Thursday, April 11, 2013

Lesson: Multiple Me Photography

Overview:

Students work in pairs and use a digital camera and tripod to photography themselves in a scene with multiple poses. By never moving the camera, the background remains the exact same allowing the student to use basic Photoshop techniques to combine the poses into one photograph.

 

Objectives: The students will...

-Identify the various composition techniques that make s great photograph.
-Analyze photographs and determine compositional elements.
-Apply knowledge of composition techniques to his/her photography.
-Choose a theme/situation and location to photograph that makes the subject more interesting.
-Know the rules and practice them during instruction and independent practice.
-Assemble multiple photographs into one collage image that produces a Multiple Me.




 

ODE State Standards:

Standard 1; Benchmark C; Indicator 1PR, 2PR, 3PR, 5PR, 6PR,
Standard 2; Benchmark B, D; Indicator 4PE, 5PE, 2RE

Equipment:

-Digital camera
-Tripod
-Camera card/flash drive
-Photoshop
-Props
-Studio Light
-Reflector



Instruction:

Day 1: Composition

Day 2: Digital Camera Manual Mode overview and Set Up using a Tripod

Day 3-9: Photographing, 5 poses (in pairs, 1 group a day going to a location in the school while the rest of the class continues to work on previous project)

Day 10: Photoshop
-Open Test Files in Photoshop
-Drag all photos into one document using Move Tool
-Save As Photoshop File (.psd)
-Explain Layers, Name Layers
-Order Layers (Closest/Top to Furthest/Bottom
-Explain Lasso Tool to select person
-Explain Layer Mask to “Hide” information
-Explain Black/White Paint Brush to adjust the Layer Mask 





To simplify:


-2-3 photographs of the individual
-Use Eraser Tool instead of Layer Masking 

To challenge:  

-6-10 photographs of the individual  
-Multiple outfits, lots of overlap in figures  
-Include more than one composition technique


Saturday, March 9, 2013

Homemade Product Photography Setup

An inexpensive way to create your own photography studio for the classroom. I used this for product photography with my students. There is also a great YouTube video from prophotolife that I discovered that walks you through the process of setting up the homemade studio. I used this video to introduce the lesson because he uses great vocabulary and it is easy to follow and see the effects that lighting can have on an object.

Materials:

  • 2 Pan lights with high watt bulbs
  • Diffuser made from white sheet, acetate, or similar material hot glued to a frame
  • Piece of white foam core or anything white and glossy to reflect light
  • White Backdrop: white sheet, large piece of white matte board

The Setup:





The Results:

(These photos are straight from the camera, unedited)









Glamour Shots, Zombies, and Aging Portraits

This is a project I taught during my student teaching. It utilized a lot of the tools in Photoshop that are adaptable to any project or photograph. This project went over very well, and they especially enjoyed turning themselves into zombies. The students started by taking their own portraits making sure to have no major facial expression and that they were straight forward. This would make the transformations go much more smooth.

Glamour Shots

The first version the students worked on was the Glamour Shots. The tools and techniques used in this version included:
  • Layer masking
  • Making Selections
  • Layers and Adjustment Layers
  • Blending Modes
  • Filter>Noise>Median to apply a soft skin layer typically used in portrait editing
 

Zombie-fying

The second version the students worked on was the Zombie transformation. The tools and techniques used in this version included:
  • Layer masking
  • Making Selections
  • Layers and Adjustment Layers
  • Blending Modes
  • Color Balance to match peeled paint textures to apply to grunge skin textures

Aging Portraits

The final version the students worked on was aging themselves. The tools and techniques used in this version included:
  • Layer masking
  • Making Selections
  • Layer and Adjustment Layers
  • Blending Modes
  • Patch Tool and Opacity to apply wrinkles
  • Liquify to accentuate facial features


Saturday, March 2, 2013

Lesson: Grids and Guides

Overview:

This project introduces students to the grids and guides in Photoshop. They selected one subject matter to photograph from multiple angles ending up with between 10-15 photos to use for the grid project. The students composed a blank document in Photoshop and applied their own grid composition to it using the Guides and Rulers. They used the Rectangular Marquee Tool and the Layer Mask to put their photographs into their grids that they designed.


