Digital Found Object Faces

Here's a fun lesson I did with my Computer Graphics class at the beginning of the semester. In first semester we focused on a lot of different tools in Photoshop but for this first project of the new semester I wanted students to practice different ways of obtaining images. This time they were not allowed to use any images they found online, but instead could use the scanner and digital camera.

The full lesson plan can be read here as a Google Doc and the Slides presentation I showed to kick it off can be viewed here. You can also "keep" the lesson and resources on the smARTteacher.

We looked at illustrations made by Hanoch Piven, one of my favorite illustrators, and watched a chunk of his TEDx Jerusalem talk. We discussed composition and how the objects he chooses to make the facial features of his subjects often relate to their personality or life. Here are the requirements and suggestions given to the class:

• Create a self portrait using found objects for facial features. Consider using objects that represent you.
• Pay close attention to the composition- how things are arranged. Not only should the objects be composed into a face, the whole portrait should fill the space of the page so that it is interesting and eye-catching. Will you use just head and shoulders or a big head on a little body?
• Use a combination of techniques to digitize your objects- digital camera and/or scanner
• You may paint the background of the head and digitally place the objects on top
• Image size should be a minimum of 8x10 inches, 300 ppi

The students seemed to really enjoy this lesson so it will be brought back again next year. I had used Piven for inspiration at the elementary level but this was my first time introducing him to high schoolers. Click here for a mixed media Piven-inspired elementary lesson and here for a fun activity tub, the Piven box.

Piven Box

I've written about artist Hanoch Piven before, so instead of boring those of you who have been around for a while, I'll just link to the old post instead of going on and on about how great his work is. (You should also check out his website, http://pivenworld.com/)

 The first lesson I designed based on Piven's artwork was a mixed media self portrait lesson where the objects chosen for facial features were supposed to represent the student. I wanted to come up with something more hands on to expose my younger students to his work. It's obvious that Piven uses actual objects when composing his portraits but I knew letting students make something permanent with real objects would not be realistic- I have usually 110+ students in each grade so that would be a lot of objects to collect!

My solution was to put together a Piven box that can be used during rotations. I collected a bunch of random objects that students can arrange on top of colored construction paper when it is their group's time at the Piven table. I created a document with some images and a brief explanation of his work to the lid as a reminder. After the students create their portraits, they write their name on a scrap of paper, place it next to the portrait, and I snap a photo for Artsonia. The only real challenge is keeping the box from turning into a trash can but I usually have a few students who like to organize things check it at the end of class.

 I don't think my Kinders or 1st graders have tried this out yet but it was a hit with 2nd and 3rd grade students this spring.

 Some students went beyond the paper to make big pictures, like the bird below.

 I decided to get in on the fun and make a hippo.

I plan to keep adding objects to my Piven Box and maybe someday I'll have a kit for each table!

Artsy iPhone Apps

My husband has had an iPhone for about a year and a half... I never thought I needed one but when we had upgrades available, I got his old iPhone and I love it!  The first application I added is called Faces iMake and it is AWESOME!  The application made the list of top educational apps.  Faces iMake is based on the artwork of Hanoch Piven who I discovered earlier in the school year.  (Check out the Piven-inspired self portraits my 4th grade students made!)  I started with the free "lite" version and decided to add the premium version for $1.99 that lets you have more choices and more control over the elements you add.  You can make your own faces and digital collages and see lots of cool images at FacesiMake.com and on their facebook page.  The picture below was made by my 5 year old niece.  Oh! You can make portraits of your contacts and set it to display when they call!

***I just saw that you can vote for Faces iMake for best artistic app! http://bestappever.com/v/rtst/O/389101695

My other favorite App so far is the free MoMA app that "puts a museum in your pocket".  The App lets you find out about their schedule, programs, etc. but what I really like is that you can search their collection.  You can see images of most of the work in their collection on your phone, read a description, and even zoom in to see details.  You can also read a lot of information about the artist and even search through a giant list of Art terms.  I don't know how many of my students have iPhones or iPads being in a low income area but I am going to recommend both of these applications when I return to school!

