Art Education Daily

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

diorama of a fashion window display lesson plan

Student diorama of a fashion window display.

Title: Diorama of a fashion window display

Unit Title & Sequence Number: Fashion Design I: Lesson IV

Goals/Objectives:

Students will be able to interpret a 2-dimentional sketch into a 3-dimentional display no smaller than the standard sized 12’’x12’’ pizza sized box.
Students will be able to research window displays on the internet and/or in public spaces in order to gain inspiration and design concepts for this assignment.

Missouri Show-Me Standards:

(VA2) FA2 - Artists communicate ideas through artworks by selecting and applying art elements and principles.

GLEs:

EP.2.C.HS Level 4 Select and use elements of art for their effect in communicating ideas through artwork. Use forms expressively to communicate ideas.
EP.2.D.HS Level 4 Select and use elements of art for their effect in communicating ideas through artwork. Use textures expressively to communicate ideas.
Ep.2.C.HS Level 3 Select and use elements of art for their effect in communicating ideas through artwork. Identify and create complex form in-the-round

Grade Level: High School (10 – 12)

Length of Class Period: 55 minutes a day, five days a week

Frequency of Class Periods Needed To Complete Lesson: Approximately fifteen, days will be necessary for the completion of this project. Students are given four weeks to complete and submit large studio projects during my fashion design courses because sketchbook assignments are also worked on during class at the same time.

Facility & Equipment Requirements:

large tables
good lighting
computer for power point presentations
large locked cabinet and keys
blackboard
sink

Resources:

Fashion window display power point
“Fashion Design Drawing Course” by Tatham/Seaman

Materials:

markers, colored pencils, pastels, watercolors
cardboard box, 12”x12” inch pizza box
variety of papers and chipboard
white glue

Vocabulary Words: All vocabulary definitions were taken directly from “Fashion Design Drawing Course” by Tatham/Seaman

target market – The range of target customers that a retailer aims to satisfy.
working drawing – The representation of a garment as it would look laid out flat, rather than drawn on a figure. Used to convey precise information about the construction, trims, finishes, and any other details of the pieces. Also known as “flats,” or technical or specification drawings.
presentation board – A light foam board available in various sizes from art supply stores. Used for presenting work to tutors, employers, and clients.
Range – Used interchangeably with “collection” to describe the group of garments produced each season by a designer. “Range” has also more specifically commercial overtones, indicating a selection of coordinating garments that offers maximum choice to the customer within the parameters of the range.
mixed media – A combination of different media within the same image. Possible media include color pencils, oil pastels, crayons, gouache, watercolor paints, pen and ink, or even a computer or photocopier
color theming – Giving the items in a collection a common identity through the repeated use of certain colors
mixed media – A combination of different media within the same image. Possible media include color pencils, oil pastels, crayons, gouache, watercolor paints, pen and ink, or even a computer or photocopier

Step-by-step Activity Specifics:

1. Students will first be shown a power point presentation of the studio assignment

2. Students will be given an opportunity to search for window displays online during a visit to the technology lab or library computer lab

3. Students will be asked to bring an appropriate 12’x12’’ pizza box or large shoe box to class in order to cut and paste paper and textile elements into it to create a diorama.

4. Students will make sketches and review their ideas with peers and the teacher in class prior to beginning the studio assignment

5. The teacher will give a simple demonstration of diorama techniques

6. Students will be given ample time to finish and turn in their project

Health & Safety Concerns: There are no health and safety concerns for this lesson.

Special Needs Adaptations:

Modifications for the hard-of-hearing or deaf student:

Student will be seated closer to instructor so they will be better equipped to hear instructions or read lips
Student will be provided with written instructions so that they read about the discussions and demonstrations
The instructor may use a amplification devise provided by the school or student’s parents

Modifications for the student with limited vision or blindness:

Students will be allowed to observe samples of art projects with their hands and for extended periods of time
Students will be provided with safe tools and one-on-one guidance during a demonstration of the project
The project may be slightly adjusted to accommodate the student’s limitations or for safety reasons
Student will be given ample time to exist classroom before large crowds gather outside of the classroom.