Photoshop Skills:

    • Guides and Rulers
    • Multiple Layers
    • Rectangular Marquee Tool
    • Adding Layer Masks
    • Transforming and Scaling

    Design Concepts:

    • Cropping and Composition
    • Variation in size
    • Balance, Color, & Unity
    • Hierarchy
    • Margins and Columns
    • Intro to Layout Design 




    Lesson: Typography as a Composition

    Overview:

    This project introduced students to typography and thinking of typography as a design element rather than as a literary element. The students used Photoshop and placed each letter of their name on a separate layer to enable transforming and rotating each character separately.

    Content Focus:

    • Use the characters of your name to develop a unified composition.





    Photoshop Skills:

    • Type Tool
    • Layers
    • Blending Modes
    • Character Panel for Type
    • Rotating and Scaling
    • Font exploration and experimentation

    Design Concepts:

    • Cropping and Composition
    • Unity
    • Balance
    • Positive/Negative Space
    • Line and Movement
    • Size/Scale

    Thursday, February 21, 2013

    Lesson: Abstract Composition

    Grade Level: High School Art, Painting and Pastels

     


    Overview: For this project you will you a 2”x2” viewfinder to crop an image from a magazine down to nearly total abstraction. You will use your knowledge of the Elements & Principles of Art to choose your abstract composition. The project will be blown up to 24”x24”, and it will be divided into 4 sections (equal in space, but not square). These sections will be filled in with different mediums for you to explore: Acrylic, Tempera Blocks, Oil Pastels, & Hard Pastels.


    Elements: Line, Shape, Color, Value, Form, Texture, SpacePrinciples: Balance, Contrast, Emphasis, Movement, Pattern, Rhythm, Unity

    Steps:
    1. Create a 2”x2” Viewfinder
    2. Use viewfinder and look through magazines to find a composition you would like to paint on a larger format (24”x24”)
    3. Draw the contour lines lightly with pencil onto the large paper
    4. You will divide your paper into 4 roughly equal sections (not 4 squares) and each section will be filled in using one of four mediums. They will be done in this order:
      1. Acrylic
      2. Tempera Block
      3. Oil Pastel
      4. Hard Pastel
    Objectives:
    The student will be able to…
    • Select a square composition from an image in a magazine that represents some of the elements and principles of art.
    • Draw to scale a large contour line drawing of the image using a pencil.
    • Divide the composition into four equal areas that are not square and provide balance.
    • Apply color using four mediums: acrylic, tempera blocks, oil pastels, and hard pastels.
    • Illustrate proper blending and texture techniques to achieve the appropriate desired outcomes.
    ODE State Standards:
    • Standard 1: Personal Choice and Vision
      • Benchmark B
        • Indicator 2PR, 3PR, 4PR
    • Standard 2: Critical and Creative Thinking
      •  Benchmark C
        • Indicator 1PR, 2PR, 2RE, 3RE


    Instruction:
    1. Show Georgia O’Keefe examples
      1. American Artist first on the scene in 1916
      2. Made large-format paintings of flowers, close up as seen through a magnifying lens
      3. Show examples of the elements & principles of art in her work
    2. Be inspired by Georgia O’Keefe’s technique by cropping an image from a magazine down to abstraction.
    3. Keeping in mind, composition, color, line, shape, texture, space, etc. (Elements & Principles of Art)
    4. We are using a Square format 24”x24” for our projects
    5. Cut out a viewfinder that is square (2”x2”) and look through magazines to find a composition you would like to paint on a larger format
    6. You will draw the contour lines lightly with pencil onto the large paper
    7. You will divide your paper into 4 roughly equal sections (not 4 squares) and each section will be filled in using one of four mediums.
      1. Acrylic
      2. Tempera
      3. Oil Pastel
        1. Work from dark tones to middle tones, and then add the light tones.
        2. Once pastels have been lightened it is not easy to get them back to the original dark tone.
        3. Show blending options
          1. Light Color to Blend: Start with initial color, sketchy, and slowly add in color in different directions.  Blend with a light color to mix colors together.
          2. Heavy Color to Blend: is done after a heavy saturation of heavy colors then blended with paper towel.
          3. Baby Oil Blending: Use a paper towel or cue tip with a little baby oil to blend over top of the oil pastel that you put down on your paper.
          4. Texture: add a layer of color and burnish the oil pastel in so color is mixed. Add a second layer of color on top. Use a sharp tool to cross hatch into the color to show the layer of color below.
      4. Hard Pastel
        1. Work from dark tones to middle tones, and then add the light tones.
        2. Once pastels have been lightened it is not easy to get them back to the original dark tone.
      5. Peer Assessment: Finish the lesson with a peer critique. Have students trade projects and critique their peers artwork using the Peer Critique Worksheet.

