Sports Spheres 

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Sports Sphere using painting techniques learned in class
• Use shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), form (two dimensional, three dimensional), and value (lightness, darkness) inspired by Dutch Artist (1898-1972) M.C. Escher
• Use shading techniques (hatching, short dashes, circulism, blending) and design principles (composition, gradation, repetition) based on Realism 
• Define Sphere (a three dimensional figure with no edges, corners, and center point)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Three Spheres II (1946) M.C. Escher

2. Read Spheres by Nancy Furstigener

3. Discuss Questions "What visual information disappears when I squint at the sphere? How does the contrast in the scene change when I squint? Does anyone know what we call this shape? What can you tell me about this shape? Are ball, circle, and sphere the same or different? What is the difference between a ball, circle, and sphere? What is the role of art? How can art affect people's daily lives as they encounter it in public space? How should art speak to people outside of a museum or gallery? Who do artist make their artwork for? What constitutes a public and what constitutes public space? How do we respond to the crisis of the limited audience for art and art institutions? How should art speak to the public and through what means?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use three geometric shapes (circle, oval) to create a three-dimensional sphere for sphere drawings

2. Use line variation (thick, thin) to show type of object (baseball, basketball, bowling ball) for sphere drawings

3. Use complementary colors (red green; orange blue; purple yellow) to fill in positive space (object) of Sports Sphere

Day Two, Art Start 

1. Retrieve Sports Sphere for Assigned Table

2. Three Spheres I (1945) M.C. Escher 

3. Discussion Questions "What type of lines are being used in this artwork? How did this artist use space? How does your eye move through this artwork? What elements of this artwork seem real? What adjectives would you use to describe this artwork? What verbs would you use to describe this artwork? What do we know about the artist after viewing this artwork? If you could ask the artist a question, what would you ask him? What do you think this artwork was created for? How do you think this artwork was made? Why do you think the artist created this work? What do you think the artist is trying to say in this work? What is the meaning or message?"

Lesson Activities 

1. Use complementary colors (red green; blue orange; yellow purple) to fill in the negative space (background) of the sphere drawing

2. Add patterns (dots, stripes, wavy) to fill in the negative space (background) of the sphere drawing

3. Use neutral colors (white) to fill in the highlights (reflective light, light source) of the Sports Spheres 

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Sports Spheres for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (water bucket, paint brush, watercolor)

Lesson Activities 

1. Use neutral colors (black) to fill in the shadows (cast shadow, shadow) of the sphere drawings

2. Add tints (reflective light, light source) to subject matter (sphere) of sphere drawings 

3. Use drawing tools (pencils, oil pastel, chalk) to add details to the Sports Spheres

Artist Examples

Student Examples