Art Explorer # 8: Pretend Play & Magical Thinking

Elements of Art: Mass and Volume

Mass and volume as defined by Schirmacher & Fox (2009), "are appropriate criteria for critiquing three-dimensional art, which has height, length, and width" (p.142). Both these terms make reference to a "solid body". Furthermore, mass or volume can be portrayed as:

• open or closed 
• heavy, bulky, massive; or light, delicate 
• solid, impenetrable, block-like; or open, penetrable 
• opaque or  transparent 
• geometric or dynamic 
• angular or curved 
• hard or soft
• large or little, big or small 
• stationary or moving (p.142)

For this week's art explorer activity we were instructed to pick an inanimate object, and bring it to "life" using our imagination. Initially when I had read the task, I was so excited to get started! Nevertheless, after I have introduced you to my sassy friend, I will discuss how mass and volume is incorporated in within my creation.

This is Beatrice Bethany Rebecca Mary-Anne the Bear! She is one BIG diva! Beatrice just celebrated her 28th birthday on April 3rd, and her 5 year wedding annversary to the love of her life Xavier Lincoln the Moose on April 6th. Both Beatrice and Xavier stem from a linage of wealth, as both their parents are working as doctors and lawyers worldwide. This dainty lady is a loving mother of 4 year old triplets, Sally, Sue, and Marcus, and a devoted women to her career as an interior designer. Beatrice lives a rather lavish lifestyle. Currently she resides in an immaculate penthouse condominium facing the luscious beach, a little North of of Palm Springs, California. She also has a passion for fashion, and see to it that regular trips are made to Paris and France where she can purchase the latest trends in style. Her Yorkie Teacup pup Cotton, means the whole world to her. Cotton even gets to accompany Beatrice on her trips to Europe. Furthermore, she adores travelling. Since marrying Xavier, they have gone on more than a dozen trips around the globe. Beatrice is also a strong advocate of keeping fit and staying in shape. She possess membership with a top elite gym in her neighbour, and attends private training classes quite regularly. If you think that all guess again, there's more! Beatrice loves being pampered and primed. She visits her hair stylist Marie at least twice a week. Surprising, she also enjoys racing...but one could easily assume this is merely because Xavier idolizes it. Beatrice hopes to have some more children in the future, I heard her mention the idea of 2 more! Of course she will have to retire her brand new BMW by then, but I'm  sure she won't mind... or would she? Anyway, Beatrice is living life like its golden, and there is NO stopping her!

If  I were to critique my Beatrice Bethany Rebecca Mary-Anne the Bear creation using the crieria associated with of mass an volume, I would incorporate the following:

My God-Brother Joel, and Beatrice!

• light
• delicate 
• soft
• opaque
• organic
• small
• stationary

This is an excellent activty for children. For one, it is a very creative idea and better yet children can use their creativty to bring their innamiate object to "life". This activity promotes langauge development, cognitive development, excerises imagination, creativity, and more importantly it is fun! Consider this...if  we (I'm sure I'm not the only one) had this much joy in doing this art explorer activity imagine children!

Reference:

Schirrmacher, R. , & Fox, J. E. (2009). Art & creative development for young children. Belmont, California: Delmar Cengage Learning.

Art Explorer # 7: Grocery Shopping with a Twist!



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 Element of Art: Shape

I must mention first hand, the JOY I had with this art explorer activity! But before I get carried away, let me explain  this week's art word...

Shape "is an appropriate criterion for critiquing two-dimensional art that has length and width" (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p. 140). In addition to this, shape:

• refers to the outside form of an object.
• is the edge of an enclosed space.
• is defined by a line or outline, or by contrasting color or texture in the surrounding area.
• represents positive space or figure.
• is created by connecting lines (p. 140).

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Shape even possess its own unique qualities, and the list below provided by Schirrmacher & Fox (2009) demonstrates just that. Here are just a few:

• simple or complex.
• circular or angular.
• hard or soft.
• proportional or nonproportional.
• precise or vague.
• tall or short.
• big and large, or small and little
• solid, heavy massive; or open, light (p. 140)

Now unlike the smiling women to the right, I highly despise grocery shopping! I hate the whole picking out the best, ripest produce process....the cash out lines are the worst....you load the copious amount of bags into the trunk, only to unload it in a few minutes when you reach home. However, this week when I visited my local grocery store, this activity made the whole experience quite enjoyable.

I chose to focus on one category of food which is produce, and I  then narrowed it down to fruits. I love fruits, and I believe this stems from my sweet tooth, and the constant need of something fruity after every meal.To the left, was the list I created while walking joyously.... yes, joyously through every aisle in the produce section. While in the grocery store, I began to appreciate and acknowledge all the wonderful shapes that within the context of fruits.  

