWING THIS BLOG!



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



PROPORTIONS OF THE FACE - A Guide for the Novice

1. First, draw an egg shape. The chin portion should be more narrow than the crown.
2. Believe it or not, the eyes must be placed nearly halfway down! (Especially if you're drawing a young person.)

                                         

3. In the lower half of the face, divide the space into thirds (with the bottom of the chin being the bottom of the final third). The bottom of the nose is at the bottom of the first third, and the bottom of the lower lip as at the bottom of the second third. These are only approximate proportions, of course.

 

4. The ears in the front view should not protrude too far. The top ear tip is about at the eyebrow, and the bottom of the ear lobe is about even with the bottom of the nose.

 

5. Don't forget to add a neck, and not too thin, either!

 

Finally, add lots of strokes for the hair. TIP: Youngsters often begin the hairline too low on the forehead. Don't do that!



KIDS' DRAWING ACTIVITIES FOR ART TEACHERS AND PARENTS, PART III

Note how the shading adds depth to the leaf.

SKETCH A LEAF

Materials:

·        White drawing paper

·        Ballpoint pen or fine-line marker

·        A real leaf

BLOB-DOODLES

Materials:

·        Copy of the image below (or make your own)

·        Pencil and/or other drawing tools

            Have you ever gazed at clouds and imagined you could see the shapes of animals, people or more? We can get ideas for creating art from inkblots, too.

What to do:

1. Study the blob-shape below and see what images come to mind.
2. Turn the paper in different directions and discover the hidden figures, faces, animals, and objects you can draw there.
3. Add details to the many pictures you find

Questions to Ask Yourself:

            Did you find a variety of things to draw? Variety is a principle of art that means “different, not all the same.” Did you fill all of the space well?

How many hidden images can you find here?

FABULOUS FOOTWEAR

Materials:

·        White drawing paper

·        Pen or fine-line marker

·        A shoe or pair of shoes

What to do:

1.      Shoes make a great subject for contour drawings. Place your shoe (or a pair of them) on the desk or table. Look very closely at the shoe, following all the edges with your eyes.

2.      With a pen or a fine-tipped black marker on a large sheet of paper, draw all the edges you see. No pencil allowed! Look back and forth many times between your paper and the shoe.

3.      Be sure to add the details—all the openings, seams, and designs. Remember to draw only lines! Since the shoe is not flat, your drawing should not be a strictly side view.      

Questions to Ask Yourself:

            Is your drawing complete? Did you include details such as laces, buckles, straps, stitching? If the proportions (relationship of the parts to one another) aren't quite right, try again on another sheet of paper.

                                                                          

NO PEEKING!

Materials:

·        White drawing paper

·        Pencil or other drawing tool

·        A “screen” such as a large book

            Blind contour drawings are practice sketches that are called "blind" because you can't look at your drawing until you're done! Contours are single lines that define forms. Blind contour drawings help train your eyes to see edges as you draw. They may look strange, but they'll help you become a better artist.

What to do:

1. Choose an interesting subject.  Objects with lots of edges, folds, or other details are best for this exercise. Is there a person in the room who can pose for you?
2. Set up a “screen” (a large book works well) in front of a large sheet of paper.
3. Place your pen or pencil on your paper. You can look to make certain your starting point gives you enough room so you don't draw off the edge of the paper.
4. Study the person or thing and draw very slowly. Don't look at your drawing! You are training your eyes to see and your hand to record every detail correctly. Don't lift your pencil or pen—just drag it around the paper when you need to draw a different shape.

For Your Understanding:

            Your finished drawing probably appears quite weird to you, but try several more blind contour drawings of the same object. It's good practice!

KIDS DRIVING YOU BUGGY? Try an art project with them: CREATE INSECTS !

BUGS ON A BUDGET

PAPIER MACHE FUN FOR STUDENTS  

We made bargain bugs, and you can, too: inexpensive insect-sculptures using papier-mâché. Did I mention this was done with high-schoolers? I know, I know, often papier- mâché is reserved for the lower grades. But even older students really get into it, creating not only incredible insects but also cool crustaceans, super spiders, and more.  

See the how-to instructions below!

MATERIALS

• Reference books on insects
• Newspapers and string
• Masking tape
• Wire and pliers or wirecutters
• Wallpaper paste and containers
• Brown paper
• Acrylic paint (or tempera)
• Paint brushes
• Buttons, toothpicks, and other extras
• Glue gun and glue

This project is easy but soooo cool!

BEGINNING THE PROJECT

I loaded up on picture-books of creepy-crawlies, although a computer search could have yielded plenty of images as well. For my demo, I began with several bundles of balled-up newspaper tied with string,  insisting that armatures involve more than one body segment. In other words, I would not accept simple snakes and such.

Next, I joined two or three bundles together with masking tape. (Careful here--some kids will use waaay more tape than necessary!) Then I poked coat hanger wire through the body to create several pairs of legs. The kids could add wire pincers and antennae too. I anchored the wire appendages to the body with a little tape, so they'd stay put.

Make your own creepy-crawlies with this art activity.

PROGRESSING TO 

PAPIER-MÂCHÉ

When the kids had built their armatures, they applied torn newspaper strips dipped in wallpaper paste. I suggested three layers and reminded them that I expected good craftsmanship. Evaluation would be partially based on sturdiness and a smooth appearance. A final coat of smallish brown paper pieces was allowed to dry thoroughly before we proceeded.

We painted the creatures with acrylics, although tempera would do. If you use the latter, try mixing it with white glue for a nicer, less-matte finish. When the paint was dry, we added enhancements such as eyes, whiskers, or "feelers."  (A golf tee makes a great stinger!) We used a glue gun to attach such extras as eyes, filmy wings, and more.