Modifications for students with mild brain injury:

Students will be provided with duplicate instructions for home and school. Student will not need to remember to carry home materials to review.
Students will be given ample time to exist classroom with a pre-determined aid or peer before the official end of a class.
Instructor will provide for parent e-mail communication concerning the progress and needs of their student.
Student may be given special seat assignment in order to enable his participation in class appropriately. Specific peers may be better equipped to articulate projects visually for this student.

Cleanup Time & Strategy: At the end of every school class period, students are expected to take a few minutes to clean their area, store their supplies and shelf their art project in an area set aside for their work. Storage space in a locked cabinet is reserved for fragile work if needed.

Assessment: An art rubric and a class critique day will be assigned for the grading of this project.

Reflection & Revision: This must be filled out at a later date.

Lesson plans and jpgs copyrighted by Grimm 2001

excluding vocabulary definitions, from “Fashion Design Drawing Course” by Tatham/Seaman

Window Displays on The Web:

Monday, September 12, 2011

what are your favorite christmas stories to read aloud?

Question: What are your favorite Christmas stories to read aloud?

Answer: We recommend the following selections of Christmas Books for parents to read aloud to their children during the holidays. Some of these are suitable for public school classrooms and some are more suitable for the home or parochial schools.

"The Birthday of a King" by Bob Hartman Michael McGuire

"A Taxi Dog Christmas" by Debra and Sal Barracca, Illustrated by Alan Ayers - "Maxi and Jim the taxi driver gladly interrupt their Christmas celebration to lend Santa a hand." publisher

"Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Barbara Shook Hazen Adapted from story by Robert L. May, Illustrated by Richard Scarry. "Here is a delightful version of the tale of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer--the little reindeer so well known in song and story." publisher

"One Wintry Night" by Ruth Bell Graham, Illustrated by Richard Jesse Watson. "Ruth Bell Graham retells the Christmas story in a contemporary setting, beginning with creation and closing with Christ's resurrection." publisher

"All Is Well" by Frank E. Peretti - Poverty stricken and low on hope. A divorced mother and her daughter prop up their sagging spirits and keep the flames of faith alive by clinging to a phrase heard on a previous Christmas, "All is well."" publisher

"Frosty the Snowman" Adapted from the song of the same name, retold by Annie North Bedford, illustrated by Corinne Malvern. "Frosty the Snow Man was born in 1950 as the subject of a phonograph record, and soon after appeared in many different forms. He has been in numerous Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Parades. Unlike other snow men, he is at home even in the warmest parts of the United States." publisher

"This is the Star" by Joyce Dunbar and Illustrated by Gary Blythe.

"Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree" by Robert Barry.

"Christmas at Long Pond" by William T. George, paintings by Lindsay Barrett George. - "Father and son observe the plant and animal life around Long Pond before finding just the right Christmas tree." publisher

"The Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore, Illustrated by Ted Rand (our favorite version)

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" by Tim Burton - "When the king of Halloween decides he wants a new holiday, Christmas will never be the same." publisher

"The First Noel", Illustrated by Jody Wheeler - "Illustrated version of the well-known carol in which an angel appears to poor shepherds to announce the birth of Christ.

"The Steadfast Tin Soldier" by Hans Christian Anderson and Illustrated by Fred Marcellino - (our favorite illustrated version)

"The Advent Book" by Jack and Kathy Stockman - A MUST Have for Christian parents celebrating the true gift of Christmas with their small children this Christmas. (Crossway Books a division of Good News Publishers.)

"Santa's Book of Names" by David McPhail - A young boy who has trouble reading helps Santa with his yearly rounds and receives a special Christmas present.

"Winnie The Pooh's Stories For Christmas" by Bruce Talkington, Illustrated by John Kurtz

"The Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburg

"How The Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss

Asian Art of Ink Wash Power Point

In an old Chinese legend, an artist named Zhang Sengyou (張僧繇) was asked to paint a mural in a temple. He painted four dragons but left out the pupils from their eyes. The Abbot asked him why. Zhang explained that if he painted the pupils, the dragons would come alive. When the Abbot insisted, Zhang proceeded to paint two of the dragons’ eyes. As soon as he finished painting the pupils on two of the dragons, they roared to life and flew away in a thunderous flash of lightning. The two dragons that had no pupils stayed on the wall.

