Batik

     Who doesn't enjoy a little fabric art?  I'm sure my piece will not influence you any direction.  But there amazing batiks out there that are certain to taint your view.  

     This little bad boy is simple a piece cut from a sheet.  For my resist I used the none expensive and less messy flour and water mixture.  Usually wax is used, but this seemed to turn out just as well.  For my dye I used tempera paint to create my own original color and dabbed on using a sponge brush.  After proper drying time-rinsed it out and behold, my creation.  Have some fun with this one.  Think what function this could serve in your life before planning out our batik.  

Wire Sculpture

     I by far got the most out of this lesson I feel.  This was truly a "walk in someone elses shoes".  Students throughout the class were assigned a disability and then asked to create a wire sculpture with what they understood.  Some students were deaf, some blind, some had limited motor skills, and some like me were english as a second language.  

     The ESL students were asked to leave the room during the directions and then our professor gave us the directions via ASL.  I got none of it.  So I observed the students around me and thought discovered I needed to make a three dimensional animal about twenty minutes later.

    It was eye opening and really got me to understand what students can undergo in a classroom.  Loved being able to experience this.

    By-the-way, my sculpture is a bee.  In case you couldn't tell.

African Mask

     First and most obvious-who doesn't love a mask?  This scary/adorable mask was created using a milk jug as its skeleton.  Then was taped in all sorts of layers to give it that leather, aged quality.  Shoe polish was then put over it to once again achieve that aged look.  The final step was putting on paint to spruce it up.  An option is to add rafia for hair.  

    This is another great integration project.  Teach about african mask and what they are used for.  An earlier post mine tells more about the culture of the african mask.  Worth checking out and your students will love it.

Scratch Board

     This was a new spin on the classic scratch board.  Created by coloring a thick layer of crayon, and then adding a layer of black tempra paint mixed with a touch of dish soap.  Of course anything can be scratched on these little pleasing puppies.  I went with the A,B, C's.  One can never be too strong with the alphabet.

Map-Themed Project

     After touring the Special Collections at Utah State University and the on campus art museum a genius (sarcasm intended) had the students make this practically pointless project.  It's a good way to integrate mapping and art as well as symbols-but I struggled with this assignment.  So I just went for it on this one and made it a map of my life at college.  Sorry if I let you down Nadra.

     All things considered-I love my map.  It's personal and representational, yet is uses literal mapping features.  I think its a home run.  Not one I hit, more like an infield home run.   

Google Sketch-Up

     Something teachers don't really realize is that we can approach art from a technological standpoint.  Google Sketch-Up is the perfect program to introduce that.  This project is also a great way to integrate.  Here I've integrated art with architecture.  The element of classic architecture I worked into my dream playhouse was the columns on the front of my structure.  

Coil and Pinch Pots

     The classic pinch and coil pots.  Step one in any introduction to clay.  The pot on the left is my pinch and the one the right is clearly my pinch pot.  Used standard clay to create these little gems.

     Oh I see you noticed these aren't your typical pots-it seems they symbolic value.  They sure do!  Here is where those petroglyphs come into play.  When the petroglyph is dry simply stamp it into your pot while the clay is still fresh.  What an excellent way to pull together a project.  (pots displayed are before firing) 

The Finished Product

Petroglyphs

     What an excellent way to integrate history and art with this hum-dinger of a good time.  Take a look at actual petroglyphs.  What symbols represent what from that prehistoric time period?  Then think of your life and what symbols you can use to represent things in your life.  I chose a mountain, sun, and a runner.  They represent my love for Utah's Mountains.  My love for anything outdoors and the need to be sun kissed in the summer.  And of course, my love for running.

    These were created using cardboard, and yarn soaked in glue.