Non-Traditional Mosaic 2 Ways

In the spring semester, I had too many 7th graders to fit in my room and follow Covid protocols. The solution was to divide them into two groups and they would switch every other day between my room and another teacher with a free period's classroom. I had the choice of synchronous or asynchronous and decided that I would rather do asynchronous than try to teach on zoom and in my classroom at the same time. I tried to design a digital project for the group in the other classroom that would coordinate with what was happening in the art room. We weren't able to get as much choice as a normal semester but I think it was the best solution given the circumstances.

This is one example from 7th grade art! The digital project was a Google Drawing mosaic and the project in my room was a paint chip mosaic collage. Below are some of the digital mosaic artworks:

This also reminds me I need to send pictures to the local farm and home that donated all the paint chips! I saw an old display and asked if they were getting rid of it. They gave me a whole bag full of outdated chips!

The mosaic collages proved to be a challenge for some students mainly with time management. Some didn't quite pay attention to the size suggestion and cut their paint chips too small or chose an image that was too detailed. The students who put in the effort to finish did an awesome job.

Students could choose any color background that would show through as the "grout". I tried to use rail board or something sturdy when we could.

Digital Snow Globes

In December right before winter break my intro graphic design students "Photoshopped" themselves into a snow globe. We were able to review some of the basic skills we had already covered and introduce a few new skills. This project was fun to do and got a lot of nice comments when they were on display!

I posted the full demonstration on YouTube- you can watch the playlist here! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkaa-S6cQns_fqbVhmsF14l3Y5ztRYOD_

My example

Students were able to choose what to include inside their snow globes.

Snow globes don't have to be snowy. This student chose a beach theme.

Someone suggested adding a fisheye effect- I didn't think of that in time so I will have to test that idea next year!

 

Digital Repeating Patterns

Here's a fun project my computer graphics students completed! I learned the basic steps from a Skillshare class that was hand drawn repeating patterns. I let the students start drawing by hand but we finished on the computer. Here is a link to the handout I gave them with all the steps: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ChKRWFiFgo_rDOi1lhNMWZF8jWc1EAj8FEBXxgwHSIo/edit?usp=sharing 

 

I need to explore doing this project in Illustrator. I have only had access to an updated version of the software for about a year and am self taught so I'm not sure of the best way to do it, but I feel like it might work even better, or at least save some steps!

It was really fun to see what objects the students chose to work with.

I will admit that sometimes things don't match up perfectly when you repeat the tile, which doesn't make sense to me, but be prepared in case it happens. We were able to just make some small adjustments when zoomed in and complete a couple lines to fix things.

My Designs Now on Redbubble!

Several of my students collect vinyl stickers so I wanted to show them how they can design their own for a project in my Computer Graphics class 2nd semester. I made a few of my own designs using the Adobe Draw app and opened in Illustrator to export as a PNG so that I could get a transparent background. I uploaded the designs to Redbubble and placed an order for my stickers as well as a few others I picked out. So I have a comparison, I also ordered 10 sticker samples from StickerMule. They should both arrive in the next couple of weeks. I also want to order some sticker paper so we can try printing and cutting our own. When that is done I will be able to weigh the pros and cons of each method.

Here are some of my designs. Each image should be linked to the shop.

Sticker based on Pea Pod, Bob Ross's squirrel

There are a whole bunch of items you can order artwork on from stickers and t-shirts to shower curtains and clocks!

I had so much fun looking around on RedBubble that I uploaded some more artwork to my shop.

I will definitely keep RedBubble in mind as I do holiday shopping later this year! 

Fear

I know I'm kind of skipping around my school year here, but if you're reading this, you're likely an art teacher so I think you can roll with it. :)

I ended the school year in my intro class with the theme of Fear. I had previously used the theme with my advanced class and made the mistake of doing it in October. Unless you want gory artwork, I don't recommend that timing. I stressed to students that the fear didn't have to be a traditional phobia, it could be more of an anxiety or a challenge they had to face. Students have to be a little bit introspective to be really successful with this theme.

Anyway, I thought it would work well for the last 2 weeks of school. To make sure that the students would have time to complete the project, I encouraged them to think about using digital media. A few used paper but many incorporated photography or tried out one of our graphics tablets. 

You can get the lesson plan on the smARTteacher.

Here are some of their projects!

Fear of not fitting in

 Fear of failure and fear of not being the best

This student expressed fear of snakes since he's almost missed seeing them when walking through fields. He did a really good job on the coiled snake.

Claustrophobia

Straight digital photos  for these projects.

I think this student really captured the stress that so many feel at the end of the semester!

Next year in May, I think I'm going to do more of a daily challenge for students who have completed all their work. I forgot about just how many classes are affected by track and all of the other end of year activities. I think that would be better all around!

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.