Sponsored Educational Materials Grades 7 12 IGNITE INSPIRATION! Lesson: Stenciling With Collage Luis Gonzalez, 18, Boston Celebrate arts in education and self-expression by encouraging your students to explore their creativity and discover what they can learn through art. SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved. 674222 LIFEWTR is committed to showcasing emerging artists and believes that inspiration is as essential to life as water. This free program from LIFEWTR and Scholastic includes art lessons and activities for grades 7 12 inspired by the work of three young artists. Through hands-on art activities, students will explore techniques for illustrating characters, stenciling with collage, and creating inked black-and-white designs with color blocking. Tips for Starting the Projects Before you begin, review the following tips and use them to prepare your students for the project: Encourage students to express their creativity while working on each project. It may be tempting to copy something that already exists, but help them understand the power of their unique perspective. Ask students to focus on the fun. Explain that the projects are an opportunity for them to learn something about art and about themselves and how they see the world. Review the subject matter of each student s work for appropriateness (language, images, illustrations, etc., should not be offensive or disturbing to other students, teachers, or parents). During each project, take reasonable and customary precautions to ensure that there is no damage or injury to students. Skills Supporting National Core Visual Arts Standards VA1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. VA2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. VA8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work. Make a Career Connection As you do these projects, talk with students about careers that involve art. Explain that someone created the patterns and designs of the clothes, books, furniture, products, and other items around us that someone could be them in the future. Introduce students to three young artists David Lee (23), Luis Gonzalez (18), and KRIVVY (21) who each had a career opportunity to create a design being featured on LIFEWTR bottles. Ask students what role art may play in the careers they are interested in pursuing. In collaboration with 2018 LIFEWTR and the LIFEWTR Logo are trademarks. To learn more about LIFEWTR, visit lifewtr.com.
TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS Luis Gonzalez, 18, Boston Objective: Each student will create a dynamic and colorful painting that represents his or her voice or passion for a cause. They will learn how to make a stencil (visualizing negative space) and combine it with elements of collage using painted paper and newsprint. Time: Four one-hour sessions Note: Take all reasonable and customary precautions to ensure that there is no damage or injury to students. Stenciling With Collage Materials: For the stencils: [Note: Premade stencils can be used if cutting stencils proves too complicated.] Black markers 14" x 17" bristol or poster board Blue painter s tape Scissors Acrylic or tempera paint Sponges or brushes Pencil and paper For the collage: Brushes Clear-drying white glue SESSION #1 (1 HOUR) Step 1: Introduce students to the stencil work of legendary British street artist Banksy. Share appropriate examples with your students. The class should also study Luis Gonzalez s work above, on the poster, and on the Meet Three Young Artists handout and discuss the impact stencils have when applied to a colorful collage background. Ask your students to consider: How do the words, image, and colors come together? What message does this artwork convey? Step 2: Students will now brainstorm their own designs and messages. First, have them sketch simple graphics for their stencils on paper. They will draw the openings (negative space) that will be cut out to create the stencil. Talking Points and Tips on Creating Stencils Share the following with students: 1. When creating stencils, think about negative space. We are creating an image by taking away material, so what is left provides the outline of what you want to show. 2. If your stencil has a few parts or letters, make sure that they are not too close together. 3. If you are trying to make something that has open space like the letter O, draw connectors or small links so when you cut the stencil, the outline remains and you don t end up with a circle. Do not cut the connectors when cutting the stencil. Step 3: Have students draw their final image onto the stencil material. Using a black marker, fill in only areas to be cut out and then cut the stencil carefully. SESSION #2 (1 HOUR) Prepare the painted portion of the collage. Students should paint colorful images, abstract or representational, on 16" x 20" drawing paper. Dry flat. To learn more about LIFEWTR, visit lifewtr.com. Newspapers Colored construction paper 16" x 20" drawing paper or bristol board Acrylic or tempera paint For the base: 18" x 24" white poster board or cardboard Copies of the student handouts: Meet Three Young Artists, Project Tips, and Artist s Statement (available at scholastic.com/inspireart) Samples of Banksy s work (see bbc.co.uk, smithsonianmag.com, and banksy.co.uk for examples. Review all examples for appropriateness before sharing with students.) SESSION #3 (1 HOUR) Step 1: Assemble the collage. Have each student: Tear the painting made in Session #2, freehand or with a straightedge, into at least 5 to 10 pieces. Save all scraps. Tear newspapers (finding words and headlines to support their message ) and colored construction paper into pieces as needed. Place the pieces of the painting, newspapers, and construction paper on poster board (the base) until all white space is covered. Step 2: Using the white glue, apply the collage pieces permanently to the board, sealing all edges and creating a colorful background for the stencils. Let dry completely. SESSION #4 (1 HOUR) Step 1: Next, students will attach the stencil to their collage background using painter s tape. The stencil must lie flat on the surface of the collage. Students should paint the open areas of the stencil with a sponge, not a brush. Paint should be somewhat thick, and not runny, to reduce the likelihood of paint getting underneath the stencil. Carefully lift the stencil off and dry it before applying again. Stencils made of bristol board or poster board should hold up for at least three to five applications. Step 2: Have students complete the Artist s Statement handout and talk about their projects. Then discuss the lesson using the following assessment questions: Did this project challenge you? Was it difficult to tear up your painting to create something new? Did you develop any new skills? What statement does your finished art make?