Crustaceans are cool, too!

Try creating fantasy or composite creatures if you prefer.  Think about hanging the sculptures from the ceiling with fishing line to display them.

Art Activity for Kids

All you need for this fun project are some colored markers and some clear acetate. The markers can be either water-based or permanent. Cut the acetate into small rectangles (1.5" x 2") , and give two or three of them to each child.


Have the kids make mini-designs of their choice on each rectangle. Tell them that the more lines and shapes they fill in, the better!



Then mount the mini-creations in slide mounts, and either import them into a computer with a slide scanner or put on an actual slideshow the old-fashioned way, with a real projector. Popcorn and music would go nicely with your presentation.

ART ACTIVITY WITH KIDS or for anyone, really!

                             Squirt, Squish, and Squeegee! 

This elementary art project is so fun and so cool, adults will want to try it, too. 

It leaves a lot to chance, but the results can be serendipitous and gorgeous. Best of all, there's no mess and no clean-up!

Materials:

• White illustration board or foam core, 8x10"
• Tubes of cheap acrylic paints
• Small squares or rectangles of matboard or cardboard
• Clear adhesive shelf liner

Technique:

1. If you're working with a roomful of youngsters, have them sign their name on the back of the cardboard or foamcore first!
2. Have them help each other (or use an assistant) to squeeze out three or four colors of paint on the cardboard, somewhere near the center but not touching each other. Let the kids choose their own color combos. Tell the kids to use no more of one color than they would put on their toothbrush if the paint were toothpaste. (This sounds silly, but remind youngsters that the paint is not edible.)
3. Again, help younger kids or let them help each other with a piece of see-through adhesive shelf liner that has been cut large enough to cover the 8x10" board. Start peeling the sticky paper at one end and attach that to the board, then cover the entire board, right over the paint blobs. Try to press as you go, to avoid big air bubbles. (Note: clear acetate can be substituted for the stick-on plastic, since the paint will eventually dry at the edges and adhere the acetate to the board.)
4. Now for the really fun part! Grab a small square of cardboard or matboard and spread the paint beneath its plastic covering. Press hard. It mixes the colors where they meet, and makes for exciting whorls, waves, and octopus shapes. Other tools that move the paint around under its covering include credit cards, hair combs, putty knives, and tile adhesive applicators.

If some of the white background shows through in a few places, it's likely a good contrast with the paint. If you want to keep messiness at a minimum, be sure the children stop expanding their paint designs before they squeeze them right out of the edges.

One of the great things about this lesson is that the kids can take them home the same day. But you'll want to display them first, because they are so interesting and gorgeous!

  

DRAWING GUM MAKES A GORGEOUS PATTERN!

This design on paper was SO000 easy to do, and it looks rather striking, yes? I used plain old manila paper (sort of yellow-tan).
Drawing gum is a masking fluid. I put a blob of it on the paper and blew it around through a drinking straw. Thus the branching lines.
When a few moments had passed, I gently washed with blue watercolor (dye would work, too), over the entire page. It turned greenish on the yellowish paper.
After that was dry, I rubbed the drawing gum off with my thumb. 

MAJOR LIGHTWEIGHT TEXTURE!

Use this tip for a heavily textured painting!

Tear upholstery foam into small bits and adhere to a canvas. (If you plan to use a lot, or large pieces, the support should be a panel or board.) Then seal with acrylic medium and let dry before painting.

IMPRINTING YOUR OWN PAPERS TO USE IN COLLAGE

Both these techniques are quite simple to do, and the results can be startling!

Technique #1: Soak good watercolor paper in clean water, place it on a hard surface, and apply plenty of vivid, strong liquid watercolors. Lay absorbent textured materials into it. Examples include crocheted fabric, swirls of string, or open-weave burlap. Add more full-strength paint as desired. Place a sheet of glass on top and let dry overnight. If necessary, add a book on top of the glass to weigh down your creative sandwich!

Technique #2: Buy cheap colored tissue (the non-colorfast kind!) in strong colors, tear pieces as desired, and arrange them on damp, smooth watercolor paper. Spray with more water as needed. Then cover with the sheet of glass as before and let dry overnight.

Experiment with both these methods and do try variations, too! Much luck to you.

(I'll publish your successful attempts at either of these here, with you credited, of course, if you wish to send me good quality images.)

20 Fast and Fun Drawing Projects!

In a rut, sketching the same old thing all the time? Break out of the box!

Maybe some of these ideas will excite your muse.

1. Use a small mirror and draw your own eyes. Fill the page.  
2. Draw a clothespin and add shading. Work large.
3. Draw an underwater scene. Add sunken, man-made items.
4. Design your own piece of jewelry.
5. Sketch a scene on another planet. Use every value from white to black.
6. Crumple a sheet of paper and draw it, wrinkles and all.
7. Make up your own futuristic vehicle and draw it, adding lots of details.
8. Draw a composite animal made up of the parts of several real animals.
9. Combine a man-made object with something from nature. Add texture.
10. Sketch a dragon. Add a castle or a knight in the background.
11. Combine a human face with that of an animal.
12. Draw the view outside the window.
13. Sketch the inside of your locker or closet. From memory.
14. Draw a shoe or a pair of shoes.
15. Sketch a glove or a hat.
16. Draw a composite machine made of parts of lots of different machines.
17. Draw your own hand. No tracing!
18. Sketch the back of the head of a person sitting in front of you.
19. Draw an empty candy wrapper.
20. Make a black and white design based on a small section of a map.