This story embodies the philosophy of East Asian ink wash painting. The goal is not simply to reproduce the appearance of the subject, but to capture its soul. To paint a horse, the ink wash painting artist must understand its temperament better than its muscles and bones. To paint a flower, there is no need to perfectly match its petals and colors, but it is essential to convey its liveliness and fragrance. East Asian ink wash painting may be regarded as an earliest form of expressionistic art that captures the unseen.

East Asian ink wash painting has long inspired modern artists in the West. In his classic book Composition, American artist and educator Arthur Wesley Dow (1857–1922) wrote this about ink wash painting: "The painter ...put upon the paper the fewest possible lines and tones; just enough to cause form, texture and effect to be felt. Every brush-touch must be full-charged with meaning, and useless detail eliminated. Put together all the good points in such a method, and you have the qualities of the highest art". Dow's fascination with ink wash painting not only shaped his own approach to art but also helped free many American modernists of the era, including his student Georgia O'Keeffe, from what he called a 'story-telling' approach. Dow strived for harmonic compositions through three elements: line, shading, and color. He advocated practicing with East Asian brushes and ink to develop aesthetic acuity with line and shading.

Shading in ink wash painting refers to the varying ink density produced by grinding an ink stick in water. Ink wash painting artists spend years practicing basic brush strokes to refine their brush movement and ink flow. In the hand of a master, a single stroke can produce astonishing variations in tonality, from deep black to silvery gray. Thus, in its original context, shading means more than just dark-light arrangement, it is the basis for the beautiful nuance in tonality unique to East Asian ink wash painting and brush-and-ink calligraphy. (Wikipedia)

The following slides of Asian ink wash paintings are created for art educators who wish to design a Power Point presentation for an art project that I will include with my collection of lesson plans in the near future. Read the Terms of Use before downloading the jpgs. and click on the thumbnails to download the very largest photo available.

Hasegawa Tohaku, 1539 - 1610

Shiokawa Bunrin, Japanese, 1808-1877
River Landscape with Fireflies , 1874
Both screens are at The Nelson Atkins Museum, Kansas City Missouri

Japanese screen at Tokyo National Museum

Dong Qichang. The Qingbian Mountains

Henry Moore Power Point

The Art Gallery of Ontario's Henry Moore collection is the largest public collection of his works in the world.

Henry Spencer Moore (30 July 1898 – 31 August 1986) was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art.

His forms are usually abstractions of the human figure, typically depicting mother-and-child or reclining figures. Moore's works are usually suggestive of the female body, apart from a phase in the 1950s when he sculpted family groups. His forms are generally pierced or contain hollow spaces. Many interpreters liken the undulating form of his reclining figures to the landscape and hills of his birthplace, Yorkshire.

Moore was born in Castleford, the son of a mining engineer. He became well-known through his larger-scale abstract cast bronze and carved marble sculptures, and was instrumental in introducing a particular form of modernism to the United Kingdom. His ability in later life to fulfill large-scale commissions made him exceptionally wealthy. Yet he lived frugally and most of the money he earned went towards endowing the Henry Moore Foundation, which continues to support education and promotion of the arts. (Wikipedia)

The following slides of Henry Moore's sculptures (from the Nelson Atkins Museum/ Kansas City Sculpture Park) are created for art educators who wish to design a Power Point presentation for an art project that I will include with my collection of lesson plans in the near future. Read the Terms of Use before downloading the jpgs. and click on the thumbnails to download the very largest photo available.