Meet Three Young Artists My inspiration is my family and friends, music, and other artists like RETNA, Joe Ledbetter, and Aaron Kai. Favorite Materials: paper, markers, and acrylic paint DAVID LEE David Lee doodled through his classes as a kid, often connecting his illustrations with the information he was being taught so that he could easily remember it. Admiration for graffiti soon yielded an interest in type, and the Los Angeles artist began to explore fonts and artful lettering while attending middle school and taking art classes. At 23, David is still studying art. Art has taught me to just go with the flow, and with that, it has helped me get over a lot of things and to just keep pushing forward, David says. It has also taught me that everyone is different in his or her own way and that you should cherish yourself. My inspiration would be the ever changing and shifting of people and things around me. Favorite Materials: bristol paper, brush pens, and double-ended brush markers; a drawing tablet for digital art KRIVVY Toronto artist KRIVVY has been making art since she was in kindergarten a pursuit that has helped her cope with personal challenges. In the second grade, she found inspiration in the words of a teacher who told her that famous artists never stopped drawing. Now 21, KRIVVY can attest to having had ink- and marker-stained hands for most of her life. She recently worked as an artist at a community arts initiative and hopes to work as a counselor. About art, KRIVVY says, It s given me a sense of purpose and a way to connect to people and communities that I could never manage to otherwise. My inspiration is helping the people in my community find positive ways to express themselves so they can live more peaceful and interesting lives. Favorite Materials: masking tape, acrylic paint, paintbrush, stencils LUIS GONZALEZ At 18 years old, Luis Gonzalez is already making and selling art in his hometown of Boston. Being an artist as well as working toward becoming an art teacher has kept him productive and out of mischief. Art opened my eyes to other ways to live, giving me the opportunity to be the person I truly believe I am, says Luis. By having a chance to do positive things where I can express my hopes and pains, I now see a path, my path, to a productive future.
David Lee, 23, Los Angeles Project Tips Inked Black-and-White Designs With Color Blocking Tips from David Lee: When blocking out each color or shape with tape, overlap it. If you don t, there is going to be white showing. When peeling off the tape, pull away from the paint, not toward the paint. If too much paint is applied, it will take longer to dry. You still need to make sure it is dry before peeling off the tape. Illustrating Characters Tips from KRIVVY: Don t be afraid to make mistakes: It s fun to incorporate those errors into the overall character design. Try and relax yourself as much as possible when inking it makes for a smoother and more-confident line, if that s the look you re going for! To make areas look solid, outline the area in which you re coloring and then use small to large circular motions to fill in the rest of the color. Stenciling With Collage Tips from Luis Gonzalez: Make sure you put the tape and stencil down carefully so the paint doesn t leak under it. Don t be afraid to take risks. Follow your inspiration; your heart knows best. Pay attention to how the colors interact with one another. Tips on Creating 1. When creating stencils, think about negative space. You are creating an image by taking away material, so what is left provides the outline of what you want to show. 2. If your stencil has a few parts or letters, make sure that they are not too close together. 3. If you are trying to make something that has open space like the letter O, draw connectors or small links so when you cut the stencil, the outline remains and you don t end up with a circle. Do not cut the connectors when cutting the stencil. 4. Always be careful when cutting stencils and follow all safety guidelines.
David Lee, 23, Los Angeles Name: Artist s Statement After completing your project, reflect on the process and what inspired your artistic style. What does your art represent, and what do you want others to know about it? Respond to each item below. My inspiration: My approach: What my art represents and means to me: How I hope my art inspires others: Challenges I experienced during the artistic process: