MiSs Rs ArT RoOm

 Alexander Calder Mixed Media Fish

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Alexander Calder Mixed Media Fish using sculpture techniques learned in class
• Use primary colors (red yellow blue), form (two dimensional, three dimensional), and texture (actual implied visual) inspired by American Sculptor (1898-1976) Alexander Calder
• Use art element: shape (geometric, organic, free form) and design principles (movement, balance, composition) based on Modern Art
• Define Kinetic Art (any art medium that contains moving elements or requires movement from the viewer)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Fish (1944) Alexander Calder 

2. Read Alexander Calder: The Art Of Invention by The Bellagio Gallery Of Fine Art

3. Discussion Questions "Who is Alexander Calder? Was Alexander Calder always an artist? What is Alexander Calder most famous for? What was Alexander Calder's favorite subject? What was Alexander Calder's favorite drawing material? What was Alexander Calder's thoughts on sculpture? How can art be realized? Which are some of Alexander Calder's key works? How did Alexander Calder transport some of his artworks? What do critics think of Alexander Calder's artwork? How do you think this artwork moves? Do you feel you are caught in a blustery snowstorm? Do you think Alexander Calder captured the magic of fishing in this performance? What do you think of his work? Does it remind you of anything you have seen before? Have you ever tried to make a mobile?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose Three 12 X 12 Primary Colored Wires 

2. Use three composition elements (shape, color, texture) to represent a Michigan Fish (bowfin, goldfish, minnow, catfish, salmon, trout) for the fish sculptures 

3. Use line variation (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) as a design principles (movement, composition, balance) of the Alexander Calder Mixed Media Fish

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Alexander Calder Mixed Media Fish for Assigned Table

2. Finny Fish (1948) Alexander Calder

3. Discussion Questions "Do you think Alexander Calder balanced this mobile? How do you imagine it stands within the space? Has Calder created a whole new art form? What does this stabile remind you of? Why do you suppose Calder gave the stable a descriptive name (red horse) but left the mobile with a specific name? What do you think about his work? Does it remind you of anything you have seen before? Have you ever tried to make a mobile? How did Alexander Calder design a shape for the installation? What identical shape were used in making the mobile? What is going on in this artwork? What was your first reaction when you saw this artwork? What type of colors are used in this artwork?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use compass, protractors, and texture plates to add symmetrical shapes and expressive lines to fish sculptures 

2. Use primary colors (red yellow blue) to fill in the positive space (fish) with embellishments (buttons, ribbons, beads, sequins, pipe cleaners) for the fish sculptures 

3.  Use primary colors (red yellow blue) to fill in the negative space (background) with embellishments (buttons, ribbons, beads, sequins, pipe cleaners) for the Alexander Calder Mixed Media Fish

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Alexander Calder Mixed Media Fish for Assigned Tables

2. Set Up Studio Area (glue sticks, construction paper, wire, scissors)

Lesson Activities 

1. Use scissors to cut out basic shapes (geometric, organic, free form) for the positive space (fish) of the fish sculptures 

2. Use scissors to cut out basic shapes (geometric, organic, free form) for the negative space (background) of the fish sculptures 

3. Use felt markers to add beautiful patterns (hearts, swirls, dots) to the positive space (fish) of the Alexander Calder Mixed Media Fish

Artist Examples 

Student Examples

Circus Seal Drawings

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Circus Seal Drawing using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use shape variation (geometric organic free form), space (positive negative), and value (lightness, darkness) inspired by American Artist (1898-1976) Alexander Calder
• Use painting techniques (layering, overlapping, cropping) and design principles (repetition, balance, composition) based on Abstract Art
• Define Emphasis (aims to draw the viewer's attention to a specific design element) 

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Circus (1975) Alexander Calder

2. Read Sandy's Circus: A Story About Alexander Calder by Tayna Lee Stone

3. Discussion Questions "What are some of the different acts? What kind of acts do you want to show? How can you show that with wire? What would be your job in a circus? What shape is a seal's head? Is the seal happy or sad? What is the seal wearing on its head? What shape is the nose? Who is Alexander Calder? Was he always an artist? What is he most famous for? How did this come out? What was his favorite subject? What was his favorite drawing material? What was his favorite color? What were his thoughts on sculpture? Which are his key words? How did he transport some of his artworks? What do critics say?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" by 15" Drawing Paper 