    Thursday, December 6, 2012

    The Life of Pigment: by AJ Janke and Andrea Fertgus

    This is a Prezi AJ Janke and Andrea Fertgus created for a Painting course that discusses the life of pigment throughout art history.

    Tuesday, December 4, 2012

    Art in the Workplace

    A look at how art can affect the workplace by studying art collections from Progressive Insurance Company and the Detroit Receiving Hospital. This presentation was created using Prezi

    Wednesday, November 14, 2012

    Photoshop vintage screen print poster tutorial

    Use Photoshop to create a vintage looking screen print technique to your designs. Spoongraphics lays it out step by step: http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/how-to-create-a-retro-style-typographic-poster-design

    Illustrator Vintage Texture Tutorial Limk

    ComputerArts.com has a tutorial for adding some depth and texture to a flat illustration using the Grain Texture and Halftone dots. Check it out: http://m.computerarts.co.uk/tutorials/add-depth-and-texture-illustrator


    Thursday, November 1, 2012

    Lesson: Collaborative Mural with Paper and Any Coloring Utensils

    Materials:

    - 8"x8" paper
    - Crayons, Markers, Oil Pastels, Colored Pencils, etc.
    - 1/4 of a Circle Template

     Instructions:

    1. Introduce lesson by showing Squares with Concentric Circles by Wassily Kandinsky
    2. He uses repetition and colors based on his emotion and movement while painting.
    3. Students trace 1/4 Circle Template with black marker to divide the paper.
    4. The inside is colored in with warm colors. The outside is colored in with cool colors.
    5. Variations: use patterns made with lines to fill the shapes; make solid patterns, paint and mix warm an cool colors.
    6. Hang up all of the 1/4 circle pages to make full circles like Kandinsky.

    Wednesday, September 12, 2012

    At Home Screen Printing Qwiki

    A video created in Qwiki showing the steps I used to create a screen printing studio with an exposure unit. A Qwiki is a great tool to use in the classroom as well for students to create mini videos, integrating text, images, video, and audio.

    22 Web Resources to Bring Technology into Your Classroom


    Wednesday, July 25, 2012

    Minimalist Movie Poster Design Lesson Idea

    This site shows simplified redesigns of movie posters...stripped down the the most basic and important information. This could be applied to a high school design course to get students to think about layout, important content, and to learn the tools of the design software in an enjoyable project. View the examples here...http://www.noupe.com/design/minimalist-movie-posters-and-album-artwork.html

    Sunday, July 8, 2012

    Friday, July 6, 2012

    How to: Home Made 4 Color Screen Printing Station


    A great video showing how you can make your own 4 color screen printing station at home.

    Make Your Own Light Table for Burning Screens


    In the comments of this video, I discovered an even cheaper way to make the frame for a light table...an old dresser drawer! No need for all of the measuring for the box!

    Tuesday, July 3, 2012

    Arts LIFT 2012

    Here is the 2012 Arts LIFT crew who worked on the Feed My Sheep gates and entrance to the community garden. It was a team effort by 13 students from Firestone High School, 9 undergraduate and graduate students studying art education at UA, and 2 UA faculty who worked alongside Akron sculptor, John Comunale.

    Thursday, June 28, 2012

    Lesson: Exquisite Corpse

    Grade Level: Elementary - 4th Grade


    Overview:

    Students will be in groups of 4 and each complete ¼ of the exquisite corpse by drawing one portion, passing their paper to the next student to their right, then they draw the second portion, then they pass the paper to the right, then they draw the third portion, then they pass the paper to the right, then the last student draws the last portion then they finally pass it to the right ending up at the original drawer. The paper goes in a circle ending back to the original artist.

