James Rizzi Cityscapes

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original James Rizzi Cityscape using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use color combinations (analogous, secondary, intermediate), shape variation (geometric organic free form) and space (positive negative) inspired by Pop Artist (1950-2011) James Rizzi
• Use art element: line (expressive, directional, contour) and design principles (composition, gradation, proportion) based on Pop Art
• Define Cityscapes (the visual appearance of a city or urban area)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. City Of Dreams City of Dreams (1993) James Rizzi

2. Read The Adventures of Taxi Dog by Debra Sol Barracca

3. Discussion Questions "Who is the artist that created this work? Which decade did the Pop Art Movement begin? What was special about James Rizzi's prints? What are we learning by doing this project? Did Rizzi ever do commercial work? What was one artist that inspired Rizzi? What setting was often in his artwork? What types of colors are featured in Pop Art? What animals can be found in his art? How did Rizzi come up with his three dimensional style of art? Which piece of artwork is the most famous? What type of artist was James Rizzi?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use pencil to draw basic shapes (geometric, rectangle, oval) of the buildings of ones expressive cityscapes

2. Use line types (expressive, directional, contour) to add details (facial features, windows, doors) to ones expressive cityscapes

3. Use line types (expressive, directional, contour) to add details (cloud formations, raised highway, sun) to negative space (background) of James Rizzi Cityscapes 

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve James Rizzi Cityscapes for Assigned Table

2. Winter (1988) James Rizzi

3. Discussion Questions "Would you like living in a city? What are some of the advantages of living in a city? What are some disadvantages to living in a city? What is your favorite city to visit? What part of this city do you like the best? What do you think could be done to improve living conditions in the cities? What are some differences between living in the city and living in the country? If you had grown up in a different city how would your life have been different? What monuments of your city do you consider the most impressive? How would you describe the architecture in your city? What would you if you were in charge of the city? How would you improve it? What changes would you make? Would you enjoy designing a new city?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use color combinations (analogous, secondary, intermediate) to fill in the positive space (buildings) of ones expressive cityscapes

2. Use color combinations (analogous, secondary, intermediate) to fill in the negative space (background) of ones expressive cityscapes

3. Use line types (expressive, directional, contour) to fill in the positive space (buildings) with designs (facial features, windows, doors) for James Rizzi Cityscapes

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve James Rizzi Cityscapes for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (water bucket, paintbrushes, oil pastel)

Lesson Activities

1. Add highlights (light source, reflective light) to positive space (buildings) of expressive cityscapes

2. Add shadows (cast shadow, shadow) to negative space (background) of expressive cityscapes

3. Use stop motion program (iMotion, FlipaClip, Stop Motion) to add an animation to James Rizzi Cityscapes

Artist Examples

Student Examples

Imaginary Cities

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Imaginary Cities using computer techniques learned in class
• Use basic shapes (circle, triangle, rectangle), line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), and value (lightness, darkness) inspired by American Pop Artist (1950-2011) James Rizzi
• Use mathematical connections (coordinate plane, graph points, perspective) and design principles (balance, proportion, gradation) based on Pop Art
• Define Alternative Perspective (an illusion of space and depth on a flat surface on the picture plane)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. New York City A Marathon For All (1997) James Rizzi
2. Read Roberto: The Insect Architect by Nina Laden
3. Discussion Questions "What do you see? Which direction are the lines (vertical, horizontal, diagonal) facing in all the examples? What direction is horizontal, vertical, perspective, and parallel? Do you see any lines that do not follow the rule of these lines? Are they consistent? What is the largest city in the world? What is the longest structure ever built? What is a suburb? How many countries at there in the world? why was the Eiffel Tower built? In what ways are the maps alike? In what ways are they different? Are there any elements in conflict or that do not agree? Are there any ways that the process can be simplified? How can the maps be more consistent? What makes you feel like you are apart of your neighborhood? What things can you do to make your home a better place? What building materials do you see? Where would you see them? Are they natural or man-made? What do you see form a birds' eye view? What do you see from a worms' eye view?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use pencil to draw basic shapes (geometric, rectangle, oval) of the buildings of ones imaginary cities
2. Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to add details (light strands, cloud formations, raised highways) of ones imaginary cities
3. Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to add negative space (background) to ones imaginary cities 

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Imaginary Cities for Assigned Tables
2. One Man's Floor Is Another Man's Ceiling One (1987) James Rizzi
3. Discussion Questions "Would you like living in a city? What are some of the advantages of living in a city? What are some disadvantages to living in a city? What is your favorite city to visit? what part of this city do you like the best? What do you think could be done to improve living conditions in the cities? What are some differences between living in the city and living in the country? If you had grown up in a different city, how would your life have been different? What monuments of your city do you consider the most impressive? How would you describe the architecture in your city? What would you do if you were in charge of the city? How would you improve it? What changes would you make? Would you enjoy designing a new city?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use analogous colors (blue, green, purple) to fill in positive space (buildings) of ones imaginary cities
2. Use analogous colors (blue, green, purple) to fill in negative space (background) of ones imaginary cities
3. Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to fill in positive space (buildings) with designs (stripes, dots, waves) for ones imaginary cities

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Imaginary Cities for Assigned Tables
2. Set Up Studio Area (cardboard pieces, printed paper, foam squares)

Lesson Activities 

1. Add highlights (light source, reflective light) to positive space (buildings) of ones imaginary cities
2. Add shadows (cast shadow, shadow) to negative space (background) of ones imaginary cities
3. Use stop motion program (iMotion, FlipaClip, Stop Motion) to add an animation to ones Imaginary Cities

Artist Examples

Student Examples