Grade 6 Term 2 Visual Arts 1
2 GRAFFITI Graffiti is an art form produced by scrawling, scratching, marking or painting assorted designs or images on any surface or property. In ancient times, sharp objects like chalk or coal were used to carve graffiti markings on walls and rocks. In modern times, graffiti artists are usually found with accessories like spray paint in aerosol cans, markers, normal paints, chalks and even stencils, which help them to carry out different styles, techniques and imagination to form graffiti art. There are various styles of graffiti. Here are a few: TAG: Tagging is the simplest type of graffiti, consisting of the writer s street name in one colour. Tags are basically the graffiti writer s signature. If they are associated with a crew, they might also contain the crew s name or initials. Tags can be seen everywhere and are done in spray paint, markers or pens. If a tag is put up over another writer s tag or piece, it is considered extremely disrespectful. THROW-UPS: A throw up is a little more complicated than a tag. It usually has two or three colours. A throw up is something that can be done quickly and repeatedly. STENCIL: Using stencils is a quick and effective way to put up somewhat-complicated pieces very quickly. By holding the stencil against the wall and spraying, you can get a much more detailed picture than you would be able to, with just a spray can. Even if you use two or three layers to make a more colourful and intricate picture, stencil graffiti can be thrown up in a matter of minutes.
3 WILD-STYLE: Wild-style is a style of writing that was developed and made popular by graffiti artists in New York City. It is a complicated form of writing, which to the untrained eye, is not easy to read. Wild-style writing has arrows, spikes, curves and other elements that non-graffiti artists may have a hard time understanding. The writing is often 3D and considered to be one of the most complicated forms of graffiti. BLOCKBUSTER: A blockbuster is used to cover maximum area in a minimal amount of time, often consisting of large block letters. The blockbuster can be accomplished with paint rollers and two or three colours of paint. Usually a blockbuster is put up to cover up other work or block other writers from putting anything up on the same area. CREATIVE LETTERING We communicate our spoken language, in written form, by using letters and punctuation. Each language has its own unique system of letters, and usually, this system of representing the spoken language has to be learnt. However, symbols or signs can usually be understood by any language group, for example: SYMBOLS: The figures of women and men to show where a public toilet is located. Long before writing was invented, people used the spoken language or painted pictures on rocks. Being able to use a language and to write in that language is one of the things that make us human and different to other living species.
4 We use letters to write down and communicate our knowledge, thoughts and feelings to others or to make a record for ourselves. To make our writing easier to read, it has to be legible. In creative writing we use the art elements of line, shape, colour and texture in different ways to create new forms. We can sing or dance with our letters and this does not have to be legible! Activity 1: Preparation Collect letters of all sizes and styles from magazines, newspapers and posters. Paste them into your art book as a resource, and to provide you with ideas for your own creative writing. Research one style of Graffiti and practice that style of writing. THIS WILL COUNT TOWARDS YOUR FORMAL ASSESSMENT. THE DETAILS FOR THE ACTIVITY AND THE ASSESSMENT RUBRIC ARE ON PAGE 5 AND 6.
5 TOM NEWBY SCHOOL FORMAL ASSESSMENT SUBJECT Visual Art GRADE 6 TERM 2 TASK Graffiti ASSESSMENT Create in 2D MARKS 20 Instructions: Using the research you have done in Activity 1, choose one word that best describes you. Use an A3 page. In the centre, create the lettering of the Graffiti style you have chosen, using a word that best describes you. Decide on a colour scheme. (Remember, graffiti is bright and uses contrasting colours.) Use tone and value to create an illusion of depth in your word. Create an effective background that highlights the word as the focal point.
6 RUBRIC FOR GRAFFITI IN 2D CRITERIA 5 Outstanding 4 Substantial 3 Moderate 2 Elementary 0-1 Not achieved WORK IN ART BOOK Excellent collection of letters and well researched graffiti style. Good collection of letters and research. Fair collection of letters. Research partly done. Poor collection of letters. Partial research. No effort made to collect various letters. No research. GRAFFITI STYLE Great choice of style. Well recreated using design elements. Good graffiti style. Few errors in recreation. Fair style and recreation. Many errors in recreation of graffiti style. No style used. COLOUR CHOICE Bright and colourful design. Good choice of pastel colours. Fair colour choice. Poor colour choice. Dull colours used. One colour used. FINAL PRODUCT Excellent final product, creative and original. Design comes together well. Good example of the illusion of depth. Good use of pastels. Fair final product. Could improve on neatness Poor example of the illusion of depth No effort made. Incomplete. TOTAL: 20 MARKS