Henry Spencer Moore, English, 1898-1986, b. Yorkshire, England
Two-Piece Reclining Figure No. 9, 1968

Henry Spencer Moore, English, 1898-1986, b. Yorkshire, England
Upright Motive No. 9, 1979

Henry Spencer Moore, English, 1898-1986, b. Yorkshire, England
Reclining Connected Forms, 1969

Henry Spencer Moore, English, 1898-1986, b. Yorkshire, England
Seated Woman, 1958-1959; cast 1983

Henry Spencer Moore, English, 1898-1986, b. Yorkshire, England
Three-Way Piece No. 1: Points, 1964-1965; cast 1966

Henry Spencer Moore, English, 1898-1986, b. Yorkshire, England
Large Torso: Arch, 1962-1963; cast 1963

Henry Spencer Moore, 1898-1986 Sheep Piece, 1971-72

Friday, September 9, 2011

Sewing Book Covers

A book cover is any protective covering used to bind together the pages of a book. Beyond the familiar distinction between hardcovers and paperbacks, there are further alternatives and additions, such as dust jackets, ring-binding, and older forms such as the nineteenth-century "paper-boards" and the traditional types of hand-binding. This article is concerned with modern mechanically produced covers.

It seems that the first printer to introduce mechanical book-binding was the printer Jorg Schappf, (from Augusta), in particular the Chiromantia, in 1488. Before the early nineteenth century, books were hand-bound, in the case of luxury medieval manuscripts using materials such as gold, silver and jewels. For hundreds of years, book bindings had functioned as a protective device for the expensively printed or hand-made pages, and as a decorative tribute to their cultural authority. In the 1820s great changes began to occur in how a book might be covered, with the gradual introduction of techniques for mechanical book-binding. Cloth, and then paper, became the staple materials used when books became so cheap – thanks to the introduction of steam-powered presses and mechanically-produced papers – that to have them hand-bound became disproportionate to the cost of the book itself.

Not only were the new types of book-covers cheaper to produce, they were also printable, using multi-color lithography, and later, half-tone illustration processes. Techniques borrowed from the nineteenth-century poster-artists gradually infiltrated the book industry, as did the professional practice of graphic design. The book cover became more than just a protection for the pages, taking on the function of advertising, and communicating information about the text inside.

The Book Cover Archive
Grand Valley State University digital collections – contains photographs of decorated publisher bindings from the 1870s to 1930
Historical book cover design gallery
Pulp fiction cover gallery
The Art of Penguin Science Fiction The history and cover art of science fiction published by Penguin Books from 1935 to the present day
Thomas Bonn Collection of Publishers Interviews – more than 100 audio interviews with publishers, art directors, etc. on the topic of cover art

Sewn book covers are very popular project assignments in both sewing classes and fine art classes. I will link to some fun examples below.

Sewing Rag Dolls

Lovely ethnic rag dolls.

      The name "rag doll" originates from the Greek word, "ragette dolu", a term used to describe a poorly dressed girl. A rag doll is a children's toy. It is a cloth figure, a doll traditionally home-made from (and stuffed with) spare scraps of material. They are one of the most ancient children's toys in existence; the British Museum has a Roman rag doll, found in a child's grave dating from 300 BC.
      Rag dolls have featured in a number of children's stories, like the 19th century character Golliwogg, Raggedy Ann in the 1918 book by John Barton Gruelle and the British children's television series Bagpuss Ragdolly Anna and the popular "Raggybaggy" The character of Sally from the hit movie Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is also a rag doll.
      Today, many rag dolls are commercially produced to simulate the features of the original home-made dolls, such as simple features, soft cloth bodies, and patchwork clothing.

Some of the most charming rag dolls ever:

Mitten Sewing Projects

Gloves which cover the entire hand but do not have separate finger openings or sheaths are called mittens. Generally, mittens still separate the thumb from the other four fingers. They have different colors and designs. Mittens have a higher thermal efficiency than gloves as they have a small surface area exposed to the cold.

The earliest mittens known to archeologists date to around 1000AD in Latvia. Mittens continue to be part of Latvian national costume today. Wool biodegrades quickly, so it is likely that earlier mittens, possibly in other countries, may have existed but were not preserved. An exception is the specimen found during the excavations of the Early Medieval trading town of Dorestad in the Netherlands. In the harbour area a mitten of wool was discovered dating from the 8th or early 9th century. Many people around the Arctic Circle have used mittens, including other Baltic peoples, Native Americans and Vikings. Mittens are a common sight on Ski slopes, as they not only provide extra warmth but extra protection from injury.

Sewing your own mittens is both fun and easy!

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