Thursday, February 26, 2015

Here's to Optical Illustions

NEGATIVE SPACE DRAWINGS
BEGINNING 2-D ART
india ink on construction paper w/ watercolor, tempera & tissue collage

Every year I'm so proud to show off the work of my beginning 2-d students.
They work so dang hard for me and it's such a pleasure to show their results.

We've just spent several weeks working from Dr. Betty Edward's book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, and the kids drawing skills have improved so much.  
These are large scale pieces on 18" by 24" paper.
The students are required to draw a large silhouette of a recognizable subject matter first in pencil.
Then right over top and thru that they are to draw something from nature like plants, 
trees, branches, etc. 
Lastly, they paint in the negative spaces with india ink.
Every year I give the kids an opportunity to add or perhaps change the basic requirements.

For instance in this striking piece above by senior Cyrus Salvani,
 he has decided to only draw his branches around the silhouettes rather then also thru them.
This resulted in his silhouettes really popping.
Cyrus also brought in some red tempera because I ask them to bring in at least one extra medium.

This next one was definitely a class favorite.
Junior Hapshiba Kwon did this stunning beauty above
 and brought in some lovely blue watercolor.
The piece feels so soft and gentle,
just like it's creator  :)


Christopher Wongsavanh, a junior,
 who I hope will be back next year for the Intermediate level,
did this incredible work above.
Actually, I'm hoping that all you underclassman come back for a second year, hint, hint!
I love that Chris has worked a message into his piece as many of the students did this year.

Then there is senior Melissa Lanto who created this super sweet and gentle piece.
I love how she surrounded her deer with watercolor.
She chose to draw right thru her silhouette which gives it that optical feel.

Junior Sneha Krish was out ill during the whole assignment,
and still managed to get it done,
She cleverly incorporated her illness as the theme of the work. 
Can you find the doctor and the patient?
The stethoscope and the thermometer?

Never thought of before, 
8th grader Sara Ryave bought in a 3-d twist thru wire flowers she made and attached
to her really unique silhouette idea.

And 8th grader Emily Chen knocked it out of the park with her original design idea
 then brought in just a touch of watercolor.
Lovely Em!

Junior Jane Juan does not disappoint with her whimsical silhouette,
and the sweet little dimensional butterflies she has glued on top of her design.
And her craftsmanship is impeccable.

Another of my 8th graders, 
Iris Choi,
has designed this lovely piece above, 
and has brought in the perfect amount of watercolor.

Junior Katherine Ku also chose watercolor for her carousel ride.
This piece was another class favorite.

One of my personal favorites was this one above created by junior Kevin Wu.
Love the free falling feeling this one conveys,
and the touch of red watercolor is the perfect compliment.

And our last one,
the most dramatic of the bunch,
was made by senior Karisma Dev.
Karisma went to Joann's and purchased this wispy grey chiffon fabric,
used her 3-d skills she she learned here,
 cut a long strip and used a basting stitch to gather it into one fluffy, long piece 
which she then glued in place.
I love how she chose to only border the piece partially.
That's such a great tease and treat for the eye. 

I hope you've enjoyed seeing the huge array of talent and ideas my students are bringing out.
I think sometimes they even surprise them.  :)

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