Looney Tunes Grid Drawings

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Looney Tunes Grid Drawings using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use color combinations (neutral, complementary, analogous), shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), and space (positive, negative) inspired by Looney Tunes (1930-Present) Warner Brothers
• Use grid method (proportion, scale, square, diagonal lines) and design principles (composition, proportion, balanced) based on American Animation
• Define Cartoon (a drawing, illustration, or animated film that uses nonrealistic, stylized, or exaggerated art to entertain, tell a joke, or offer political and social commentary)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Daffy Duck (1937) Tex Avery and Bob Clampett

2. Read Learn To Draw Looney Tunes: Learn To Draw All Your Favorite Looney Tunes Characters by Walker Foster

3. Discussion Questions "Why do artists create artwork about cartoons and pop culture? How do artists master the basic principles when drawing favorite characters? Which specific character (Daffy Duck, Tweety, Sylvester) would you like to draw? Can you tell me the history of the characters and the men who created them? What do you know about the Warner Brothers Animation? How was the animation unit established and how did it go? Did you know Hugh Harman helped design animated characters like Bosko, Bugs Bunny, and Daffy Duck? Did you know Rudolf Ising was the lead animator for Looney Tunes? Did you know Rudolf Ising served in the army as part of the animation and film division? Did you know the first Looney Tunes series launched in the 1930s? Did you know Rudolf Ising became famous from his interviews with historian Mark Kausler? Did you know that Bosko was the first character to say "That's All Folks?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" X 15" Drawing Paper

2. Use pencil to add line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to the subject matter (character, foreground, middle ground) of the Looney Tunes Grid Drawings

3. Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to add details (hat, facial features, accessories) to the positive space (foreground, middle ground, character) of the Looney Tunes Grid Drawings

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Looney Tunes Grid Drawings for Assigned Tables 

2. Tweetie Pie (1947) Bob Clampett

3. Discussion Questions "What colors do you see? What kinds of lines can you find? What kind of shapes can you find? What new title would you give this artwork? Why do you think the artist made the artwork this way? How would you tell someone about this artwork? What are some mathematical techniques you could incorporate into your own artwork? Does an artist need firsthand experience to represent it successfully? How might an artwork be interpreted differently at different moments in history? Do you think artists see the world differently than non artists? Is being an artist a stewardship? Do artists have a responsibility to share their artwork with the world? Can artists interact with cartoons as subject matter in different ways?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use drawing techniques (blending, smudging, smearing, shading) to add highlights (highlights, light source) to the Looney Tunes Grid Drawings 

2. Use drawing techniques (blending, smudging, smearing, shading) to add shadows (reflective shadow, cast shadow, shadow) to the Looney Tunes Grid Drawings

3. Use neutral colors (black, grey, brown, white) to add contrast to the positive space (foreground, middle ground, characters) of the Looney Tunes Grid Drawings

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Looney Tunes Grid Drawings for Assigned Tables 

2. Set Up Studio Area (oil pastels, pencils, erasers, grid paper) 

Lesson Activities

1. Use drawing techniques (blending, smudging, smearing, shading) to add value (lightness, darkness, tints, shades) to the Looney Tunes Grid Drawings

2. Use drawing materials (kneaded erasers, conte crayons, pencil sharpeners) to blend in the positive space (foreground, middle ground, character) of the Looney Tunes Grid Drawings

3. Use drawing materials (kneaded erasers, conte crayons, pencil sharpeners) to blend in the negative space (background) of the Looney Tunes Grid Drawings 

Artist Examples

Student Examples 

 Mouse Proportions 

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Mouse Proportions using drawing techniques in class
• Use shape variation (geometric organic), line types (horizontal vertical diagonal), and space (positive negative) inspired by American Animator (1901-1971) Ub Iwerks
• Use paper techniques (folding bending cutting) and design principles (balance movement proportion) based on American Art
• Define Composition (placement or arrangement of visual elements in a work of art)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Steamboat Willie Animation Production Drawing (1928) Ub Iwerks

2. Read Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh

3. Discussion Questions, "What kind of animal is Mickey Mouse? How many buttons are are Mickey Mouse's pants? What are the names of the two dogs on Mickey's Clubhouse? What is the color of Mickey Mouse's shoes? What is the name of Mickey Mouse's pet? What is the name of the film where Mickey made his debut? What is the name of Mickey Mouse's girlfriend? When did Micky first appear animated in color? Who was the first in voicing Mickey Mouse? What is Mickey Mouse full name? Who is Mickey Mouse's nemesis?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 8" X 12" Drawing Paper

2. Add line types (contour outline perspective) to the positive space (animal) of the mouse compositions

3. Outline line types (contour outline perspective) with neutral colors (black grey white) of the mouse composition

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Mouse Proportions for Assigned Table 

2. Mickey Mouse and Pete Production Drawing (1928) Ub Iwerks

3. Discussion Questions "What animal are you going to draw? What is the animal doing? What body covering does the name have? What type of animal is it? Where could the animal be going? Is the animal happy or sad? What is the background of the image? What is behind the animal drawing? what is the largest mammal in the world? What animal is the tallest in the world? What is the slowest animal in the world? What animal has the longest life span? What is your favorite animal?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use warm colors (red orange yellow) to fill in the positive space (mouse) of the mouse compositions

2. Use cool colors (blue green purple) to fill in the negative space (background) of the mouse compositions

3. Use embellishments (plastic eyes, bubble wrap, brown paper) to fill the positive space (mouse) of the mouse compositions

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Mouse Proportions for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (oil pastels, scissors, glue sticks) 

Lesson Activities

1. Add highlights (reflective light, light source) to fill in the positive space (mouse) of the mouse compositions 

2. Add shadow (cast shadow, reflective shadow) to fill the negative space (background) of the mouse compositions

3. Add details (whispers, spots, eyelashes) to the positive space (mouse) of the Mouse Proportions

Artist Examples

Student Examples