     

    Content Focus

    • Art production – pencil drawings with markers
    • Art History – Surrealism
    • Language Arts – Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs

     

    Ohio Department of Education Standards:

    • Visual Arts Ohio State Standard 2- Creative Expression and Communication
    • Language Arts Ohio State Standard 1 - Phonemic Awareness, Word Recognition and Fluency

     

    Objectives:

    • TSW choose one noun, verb, adjective, and adverb and put each word in each of the four sections of paper.
    • TSW illustrate a noun, verb, adjective, and adverb into their 4 drawings.
    • TSW setup 2 lines into the next section below that will connect their drawing to the next section.
    • TSW complete 4 drawings that include (name, pencil/marker, figure, and part of speech word) in each drawing.

     

    Materials:

    • Sheets of 8 ½ x 11 drawing paper
    • Boxes of markers
    • Pre-sharpened pencils with erasers

     

    Teaching Instructions:

    Anticipatory Set – Introduce the lesson by telling students they are going to make Exquisite Corpses.
    • Begin by showing them a PowerPoint of Surrealist artwork and examples of the real Exquisite Corpses.
    • First describe Surrealism and the characteristics of Surrealism.
    • Exquisite Corpse was a game that the Surrealists played.
    • I will explain how it originated as a word game.
    • I will show them the artists that made the exquisite corpses.
    • How this technique got its name.
    • Show examples.
    • Explain how they created these artworks.
    Step 2: Review/Discuss – Discuss the information with the class. It is important for them to understand that the drawings were not perfect, or truly representing anything real, it was more abstract like something in a dream. It is important not to show your neighbors your drawing so they don’t know what the rest of the drawing will turn out like until the very end.

    Step 3: Objectives – The following are the objectives I will have written on the board:
    1. Write your name in the top left of the folded section.
    2. Write a word on the top right side of the page in the folded section:
      1. Section 1: Adjective
      2. Section 2: Noun
      3. Section 3: Verb
      4. Section 4: Adverb
    3. Draw a part of the figure in the folded section. Have it represent the adjective, noun, verb, and adverb.
      1. Section 1: Head to Neck
      2. Section 2: Shoulders, Arms, Stomach (Torso)
      3. Section 3: Waste to Knees
      4. Section 4: Knees to Feet
    4. Draw 2 lines passed the fold at the bottom.
    5. Each student will complete 4 drawings total with (name, pencil/marker, figure, and part of speech word) in each drawing.
    Step 4: Input and Modeling – Have two Exquisite Corpse examples already created, and one in the process.
    1. I will display them on the board for everyone to see.
    2. I will explain that we will first fold our paper into 4 equal parts.When we break into groups of 4 (1 group of 5), each of you in the group will get a chance to draw each section.
      1. Section 1: Head to Neck
      2. Section 2: Shoulders, Arms, Stomach (Torso)
      3. Section 3: Waste to Knees
      4. Section 4: Knees to Feet
    3. When you pass the paper, the first thing you need to do is put your name in the top left so I know who drew what section.
    4. Then you will write your (adjective, noun, verb, or adverb) in the top right.
      1. I will ask who knows what these terms are and ask for an example:
        1. Adjective: describing word (describes the Alien): smelly
        2. Noun: person, place or thing: Alien
        3. Verb: an action, use present tense (add “s” or “es”) walks
        4. Adverb: modifies the verb (answers the question “How?” describes how it walks): sloppily
    5. It is important to draw 2 lines into the next fold so the next person can connect to it.
    6. I will give you 5 minutes to write your name, part of speech, and draw. (Start with pencil, if you have time you can add color.)
    7. When the time is up you will fold back your drawing so the next person CANNOT see it.
    8. We will pass our paper in a circle to the right so everyone will draw on the paper in the different sections.
    9. t is important to fold back your drawing before you pass it on, because the drawing is not supposed to be seen until the end.
    10. When your paper comes back to you there will be a completed drawing on it for you to see and a Consequences-line sentence. (The group of 5 will have to return the paper to the first drawer).
    11. To help you think of what to draw each time, use the part of speech word, and draw from that. If you wrote, “smelly” maybe have smell squiggles coming off of the body.
    12. There is no talking when we are drawing, this way there is no way your neighbors will know what you are drawing and it will be a bigger surprise.

