Natural Materials in Art
November 8, 2019
Project Description:
In this project, we will be experimenting with different pigments and tools found in nature, such as sticks, rocks, grasses, spices, and berries, to make an abstract painting. This will be relevant to the students because they are exposed to the natural world all the time, and can start to see the beauty in the natural world after learning how to use it in art.
Essential Understanding:
Artists and designers use natural materials to make art.
Learning Targets:
After looking at contemporary artists, students will be able to explain how artists and designers use natural materials as a way of incorporating color and texture into their art.
After introducing the four stations through brief demonstrations, (spices, berries, rocks/charcoal, plant material/dirt), using natural materials students will be able to successfully create experimental drawings and paintings that incorporate color and texture.
Key Concepts:
1. After introducing the four stations through brief demonstrations, (spices, berries, rocks/charcoal, plant material/dirt), using natural materials students will be able to successfully create experimental drawings and paintings that incorporate color and texture.
2. After looking at contemporary artists, students will be able to explain how artists and designers use natural materials as a way of incorporating color and texture into their art.
Skills:
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Imagination
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Ideation
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Exploration
"What kind of materials have you explored"
"I put berry's in the background, and then splattered spices on top"
"Why did you decide to do that"
"It adds texture"
What worked well for this art experience? Why?:
This art experience was a learning experience that allowed for students to explore something most of them haven't tried before. Students were experimenting, and mixing materials in ways they may have never thought about previously. Students were also actively engaged in learning through this experience. They were trying to mix different materials, they were going from station to station excited and ready to explore the next material. Students are around these materials all the time, so it gives them an opportunity to make art, when they might not have art supplies. This is especially important for kids who's family's might not have the resources to get art supplies at home. There are ways to make art out of materials that are not traditional art materials.
What didn't work well for this art experience? Why?:
This art experience was messy. The charcoal station in particular had charcoal all over the place. The berry station also had berry juice all over the table. This is something that we didn't plan for as much as was necessary. Students were helpful about cleaning up, they were washing the floor and the tables well. However, even after cleaning up well, it was a messy experience, and it would have been best to think that through more throughly. I think another thing that didn't work well for this experience was the reflection aspect. Since there were so many stations, and we wanted each student to explore every station, we didn't have time to do a thorough reflection. This is something that I think allows for students to share and further discover. During the other classes that we did a reflection it was really valuable. Students are also excited to share their discoveries with their classmates, so that is important to allow students to do.
What would you do differently? Why?
In order to make the experience clean up more effective, I think we should have put something down on the table and on the floor around a couple of tables. This would have allowed for us to pick that up as clean up and then wipe down the tables. I also think it would have been best to have the charcoal table far away from the rug. We had it close to the rug, so a lot of it ended up in the rug, but we couldn't necessarily see it. If it was on the normal floor, we could have more easily swept it up, and clean up would have been more effective. Those are the main things we could have done differently in this art experience. With the idea of reflection I think it may have been helpful to have students do a 1 minute reflection at their table before they move to the next station. This would allow for reflection and sharing but in a way that wouldn't take up quite as much time.