2. Use mechanical pencils to draw the positive space (face, head, shoulder) of the seal drawings 

3. Use black sharpie marker to outline positive space (face, head, shoulder) of Circus Seal Drawings

Day Two, Art Start

Lesson Activities 

Day Three, Art Start

Lesson Activities

Artist Examples

Student Examples

Mixed Media Starfish

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Mixed Media Starfish using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use secondary colors (green, orange, purple), line types (contour, outline, curved), and value (lightness, darkness) inspired by Star of the Sea: A Day In The Life of a Starfish by Janet Halfmann
• Use science connections (marine biologist, tidal pools, action characteristics) and design principles (movement, rhythm, balance) based on Personal Art
• Define Rhythm (repeating color, value, line, and shape within a work of art)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Starfish On Pink (1949) Alexander Calder
2. Read Star of the Sea: A Day In The Life of a Starfish by Janet Halfmann
3. Discussion Questions "What is a Starfish? Where do Starfish live? Where do starfish come from? How many arms does a sea star have? How does a sea star eat? Where are sea stars found? What types of colors are these starfish? Can starfish live on shore? How fast or how slow do starfish move? Do starfish have gills? Why are starfish shaped like stars? Do starfish make sound? Have you ever seen any of the types of starfish before? What are some similarities and differences you notice between these starfish? How many different types of starfish do you think are in the sea?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" X 15" Drawing Paper
2. Use geometric shapes (oval, circle, cylinder) to draw basic shapes of Mixed Media Starfish
3. Use value (lightness, darkness) to fill in the geometric shapes (oval, circle, cylinder) of Mixed Media Starfish

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Mixed Media Starfish for Assigned Table
2. Starfish In The Sea (2015) Allen Ye
3. Discussion Questions "What is different about these starfish? How would you describe the shape of these starfish? Do you think all these starfish are the same shape? Do you see any patterns on these starfish? How is this starfish different from the others? Do you think this starfish is rough or smooth? How do you think the starfish would feel if you touched it? What is the shape of the starfish? Is it shiny and smooth? Is it bumpy and rough? How many colors do you see on the starfish? Are any of the patterns alike? Are any of the patterns different? Do all starfish have the same pattern?"

Lesson Activities

1. Add line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to decorative patterns of Mixed Media Starfish
2. Use patterns (swirls, dots, stripes) to add decorative designs to positive space (starfish) of the Mixed Media Starfish
3. Use chalk pastel to fill in the negative space (background) with secondary colors (green, purple, orange) of the Mixed Media Starfish

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Mixed Media Starfish for Assigned Table
2. Set Up Studio Area (pencils, sidewalk chalk, embellishments)

Lesson Activities

1.Blend secondary colors (green, purple, orange) for the positive space (starfish) of the Mixed Media Starfish
2. Add highlights (light source, reflective light) to the negative space (background) of the Mixed Media Starfish
3. Add illusion of depth by adding shadows (cast shadow, reflective shadow) of the Mixed Media Starfish

Artist Examples

Student Examples

Simple Calder Stabiles

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Simple Calder Stable using sculpture techniques learned in class
• Use shape variation (geometric, biomorphic), line types (wavy, angled, curved), and complimentary colors (blue, orange; red, green; yellow, purple) inspired by American Sculptor (1898-1976) Alexander Calder
• Use paper techniques (folding, scoring, bending) and design principles (balance, movement, repetition) based on Modern Art
• Define Stable (a decoratie unmovable structure)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Red Horse (1926) Alexander Calder
2. Read The Essential Alexander Calder by Howard Greenfeld
3. Discussion Questions "How do you think Alexander Calder balanced this stabile? How do you imagine it stands within the space? Has Calder created a whole new art form? What does this stabile remind you of? Why do you suppose Calder gave the stable a descriptive name (Red Horse) but left the mobile within a specific title? What do you think about his work? Does it remind you of anything you have seen before? Have you ever tried to make a stabile? How did Alexander Calder designs a shape for the installation? What identical shapes were used in making this stabile?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose Three 12 X 12 Colored Construction Paper
2. Use three compositional elements (shape, color, texture) to represent a memory, place, or event
3. Use line variation (wavy, straight, curved) as a design principle (balance, movement, repetition) within ones Simple Calder Stable

