8th-Comic Book Covers

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. 

https://www.artedguru.com/home/comic-book-covers

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. 

6th- Digital Mosaics in Google Drawings

 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.

https://www.artsyshark.com/2019/11/18/featured-artist-carol-davis/

https://www.mountainliving.com/hand-cut-stained-glass-mosaics/

https://jkmosaic.com/translucent-stained-glass-mosaic/

DIRECTIONS:

Find an image to recreate as a mosaic and save it.

Upload your photo into Google Drawings.

Using the tools we discuss in class, create your mosaic. 

5th- Zentangles

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."

This is the official Zentangle website

https://www.zentangle.com/

This site has many step by step instructions to help you make your zentangle patterns.

USE THIS SITE FOR ALL OF YOUR PATTERNS!!

http://tanglepatterns.com/

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?

AR Standards: CR1.5.1 CR2.5.1 P6.5.2 R7.5.1

6th Grade- Henna Hand Zentangles

Our first project will take us halfway around the world to an ancient tradition practiced for over 5000 years. You will create a henna design on a hand using the zentangle method and then color your design using crayons or colored pencils. Zentangles and henna designs will create awesome patterns and textures in your artwork.

Check out this link about henna --> http://www.art-is-fun.com/henna-hand-designs
Here are two links on zentangles --> https://www.zentangle.com/   http://tanglepatterns.com/

Origin of Henna

The art of henna (called mehndi in Hindi & Urdu) has been practiced for over  5000 years in Pakistan, India, Africa and the Middle East. There is some documentation that it is over 9000 years old.  Because henna has natural cooling properties, people of the desert, for centuries, have been using henna to cool down their bodies.  They make a paste of henna and soak their palms and soles of the feet in it to get an air conditioning affect.  They feel its cooling sensation throughout the body for as long as the henna stain remains on their skin.  Initially, as the stain faded away, it left patterns on the skin surface which led to ideas to make designs for decorative purposes.  In the ancient Egyptian times mummies wore henna designs and it is documented that Cleopatra herself used henna for decorative purposes.

Henna was not only a popular adornment for the rich but the poor, who could not afford jewelry, used it to decorate their bodies as well.

Henna in the West

Today people all over the world have adopted the ancient traditions of adorning their bodies with the beautiful natural artwork created from the henna plant.  It became a very popular form of temporary body decoration  in the 90's in the US and has become a growing trend ever since.  Celebrities like Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Yasmine Bleeth, Liv Tyler, Xena, and many others proudly adorn their bodies with henna and show them off in public, movies, videos, etc. People throughout the west have adopted the eastern tradition in their lives by having their hands and feet painted for weddings, bellies painted while in pregnancy, heads adorned with henna while going through chemotherapy, scars camouflaged to make them unnoticeable, etc.

DIRECTIONS:

STEP 1: TRACE YOUR HAND, PUT YOUR HAND TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE PAGE SO YOU CAN HAVE SOME OF YOUR WRIST TO DRAW ON.

STEP 2: CHOOSE A TRADITIONAL OR ZENTANGLE STYLE HENNA HAND DESIGN.

STEP 3: CREATE YOUR DESIGN IN YOUR HAND. USE THE WEBSITES PROVIDED ABOVE TO HELP WITH YOUR DESIGNS.

ZENTANGLE HAND

TRADITIONAL HAND

AR Standards: CR2.6.1 R8.6.1 R9.6.1 CN10.6.1 

5th- One Point Perspective

One point perspective is a drawing method that shows how things appear to get smaller as they get further away, converging towards a single 'vanishing point' on the horizon line. It is a way of drawing objects upon a flat piece of paper (or other drawing surface) so that they look three-dimensional and realistic.

Drawing in one point perspective is usually appropriate when the subject is viewed ‘front-on’ (such as when looking directly at the face of a cube or the wall of building) or when looking directly down something long, like a road or railway track. It is popular drawing method with architects and illustrators, especially when drawing room interiors.

https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/one-point-perspective-drawing

Activity:

Today you will begin creating a drawing in one point perspective.

Use the steps from the website below to help you create your one point perspective drawing.

After you finish the steps in the tutorial, be creative and finish your drawing how ever you would like.

Color your piece and turn into Artsonia.

http://elementaryartfun.blogspot.com/2012/02/drawing-steps-for-one-point-perspective.html

This is the basic drawing

After you complete the basic drawing, finish it in a colorful, creative way.

8th- Doodles

 

Keith Haring

Mr Doodle

Doodle Boy 

Links about doodling and choosing a topic

https://www.bulbapp.com/u/fill-the-page-doodle-challenge

https://asubtlerevelry.com/easy-doodle-art/

DIRECTIONS:

1. Create a mind map for your doodle project. Begin with your theme in the middle and make bubbles that expand from that with different ideas for your theme. 

A mind map is a diagram used to visually organize information into a hierarchy, showing relationships among pieces of the whole.[1] It is often created around a single concept, drawn as an image in the center of a blank page, to which associated representations of ideas such as images, words and parts of words are added. Major ideas are connected directly to the central concept, and other ideas branch out from those major ideas.

2. Begin sketching doodle ideas for your final piece in your sketchbook or on a piece of loose paper. You may use the site https://thenounproject.com/ to help you with references for symbols. 

3. Final Drawing (Starting next week)

Zentangle Animals

Click the link for instructions.

 https://macedoniartroom.weebly.com/project-zentangle-animals.html