ARTimus Prime is your destination to check out all the projects going on at the Fountain Lake Cobra Digital Prep Academy. Bookmark this page to check back here all year to see what we are doing in the Art Room and to keep up with all of your assignments.
This project is based on drawing from observation or drawing from life. You will use your hand as a reference for all of the hand drawings that you create.
Artists are going to create a calligram, using only colored paper. A calligram is a word or piece of text in which the design and layout of the letters creates a visual image related to the meaning of the words themselves. (Examples below)
Paper was invented in China during the first
century and has been a popular media choice
for artists ever since. Because paper is fairly
fragile, we have no way of knowing how long
papercutting has been a part of Chinese
culture. Archaeologists have found evidence
dating it back as far as the 6th
century, but it is
believed to have begun a few centuries earlier.
Either way, it is clear that papercutting is an
art with strong roots in the art of China.
Day 1
Brainstorm ideas for your calligram. You should think of multiple words that could be used for the project. Today you should create 4 different ideas, using 4 different words.
Day 2-6
Following the steps below, create your calligram. You can not have any drawn elements. Everything must be made out of paper. All details must be made out of paper.
7th AR Standards: CR1.7.1 CR2.7.1 CR3.7.1 R7.7.1 CN10.7.1
Often mentioned alongside anime and manga, kawaii refers to a cultural style that incorporates bright, pastel colors and childlike imagery. In Japanese, the word kawaii has a meaning that sits more or less at the juncture of "cute," "tiny," or "lovable." The cute aesthetic—with its bold, nearly cartoon-like lines and rounded forms—informs a large segment of Japanese popular culture. As scholar Joshua Paul Dale writes, "[kawaii] communicates the unabashed joy found in the undemanding presence of innocent, harmless, adorable things."
The most famous example of kawaii culture is probably Hello Kitty, the ubiquitous white feline character whose image emblazons an ever-expanding range of products and accessories. The character was commissioned by a company called Sanrio, founded by Shintaro Tsuji, in 1974, with a plastic coin purse as the first product bearing the image. Now Hello Kitty is found on everything from backpacks to food trucks to duct tape to kitchen appliances to adult toys. Even though the character was originally intended for preteen girls, its limitless branding has pushed it into essentially every demographic and business sectors that have nothing to do with childhood.
Our next project takes a look at contemporary artist Eric Joyner and creating a metallic effect with colored pencils by blending them together.
Contemporary art is the art of today, produced by artists who are living in the twenty-first century. Contemporary art provides an opportunity to reflect on contemporary society and the issues relevant to ourselves, and the world around us.
Take a look here for more examples of contemporary art:
In 1999, I started to enter various juried shows at Artisans Gallery in Mill Valley, CA. and the work was well received. Shows in other galleries, (usually group shows) were positive as well. In 2000, after years of painting other people’s pictures, I made the decision to only paint things that I liked. Four series of paintings of different subjects were started; they were: San Francisco urbanscapes, paintings of old newspaper cartoons characters, Mexican masks, and last but not least, Japanese tin (toy) robots. Though all four series of these subjects were enjoyable to do, I chose to focus on the tin robots, as they were the most popular and seemed to have the most possibilities.
So, armed with a small collection of tin robots and spaceships I began painting them in earnest. In attempt to bring them to life without losing their charm, I showed them where they belonged: outer space. By 2002 the paintings were looking good, but they still needed something to play off of… perhaps a nemesis. After a month or so of searching for a ‘nemesis’ I had an epiphany while watching the movie ‘Pleasantville.’ In one of the scenes, Jeff Daniels paints a still life of…donuts. With thoughts of Wayne Thiebaud’s pastries always close at hand, it wasn’t difficult to see the battle scene of robots retreating from 300-foot tall donuts when I went to bed that night. The rest, as they say, is history.
This video is a tutorial showing some different colors you can blend together to create some metallic textures.
Directions:
Create a robot artwork inspired by Eric Joyner.
Add donuts (or another type of sweet treat) to your robot drawings like Eric Joyner.
Create a metallic texture on your robot using the blending techniques we worked on in class.
There are many robot part examples below here for inspiration.
Comic book covers have served as dynamic windows into storytelling since their inception in the 1930s. These eye-catching illustrations have transformed from simple character portraits to complex artistic masterpieces that capture readers' imaginations. The Golden Age of Comics (1938-1956) introduced iconic superheroes like Superman and Batman with bold, action-packed covers featuring bright primary colors. As printing technology advanced through the Silver Age (1956-1970) and beyond, covers became more sophisticated, incorporating detailed artwork, dramatic perspectives, and innovative design elements. Today, comic book covers continue to evolve, combining traditional illustration techniques with digital artistry to create compelling visual narratives that draw readers into their worlds.
For our next project, students will create an original comic book cover featuring a unique character, incorporating elements like a title, subtitle, publisher logo, and a well-structured visual design.
Key Vocabulary:
Foreground: The part of the image that appears closest to the viewer.
Middle ground: The area between the foreground and background in a visual composition.
Background: The part of the image that appears farthest away from the viewer.
Overlapping: When one object covers part of another, creating a sense of depth.
Publisher: A company or organization that produces and distributes books or comics.
Intro:
Today we will take a look at a video from the Art Ed Guru. He is the creator of this project and you can find many student examples of this project on his website listed below.
As you watch the video- think about these questions:
What makes a comic book cover eye-catching?
Can you think of any comic book characters that inspire you?
What elements do you notice on your favorite comic book covers?
After watching the video, begin to brainstorm your character and comic book details.
How will you design the character for your comic book cover?
What story does your title and subtitle suggest?
How will you arrange the foreground, middle ground, and background to make your cover visually appealing?
Who is your publisher?
Remember your cover must include all of these items:
Publisher Logo, Title, Subtitle
and your artwork should include a foreground, middle ground, background, and overlapping.
After brainstorming your idea and sketching an idea you will be given a piece of paper that is 10.5x6.75. This is the basic size of a comic book cover.
Our next project will take a look at the art of mosaics and stained glass. Mosaics have a long history, starting in Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BC. They were typically made from clay tiles, pebbles and sometimes glass. They often depicted religious subjects or were purely decorative. You will be able to choose any photo you would like to create for your mosaic and we will discuss how to use the Google Drawing tools in class. Take a look at the links below for inspiration and some of my examples in the photos.
This lesson will focus on using lines to create different patterns and textures.
We will look at a cool method of drawing called Zentangling, which is a fun, easy way to make some intricate looking artworks.
"The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns."
"Almost anyone can use it to create beautiful images. It increases focus and creativity, provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well being. The Zentangle Method is enjoyed all over this world across a wide range of skills, interests and ages."
We will go over how to use the site in class but here are some basic instructions for the website.
Look through the list of patterns by clicking on the letters of the alphabet at the top of the screen. All the patterns are in alphabetical order.
Look the pink links in the How to Draw sections for instructions on each pattern, or just scroll down on the page to see instructions.
PROJECT DIRECTIONS:
Create your own zentangle drawing using at least 5 different patterns in your artwork. FILL THE ENTIRE PAGE! Follow the simple instructions from the website to make intricate patterns and designs in your zentangle. Share your favorite design ideas with your classmates! How does your pattern compare to the original? How did you change it to make it your own? Did you fill the entire page?
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