 

Sketches

The watermelon I drew I would say embodies the following shape characteristics:

• circular
• geometrical
• big and large
• solid, heavy
• clearly defined
• opaque
• hard

The cherries that I drew I would say embodies the following shape characteristics:

• circular
• geometrical
• small and little
• clearly defined  
• opaque
• light
• soft

The pears that I drew I would say embodies the following shape chararcteristcs:

• simple
• geometrical
• clearly defined
• light
• hard
• small

If I enjoyed this activity, I am sure that children would too. It makes grocery shopping enjoyable. In the context of the classroom, implementing this activity would get children actively exploring, and interacting with their environment. This activity is also a good way to generate discussion on shape, and the many characteristics it possess!

Reference:

Schirrmacher, R. , & Fox, J. E. (2009). Art & creative development for young children. Belmont, California: Delmar Cengage Learning.

Art Explorer # 6: Collaging with Scissors

Element of Art: Texture



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Texture  according to Schirmacher & Fox (2009) "refers to the surface quality of a work of art" (p.144). Some terms that are associated with the word texture, are as followed:

• rough, bumpy; or smooth 
• hard or soft 
• rubbery 
• sharp 
• wet, sticky, or dry 
• flat or layered 
• slippery, slick
• raised or lowered (p.144)



Young children adore texture and sensory rich activities because they able to touch, feel, and  manipulate. Reflecting on my placement experiences thus far, the sand and water table, as well as the Play-Doh table would always be filled with children. This goes to show how crucial it is to incorporate these kind of activties and materials in the classroom. Remember! The question to keep in mind is: "How does it feel?" This can generate meaningful learning opportunities, for both the child and educator. 

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 For this week's GO Blog, we were asked to generate an art activity that communicates personal identity and understanding of the world. I mustered up an activity that I believe would be appropriate so here it is:

Materials:

• Picture of each child
• Plain Paper/ Bristol Board (white or black) 
• Construction Paper
• Different Texture Fabrics
• Pipe Cleaners/Sponges  
• Large Buttons/Bottle Caps 
• Glue
• Tape
• Pasta 
• Scissors
• Paper Clips
• Markers/Pencil Crayons/Crayons
• Cotton Balls
• Pencil Crayons
• Ribbon





Seek and Find! Scope your surroundings for collage material. This can be any of the items mentioned above, or other materials you might find laying around.

Frame Time! Place each child's photo in the center of a standard 8.5 x 11 sheet of construction paper. Trace around it. Cut this middle section out, leaving at least a  2 inch gap from the traced line.

Ready to Collage! This is the time were children create personal frames, that reflect their creativity and identity. Children can draw using different writing materials as shown above. They can glue down buttons, paper clips, cotton balls, ribbon. The aspect teachers must  remember is to cease from interrupting the child, unless necessary. This activity is aimed to allow children to be as creative and expressive as they choose to be.

Picture to Frame! Once all the children are completed, place the frames aside and allow them to completely dry. When they are finish drying, careful mount the photos to each child's frame.





Stitch! After you have finished the previous step, its not time to assemble all the frames together. Tape each frame side by side, to resemble a quilt pictured below.

Example
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 This activity is very meaningful to children. For one, there are creatively expressing themselves. Secondly, they are communicating their sense of personal identity in a creative fashion. Thirdly, the children are gathering knowledge and information about each other, and about the world that encompasses them. It also  reflects cultural diversity, and the quilt like formation portrays a sense of belonging and unity. Teachers can question children about the art materials they have chosen to place on their frames, the reason why they place certain items someplace and so forth. Great discussion can be made surrounding diversity, which in all, as previously mentioned helps children better understand the world they are living in !

Reference:

Schirrmacher, R. , & Fox, J. E. (2009). Art & creative development for young children. Belmont, California: Delmar Cengage Learning.

Art Explorer # 5: Watch an 'Art Film' and Chat About it

 



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Element of art: Balance

So for this blog we were asked to view an art film with a few classmates, and generate a discussion based upon the film chosen. As a group we decided to view the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Essentially, the character Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) is heartbroken that his girlfriend Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) has underwent a procedure which erased him completely from her memory. This imposes him to do the very same however, as his memories of her begin to vanish away, he SUDDENLY realizes how much he adores, and loves her. The art word that striked me while viewing this film was balance. This can be viewed as a sense of "equilibrium and harmony" (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p. 143). For me personally, I believe there was an overall theme of balance between the tense moments in the film, and the more relaxed ones. There were times where I found myself tensing up, clutching unto the pillow in my arms, and other times were I felt more relaxed and calm. The maze of Joel's memory also portrayed a sense of balance, in the sense that there was a equilibrium between positive memories and negative ones. Nevertheless, here is the discussion of the film...

Candice: Hey Guys, what did you think about the movie Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind?

Pavneet: I thought the movie itself was quite interesting but it was one of those movies in which you really had to pay attention as the past and present were intertwined.

Vanessa: I agree, at moments I was a little confused between the memories and thoughts of the past and present.  It wasn’t until about the point of where Joel’s (Jim Carrey) memory was being erased until I fully caught up.



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Candice: Yea definitely, although a little confusing I thought it was pretty interesting how the memories were intertwined. I also liked how the memories painted an intangible picture of their relationship. It was something I’ve never seen before.

