Clay Coil Beehives

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Clay Coil Beehive using sculpture techniques learned in class
• Use shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), form (two dimensional, three dimensional), and texture (actual, visual, implied) inspired by American Artist (2014-Present) Matthew Willey
• Use hand building techniques (pinch pottery, coil building, slab building) and design principles (proportion, scale, repetition) based on Contemporary Art
• Define Coil (creating a form with long, rope shaped piece of clay)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Piper's Corner School (2019) Matthew Willey

2. Read Beehive Jorey Hurley

3. Discussion Questions "What can we make with these materials? What if we made something found in nature? What if it was a habitat for an insect? How do artists make something look three dimensional when the material is flat? What might be going on in the secret world of the beehive? If you had an opportunity to peek inside, would the bees be going to school? If you could peek inside the beehive, would the bees be living in a house, or would it be a huge birthday party? What do you think happens inside a beehive? How does the artist choose mural locations? How can schools participate in the initiative? What are you curious about as we embark on a journey to learn more about the daily lives of these insects? Where do bees live and how do these bees build their hives? Do all bees build honeycomb hives?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use 12 X 15 Clay Slab Sheets

2. Use three compositional elements (shape, color, texture) to represent a memory, place, or event from everyday life

3. Use line variation (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) as a design principle (balance, movement, repetition) within the Clay Coil Beehives

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Clay Coil Beehives for Assigned Tables

2. Janney Elementary (2018) Matthew Willey

3. Discussion Questions "Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Why do artists need to understand how to represent form in art? What is the history of form in art? What is considered geometric or organic in art? What are honeybees and how do they differ from others? Why are bumblebees considered good pollinators? Did you know that only honeybees produce honey in harvestable qualities? How do bees communicate with each other? Are some bees in danger of extinction? How do bees find their way back to their hives? How do these murals bring awareness to the plight of honeybees? How do artists help to change the world in a positive way?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use compass, protector, and texture plates to add symmetrical shapes and expressive lines to the beehive designs

2. Use form (two dimensional, three dimensional) to fill in the positive space (foreground) of the beehive designs

3. Use form (two dimensional, three dimensional) to fill in the negative space (background) of the Clay Coil Beehives

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Clay Coil Beehives for Assigned Tables

2. Set Up Studio Area (tempera paint, water bucket, paint brushes)

Lesson Activities

1. Use color combinations (analogous, complementary, secondary) to fill in the positive space (foreground) of the beehive designs 

2. Use color combinations (analogous, complementary, secondary) to fill in the negative space (background) of the beehive designs 

3. Apply Gloss Finish to the positive space (features, decorations, accessories) of the Clay Coil Beehives

Artist Examples

Student Examples

 Tint And Shade Bumblebees

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Tint And Shade Bumblebee using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use line types (contour, outline), texture variation (smooth, rough, soft), and space (positive, negative) inspired by Russian Composer (1844-1908) Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
• Use art element: value (tint, shade, tone) and design principles (repetition, balance, gradation) based on Russian Compositions
• Define Pattern (lines, shapes, forms, or colors repeated in a design)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Listen to Flight of the Bumblebee and Other Russian Classics by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

2. Read Flight of the Honeybee (Read And Wonder) by Raymond Huber

3. Discussion Questions "Can you imagine a bumblebee buzzing around Tsar and then quickly flying away so it doesn't get caught? Can you tell what musical instruments are playing in this musical piece? How does the computer make the bee "buzz"? What is a chromatic note pattern? What does it sound like? What are the notes doing? What do you think this piece could be called? Do you think this is hard to play? What would make it difficult? What instruments would be good to use? How do you know the bumblebee is going up? How do you know when it is going down? Can you tell if it is going around in circles or flying straight?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 8 X 12 Drawing Paper 
2. Add line types (contour, outline, sketch) to positive space (bumblebee) of bumblebee drawings
3. Outline positive space (bumblebee, flowers, pollen) with metallic colors (gold, silver) of Tint And Shade Bumblebees

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Tint And Shade Bumblebees for Assigned Table

2. Bumblebee (2016) Daniel Mackie

3. Discussion Questions "What can we make with this now? What is we made something found in nature? What if it was a habitat for an insect? How can we make the cylinder shape or a real beehive when the cardboard is flat? Are bees going to school? Are bees living in houses or at a birthday party? What would be going on in there? Why do bees like the smell of nectar? What makes honey bees buzz? What colors are bees? How many legs do bees have? How many wings does a bee have? Bumble bees are bigger ,smaller, or the same size as honey bees? How many species of bees are there in the world? What kind of bees are there in a colony?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use monochromatic colors (light yellow, yellow, dark yellow) to fill in the positive space (bumblebee) of the bumblebee drawings

2. Use monochromatic colors (light yellow, yellow, dark yellow) to fill in the negative space (background) of the bumblebee drawings

3. Use metallic colors (gold, silver) to outline the negative space (background) of the Tint And Shade Bumblebees

Day Three, Art Start 

1. Retrieve Tint And Shade Bumblebees for Assigned Table

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

Lesson Activities 

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

2. Add shadows (cast shadow, reflective shadow) to fill in the negative space (background) of the bumblebee drawings

3. Add details to the positive space (bumblebee) of the Tint And Shade Bumblebees

Artist Examples

Student Examples