    Checking for Understanding:

    Step 5: Checking Understanding – I will ask students what a noun, verb, adjective, and adverb are. I will ask students how many sections the paper must be folded into. I will ask students what must go passed the folded line. I will ask students what they must do before they pass their paper to the right when the time is up. Finally I will ask students if talking is permitted during the drawing part of class.

    Step 6: Guided Practice - I will count the students off by 4 and break them into their groups by my dismissal. I will then pass out the paper, pencils, and markers. We will all fold our paper together with my demonstration on how to make 4 even portions. “Half like a hamburger, then half again.” When everyone has their paper folded into 4 even sections we will begin our Exquisite Corpse’s.

    Step 7: Independent Practice – Each student will begin with their own blank piece of paper divided into 4 even sections.

    I will say “ready, set, begin,” and there will be no more talking.

    All the students will begin with their own paper in the FIRST section. They will first write their name in the top left, then write their ADJECTIVE in the top right. After that they can start drawing the HEAD to NECK using their adjective as a guide, and making sure they have drawn 2 lines into the next section.

    “Times up, pencils and markers down, fold your section back, and pass to the person on your right.”

    All the students will begin in the SECOND section now. They will first write their name in the top left, then write their NOUN in the top right. After that they can start drawing the SHOULDERS/ARMS/STOMACH using their noun as a guide, and making sure they have drawn 2 lines into the next section.

    “Times up, pencils and markers down, fold your section back, and pass to the person on your right.”

    All the students will begin in the THIRD section now. They will first write their name in the top left, then write their VERB in the top right. After that they can start drawing the WASTE to KNEES using their verb as a guide, and making sure they have drawn 2 lines into the next section.

    “Times up, pencils and markers down, fold your section back, and pass to the person on your right.”

    All the students will begin in the FOURTH section now. They will first write their name in the top left, then write their ADVERB in the top right. After that they can start drawing the KNEES to FEET using their adverb as a guide. This will complete the drawing.

    “Times up, pencils and markers down. Pass to the person on your right.”

    This will return the paper back to the original drawer.

     

    Closure:

    I will end the class by telling the students to clean up their materials and return them to their designated areas. With the time that is remaining we will review our Exquisite Corpse drawings. Anyone who would like to share their Exquisite Corpse and Consequences sentence that goes with it can do so. I will tell the students to look for these to be hung in the hallway to show off their excellent teamwork in creating these wonderful Exquisite Corpses’ like the Surrealists did.

    Extensions/Modifications:

    • One extension is with the time remaining to add color to the drawing. This is not required, but will add more detail to the drawing for those who finish early within their 5 minutes.
    • Another extension is to have students draw a background for their Exquisite Corpse.

     Rubric:

      -->
    Criteria
    3
    2
    1
    Student can give an example of the following parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, and adverb) within their folded area.

    The part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, or adverb) relates to the illustration.
    Student can give an example of 3 of the 4 parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, and adverb) within their folded area.

    The part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, or adverb) relates to the illustration.
    Student can give an example of 2 or 4 parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, and adverb) within their folded area.

    The part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, or adverb) somewhat relates to the illustration.
    Student can give 1 or zero examples of the parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, and adverb) within their folded area.

    The part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, or adverb) does not relate to the illustration.
    Student has drawn 2 lines into the next section below.
    Student has drawn 2 lines into the next section below.
    Student has drawn more than 2 lines into the next section below.
    Student has drawn no lines into the next section below.
    Student completed 4 drawings that include (name, pencil/marker, figure and part of speech word) in each drawing.
    Student completed 4 drawings that include (name, pencil/marker, figure, and part of speech word) in each drawing.
    Student completed 2 or 3 of the drawings that include (name, pencil/marker, figure, and part of speech word) in each drawing.
    Student completed 0 or 1 of the drawings that include (name, pencil/marker, figure, and part of speech word) in each drawing.

    Wednesday, June 27, 2012

    CMYK Color Separations - Color Profiles


    This video explains CMYK color separations and color profiles to prepare a 4 color screen print, courtesy of Ryonet.