Goal (Terminal Objective):

Students will create an improvisational mixed media collage which will include a cut paper “snowflake” inspired by the work of Lane Twitchell.

Objective:

Approaching the blank paper with no preconceptions as to the final image and working quickly without revision, students will create an improvisational mixed media collage using a watercolor background and cut paper “snowflake” inspired by the work of Lane Twitchell. The Elements of Art Line, Shape, Color, Space, and Value and the Principles of Art – Emphasis, Repetition, Movement, and Balance should be included in this work.

National Standards:

Visual Arts Grades K-­4 Content Standard 1: Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes

Visual Arts Grades K­-4 Content Standard 2: Using knowledge of structures and functions

Visual Arts Grades K-­4 Content Standard 3: Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas

Visual Arts Grades K-­4 Content Standard 5: Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their works and the works of others

Purpose:

Students will experience improvisation as a tool to develop their creative skills through the use of multiple media. They will reinforce good design and technical skills, as well as their knowledge of the Elements and Principles of Art in creating their masterpiece.

New Vocabulary:

background, wet­on­wet watercolor, cool colors, warm colors, negative space, positive space, symmetrical balance, asymmetrical balance, Emphasis, Value

Materials:

student grade watercolor paper, brushes, water containers, plastic wrap, Sargent 16 Semi Moist Oval Watercolors, Sargent Art Easy Grip Triangle Colored Pencils, Sargent Art Gold Washable Glitter Glue, Sargent Art Liquid Metals Metallic Poster Paint Set, Sargent Art Chubby Brush Set, white sulphite paper, and scissors.

Time:

3­4 art periods

Introduction and Motivation (Set):

Introduce students to the concept of Improvisational Art using the definition of Chris Niedland (niedart.com). Discuss the Elements and Principles and how they can be used to create a good artistic composition.

Show examples of Lane Twitchell’s work and discuss how he used the Elements and Principles of Art in his work. Discuss how he has taken the cut paper “snowflake” to a new level.

Show an example of the finished product for this assignment and compare it to the work of Lane Twitchell. Have students discuss how this could be an improvisational assignment.

Instruction:

Demonstrate how to create a wet­on­wet watercolor background using a palette of either warm or cool colors. While the paint is still wet, slightly crumple plastic wrap and press it onto the wet painting. Several pieces may be needed to cover the painting. This will create an interesting textural design on the work.

Painting with plastic wrap

Painting after plastic wrap is removed.

Leave the plastic wrap on the painting at least 15 minutes or until the paint dries so that it will leave a pleasing texture When the painting is dry, remove the plastic wrap. It can be reused.

Demonstrate how to cut a paper “snowflake”. Have students cut at least two or more and choose their best two. Have them choose the snowflakes with the most interesting negative spaces.

Demonstrate how to use one of the snowflakes as a stencil. Place a portion of the snowflake onto the painting. Using the Liquid Metals Metallic Poster Paint and a chubby brush, stencil some of the negative space designs onto the watercolor background.

Demonstrate how to use one of the Easy Grip Triangle Colored Pencils as a shadow under each of the gold stencil lines. This will make the stencil design show up more. Be sure to use a color that will blend in well with the painting.

Demonstrate how to paint the second snowflake while the gold is drying. Have the students cut the snowflake into three to five pieces, one being larger than the other and arrange them on the page in a pleasing composition.

Have students glue their painted and cut snowflakes to the page with Sargent Art Glue Sticks. Students may use the Easy Grip Triangle Colored Pencils to enhance the snowflakes with color. This will create a darker value along one side of the snowflakes and make it look as if there is a shadow.

The last step will be to add a thin line of Gold Glitter Glue along a few lines in the snowflake to create variety, unity, and movement in the work of art.

Have students display their work and discuss their favorite parts of the improvisations. Also discuss how they may have used the Elements and Principles of Art in their work. Discuss how their work compares to that of Lane Twitchell.

Activities:

(1) Guided Practice:

1. Watch wet­on­wet watercolor demonstration with plastic wrap and students will then create a watercolor of their own using either warm or cool colors.
2. Watch snowflake cutting demonstration. Students will cut two or more snowflakes from 9”x12” white sulphite paper. They will then choose their best snowflakes to use in their artwork.
3. Students will watch the stenciling demonstration and will then use the Metallic Poster Paint to stencil the negative shapes of their snowflake onto their painting.
4. While their stenciling is drying, they can paint their second snowflake after their teacher demonstrates several ways of adding the paint to the snowflake.
5. Students can practice applying colored pencil as a light value to the paper so that the color underneath shows through.
6. They can then enhance the stencil design on their painting with a color that will create a good shadow on their painting.
7. Students will cut their painted snowflake into three to four pieces, having one piece larger than the others to create an Emphasis.
8. Students will arrange their snowflake pieces onto the painting in an aesthetically pleasing manner. They will then glue them to the painting and add light and dark values to the snowflake with their Easy Grip Triangular Colored Pencils so as to enhance the snowflake and make it stand out from the background. They might also consider adding a pattern to the snowflake to make it stand out from the background.

(2) Independent Practice and Check for Understanding: The teacher will circulate among the students as they work to make sure that they are using the materials correctly and to be sure that they understand the concepts of wet­on­wet watercolor, cutting the snowflake, shading, stenciling, and design. The teacher will ask direct questions when understanding is not observed and will redirect students in a kind and reassuring manner. Students will be encouraged and directed using positive reinforcement.

(3) Closure: Students will display their artwork and discuss their favorite parts of the improvisations. Students will be asked to identify Elements and Principles that they have used in their artwork as well as the strengths of their works. They will compare and contrast their work to the work of Lane Twitchell.

Evaluation:

Level One ­­– The finished work will be a creative improvisational watercolor snowflake collage composition using either warm or cool colors. The student will have created an aesthetically pleasing composition with the arrangement of the snowflake pieces which will have been enhanced with colored pencil. Craftsmanship, creativity, and design should be excellent.

Level Two ­­– The finished work will be a creative improvisational watercolor snowflake collage composition using either warm or cool colors. The student will have created an

aesthetically pleasing composition with the arrangement of the snowflake pieces which will have been enhanced with colored pencil. Craftsmanship, creativity, and design should be good.

Level Three – The finished work will be an improvisational watercolor snowflake collage composition possibly using either warm or cool colors – maybe both. The student will have created a composition with the snowflake pieces possibly enhanced with colored pencil. Craftsmanship, creativity, and design are poor.

Level Four ­­– The finished work shows a lack of concern with the criteria for the assignment. Various steps may be left out and the craftsmanship, creativity, and design are poor.

Extensions:

Students could use wet­on­wet paintings done on 9”x12”white sulphite paper to create other cut paper designs (using the same techniques as was used in cutting the snowflake) . These could be placed over a piece of colored construction paper and used for a cover for a handmade journal, sketchbook, textbook, box, etc.

Resources:

http://www.niedart.com/
http://www.artloversnewyork.xom
http://artnet.com
http://www.desertnews.com
http://www.sunstoneonline.com/magazine/issues/124/twitchell/erueka.asp