Understanding Jasper Johns

Well,

Todays lesson was much better. We looked at Jasper Johns number and letter paintings. The subject matter was easy to understand. The students seem to enjoy the simplistic and colorful images. I gave step by step directions. The only personal involvement for this project was that that students used their initials. This was much easier for them to think about and it still excited them. The wax resist letter project went well. The students wanted to get more messy and did not enjoy staying within the lines of their letters. I would normally say that this is a juvenile project but for the attention deficit that exists in the group of students that I am working with and because it is a summer activity I am Ok with the lesson that I had prepared.

Arcimboldo lesson follow up...

Well, the lesson on Friday did not go as smoothly as I would have liked. You see, I think it would work in a more educational setting, but I am working in a summer program and the goal of "art time" is entertainment and if something is learned along the way then great. The students loved Arcimboldo's images. However, some of these students have severe attention deficit and the filling in of the heads was too tedious and time consuming for them. Also, I left it too open for them. Next project which will be this coming Monday needs to have more specific directions. A step by step how to type of project. Critical Thinking questions and answer sessions will work with this group of students but full out critical thinking art projects are not appropriate. So...I am off to find my ideas for Monday.  OH. P.S. budget for this gig=0 

Back in Action, Lesson Planning

Vertumnus. 1590-1591. Oil on wood. Skoklosters Slott, Balsta, Sweden.

I have decided to "re-start" my art education blog today. I am currently teaching a two day a week afternoon art program. I haven't taught by myself in 6 months, I am back in action, working on some new as well as modified lessons. So, I thought what better way to remember my lessons, but to blog about them. Even if no one is reading, I will have this blog to look back at whenever I feel a bit stuck. I don't know about you but I have lessons on Cd's and on flash drives, and in rubbermaid containers, and in books, and on and on and on. So, as a newly married woman, with a new name, and with my student teaching placement starting on September 8th; I am going to write about my summer teaching experience. I would like to remember what works, what doesn't work. What engaged the students for what could be hours or what lasted only 5 minutes.

So...I am currently working on a lesson I derived from the wonderful "incredible art department" website. The lesson is based on Giuseppe Arcimboldo. I never heard of him in any of my art survey or history classes. I just love this lesson because of the kinetic experience children can have. It involves movement, art skills, and interpretation of self.

Here is the link to the lesson:
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/high/Nerina-ArcPortraits.htm


Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s paintings of composed heads pieced together pieces of fruit, foliage, and more are a great example of collage, portraiture, and Renaissance Art.

I actually tried this lesson with high school students last summer. They seemed to like it. The results were not as detailed as I would have preferred, but they were able to finish their heads in two hours. ( i rushed along very quickly due to the time frame) I think the self expression was their favorite aspect of the project. As well as act of creating a collage of abnormal findings. I gave the students the option of making their head 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional. They could draw in their head with colored pencils or they could cut, tear, and rip images out of magazines, tissue paper, and other random materials I brought in. ) things such as feathers, textured wallpaper samples, shiny paper, etc.

This Friday I am going to try the lesson out with 8 students. All different ages. Age 8 to 15. I will let you know how it goes...