4th Grade Piven-Inspired Self Portraits

After I learned about Hanoch Piven, I immediately came up with an idea for a self portrait project.  I really like this project and have to brag a little- the students and all the teachers and my principal LOVED this project!  Piven is an artist who uses real objects that represent a person to make their portrait.  You can see lots of great examples on his website.  On the first class period of this project, I introduced the artist and we spent some time exploring his website and blog.  The students were super excited and several wrote down the name of his website so they could show their parents at home.  We talked about how the portraits were not totally realistic, more like caricatures that show personality.  I explained the assignment to the students: make a mixed media self portrait that shows your personality.  With the remaining time in the first class, the students the students drew a simplified outline for their portraits.  I asked them to draw their heads at least as big as their hands.  To get rid of the floating head thing that was going on, the students either added a neck and shoulders or some made tiny bodies.

 In the second class, students used tempera paint to add color.  We talked about dry brush and I tried to emphasize not adding water to the tempera paint since we were painting on construction paper.  I went around and put out paint on palettes trying to match skin tones and hair color.  I asked the students what colors they wanted for their shirts and background.  There is probably a better way I could have handled distributing paint since that's all I did the whole class but I was afraid of how much would get wasted if I just let the students have at it.  Maybe after teaching a couple more years I won't care so much!  I usually use tempera cakes with my younger students but wanted to use liquid tempera for this project.  Some classes were really good listeners and had plenty of time to paint their backgrounds, some classes were a little more talkative and didn't have time to paint their backgrounds.  Either way looked fine in the end.

 In the third class period, the students looked through magazines and catalogs for images that they could cut out to use as symbols for their facial features and as symbols to represent their personality.  I knew that it wouldn't work to use real objects like the artist.  I don't see my students often enough for them to remember to bring things to Art class and the income level is pretty low.  I thought that this worked pretty well as a substitute!

If you do this project, you REALLY need to talk to the students about carefully trimming around the object.  Some students just kind of chopped out the pictures so I tried to check before they glued down to make sure the whole background was removed.  I eventually started showing a picture that was carefully cut and one that was not carefully cut so they could see the difference and how craftsmanship improves your artwork.  Another thing that a lot of students tried to do at first was to just cut out part of the picture of the object.  Example: A student shows me his artwork and I ask what his nose was made of.  He tells me the "handle of a magnifying glass".  I asked why he didn't cut out the whole thing so we could tell what it was, and I could tell it never occurred to him!  It's a little harder to figure out the symbolism if you can't tell what the object is.  I tried to find a variety of magazines for the students to use and the best thing I am SO glad I grabbed, were supply catalogs that were being recycled in the work room!  With so many of my students especially interested in PE and sports, the catalog was a perfect place for them to find pictures without a hand holding onto the football or something else covering part of it.  I wish I had not put in the Oriental Trade Co. catalog, mostly because students fought over it and fixated on one little category like Halloween toys.  Oh!  I also did not let students cut out pictures of noses, eyes, etc. to make their facial features.  I wanted a little more creativity than that.  (I'm trying to record all of this so I can remember it next year!)

Here are some photos of the student artwork, though I could have posted all 100+ of them!

I love how this student decided to use school supplies to make a body!  LOVE the pencil arms and legs!

He didn't listen to my "glue everything you have cut out now because we are almost out of time" warning and as a result doesn't have eyes, but I still really like the milkshake for a nose and half a doughnut for a mouth.

I am trying really hard to make descriptions to hang next to the projects so people understand the what, why, and how!

Hanoch Piven

I am in LOVE with this artist's work!  I learned about Hanoch Piven about a month ago while perusing Daniel Pink's blog.  I am getting started with a 4th grade project inspired by his work so I will post pictures as students finish.  (Unfortunately with our schedule, this will not be for at least a month!)  Piven has made illustrations for numerous books and magazines and has even had some of his own books published.  "My Best Friend is as Sharp as a Pencil" has visual similes and just looks very creative and fun.  Click on the picture above to be directed to his blog and see more illustrations from the book!

I'm hoping to buy some of his books when I get my PTO money and put the rest on my Christmas list to add to my personal collection.  (I especially want "The Perfect Purple Feather" for my younger students.)  Here is a video of Piven talking about his work on the news.