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Simple Calder Stables for Assigned Table
2. La Grande Vitesse (1969) Alexander Galder in Grand Rapids
3. Discussion Questions "What is going on in this artwork? What was your first reaction when you saw this artwork? Why do you think you had that reaction? What type of colors are used in this artwork? Which area of the artwork is emphasized by the artist? How did the artist use space? How did the artist use balance? How does your eye move through the artwork? What choices did the artist make to make that happen? 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? Why do you think the artist created this work of art? How do you think this artwork was made?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use compasses, protractors, and texture plates to add symmetrical shapes and expressive lines to simple stabiles
2. Use complimentary colors (red, green; blue, orange; yellow, purple) to fill in the positive space of the simple stabile
3. Use complimentary colors (red, green; blue, orange; yellow, purple) to fill in the negative space of the Simple Calder Stabiles

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Simple Calder Stables for Assigned Table
2. Set Up Studio Area (glue sticks, construction paper, markers)

Lesson Activities

1. Use scissors to cut out two dimensional symmetrical shapes to create a three dimensional paper sculpture 
2. Glue down three dimensional symmetrical shapes to create a simplified stabile design
3. Use sharpie markers to add beautiful patterns (hearts, swirls, dots) within ones own Simple Calder Stabile 

Artist Examples

Student Examples

Primary Still Life 

Learning Targets 

I can...

• Create an original Primary Still Life using observational drawing techniques learning in class
• Use form (two dimensional, three dimensional), shape variation (geometric, organic), and value (light yellow, dark yellow) inspired by Dutch Painter (1872-1944) Piet Mondrian and American Artist (1923-1997) Roy Lichtenstein
• Understand primary colors (red yellow blue) and design principles (composition, variation, balance) relating to Modern Art
• Define Still Life (painting or drawing of an arrangement of objects such as flowers, fruit, or dishes)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Glass and Lemon in a Mirror (1974) Roy Lichtenstein
2. Still Life with Ginger Pot II (1912) Piet Mondrian
3. Discussion Questions "What is the difference between aesthetic theories? Can artwork be explained by more than one aesthetic theory? How does artist's intent influence your interpretation of the artwork? Why is it important to understand the time period of an artist when looking art their work? How can personal artwork be inspired by ideas explored by past artists? Why is problem solving an integral part of the art making process? How can students use general knowledge and art knowledge to further develop personal art making?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" X 15" Drawing Paper
2. Add three dimensional shapes (cylinder, pyramid, sphere) to composition of arranged objects (fruit dishes, fabric)
3. Add an horizon line in the background to separate the folded drapery, objects, and wallpaper

Reminder: 

• Initials & Home Teacher on Back of Paper

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Primary Still Life for Assigned Table
2. Still Life with Crystal Bowl (1973) Roy Lichtenstein
3.  Discussion Questions "What is a still life? Still Life- a simple painting or drawing of objects. Is it different from other forms of figurative work in the sense that it cannot move? Can you guess how many types of still life there are for three merits? How can I create my own still life effectively? What was the inspiration for your art? Were you learning about a famous artist, a world culture, or a place/time in history?  What materials did you use? What techniques did you try? What are you proud of in your art? What time you do differently? What style is it? Were you using your imagination, memories, or observing from real life?"

Lesson Activities   

1. Use primary colors (red yellow blue) to fill in the positive space (fruit bowl) of the still life
2. Use primary colors (red yellow blue) to fill in the negative space (wallpaper) of the still life
3. Use shape stamps to add patterns (floral, silk, wood) to the Primary Still Life

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Primary Still Life for Assigned Table
2. Set Up Studio Area (tempera paint, water bucket, paint brushes)

Lesson Activities 

1. Add highlights (reflective light, light source) to subject matter (fruit bowl, glassware) of still life
2. Add shadows (cast shadow, shadow) to background (wallpaper, table) of still life
3. Outline details (pattern, objects, fruit) in foreground (fruit bowl, glassware) of Primary Still
 Life

Artist Examples

Student Examples