Saturday, October 29, 2011

(G1,G3) Lines and Shapes in the work of Paul Klee


The students look at the work of the early modernist Paul Klee.
We examined his method of using lines and shapes in his compositions.
I advised the students to follow Paul Klee's statement: "A line is a point taken for a walk".
The students interpreted his work  by creating trees and self-portraits. 

Paul Klee Small Rhythmic Landscape


The artist Paul Klee


(G3) We used rulers to draw the lines inside the tree.


The background lines were based on Paul Klee's statement: "A line is a point taken for a walk".


This student used  rectangular pieces of paper to create the trunk.
I love the way he took his line for a walk. 


Using scarps of paper to create the trunk. 
Paul Klee often used burlap, gauze, cardboard, and metal foils to embellish his work.

This student used scraps of clay for her trunk 


Paul Klee Head of Man





Paul Klee Castle and Sun


(G1) We examined the rendering of lines and shapes in Paul Klee's work.












Wednesday, October 26, 2011

(G2,G3) American Indian Legends and Symbols (The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush (Part II)

In The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, Little Gopher "finds his brushes filled with paint, each one a color of the sunset.
When he is done creating his sunset, he leaves the brushes on the hillside.
When the people awoke, the hill was ablaze with color.
The brushes had taken root in the earth and multiplied into plants of brilliant reds, oranges and yellows".
  

Castilleja commonly known as Indian Paintbrush.
It is the Wyoming state flower, Texas 

Students used water colors to paint sheets of brown paper bags.
We also painted sheets of paper red and green and made our Indian Paintbrush flowers. 


In looking and examining the illustrations on the book, we learned how the Native American Indian used pictorial language to represent words.
The above is the symbol of the sun representing life 




This is the symbol of a Morning Star. The brightest star on the dawn's horizon.
It was considered an important spirit and honored as a kachina with most
Pueblo Indians.

We looked at a reproduction of Indian Fantasy by Marsden Hartley (1877-1943)
This painting is part of his "Amerika" series done in the summer of 1914
It is part of the collection in the North Carolina Museum of Art
We discussed how this artist incorporated mystical references and symbols in his art.
We also discussed the balance and visual rhythm of his composition.
The students commented on the boldness of his colors and patterns.






The sun as a symbol of life giver. Warmth, growth, and all that is good and well.








Home coming symbol.
Student comment: "It looks like a heart".


The thunderstorm symbol represents change, renewal and fertility.
Related to snow which is a higher blessing than rain.  



Horse as a symbol of journey


Teepee, a symbol of a temporary house





Waves as a symbol of the cycles of life, renewal and springtime


Feathers as symbols of prayers, sources of ideas or marks of honor.




Tuesday, October 25, 2011

(G1) American Indian Legends and Symbols (The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush) Part I

We read the book: The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaola 
Little Gopher wants to be like the other children in his tribe who were always riding, running or shooting their arrows.
With the help of  a Dream-Vision, he realized that his gift was for painting and creating.
 He created a beautiful sunset for his people, who they no longer called him Little Gopher, but He-Who-Brought-the Sunset-to-the-Earth.





The author and illustrator  Tomie dePaola

We discussed how different brushes create a variety of brushstrokes 
Students used the brush of their choice to create their sunsets

We mixed white with different colors in order to create interesting tints. 











Using brushes in a circular motion to create interesting brushstrokes





Experimenting with different brushes for variety in brushstrokes







Monday, October 24, 2011

(KG,G1) Colorful Pumpkins

Students used water colors as well as scraps of paper to create colorful pumpkins
Our Art Club students decorated a giant pumpkin for the Fall Festival