Vanessa: Yes usually in movies we always see a relationship from beginning to end in a concrete way, but in this film it was interesting to see how the relationship formed in a more abstract way.

Pavneet:  Agreed. It was kind of like a puzzle and all the memories were pieces. Definitely an interesting concept! I think another interesting part was when Patrick (Elijah Wood) tried to move in on Clementine (Kate Winslet). The fact that she wasn’t as comfortable and responsive to him was very interesting and made me think.

Vanessa: Yea, and even when he said the exact same things as Joel (Jim Carrey) she wasn’t as responsive.  I guess that was a clue to show the viewers that their relationship was deeper.

Candice: Yup, I thought that was pretty interesting too! I also thought it was crazy how Mary (Kirsten Dunst) and Dr. Howard (Tom Wilkinson) had a relationship prior. I actually never saw that coming and I feel like it gave the movie an interesting twist.

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Pavneet: Yea, it put a fascinating twist on the movie for sure. What did you guys think about Joel’s (Jim Carrey) memory of his childhood? To be honest I found that memory kind of odd.

Vanessa: The memory itself was weird and a little out of place but I understand that he was trying to “hide” his memory with Clementine (Kate Winslet) within a deeper, less accessible memory.

Candice: I found it interesting how Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) tried to hide their own memories with each other within Joel’s (Jim Carrey) less accessible memories. I also found it cool that whenever the procedure was erasing a part of the memory the objects around them would start disappearing.

Pavneet: That was a cool part and it was interesting to see how they were trying to trick the system. At the end of the movie when Clementine’s (Kate Winselt) tape was played I was a little worried. What did you guys think about that part?

Vanessa: I was a little worried too. I think Joel’s (Jim Carrey) reaction was normal though. If I was in that position I would have felt as though someone was playing a trick on me too. It was interesting to hear his tape about her at the end too though. I feel like it really ended the movie off on a good note. They both seemed to be open and willing to be in each other’s lives knowing everything they heard.

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Candice: I feel the same way; they are going to relive their relationship again from the beginning. Was this kind of movie one that you guys would watch on your own?

Pavneet: Definitely not.  I have heard interesting things about the movie, but it wouldn’t have been on my “must watch” list. It seems a little too out of the box for me.

Vanessa: I agree, not my kind of movie but it was definitely something different.  

Candice: Yea I’ve heard a lot of good things about the film and watching it was refreshing but I’m not sure I’d see it again. It was interesting though, and presented a cool concept.

Pavneet: Yup for sure!

Vanessa: Definitely! 

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Reference:

Schirrmacher, R. , & Fox, J. E. (2009). Art & creative development for young children. Belmont, California: Delmar Cengage Learning.

Art Explorer # 4: Looking for Patterns in Urban Settings & Nature

Element of Art: Pattern





A pattern as defined by Schirrmacher & Fox (2009) possess several characteristics:

• [it] refers to the treatment given to a surface.
• suggests flow, rhythm, motion, or movement.
• suggests regularity and repetition 
• can be made with forms, shapes, lines, colors, textures, or symbols that move across a surface in a recurring sequence. (p.142)

In addition, the pair went on further to state that patterns can be:

• ornate and fancy, or plain and simple.
• regular or irregular.
• symmetrical or asymmetrical.
• sequenced or alternating. (p.142)

             

Patterns are EVERYWHERE, so it does not take long to spot one! For this arts explorer, I decided to take my little sister along, and "scope out" our neighbourhood for patterns. From my first step outdoors, I spotted an array of patterns. Immediately I begun to notice the intricate pattern of my neighbours front door, amongst the interlock blocks of my neighbours driveway, and the unique pattern around the circular window of my house. Patterns are unique, and can turn any ol' dull, and boring space, into something beautiful and pleasant . Patterns  make our world interesting, and can be quite intriguing, even captivating...



 

I love repeating patterns. As seen by the pictures located to my left and above, repetition is quite evident. It is important as educators that we look for sources of inspiration outside the classroom. The natural environment, provides a rich canvas of patterns, which we can use in planning activities for children. Children can learn to appreciate the wonders of patterns in their environment, and a group activity such as a nature walk around their neighbourhood, can provide an opportunity for meaningful learning.









References:

Schirrmacher, R. , & Fox, J. E. (2009). Art & creative development for young children. Belmont, California: Delmar Cengage Learning.



Art Explorer # 3: Fine Art Critique

Elemenent of Art: Colour
Interesting Story, Laura Muntz Lyall  


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Name: Laura  Adeline Muntz Lyall

Born: Radford, Warwickshire, England, 1860

Died: Toronto, Ontario, 1930

Media Used: Painting

Type of Painter: Impressionist

Education:

South Kensington Art Schools

Académie Colarossi (Paris)

Private Study (under J.W.L. Forster)

 

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On January 25^th, 2011 we were fortunate as a class to attend the Art Gallery of Ontario. The main purpose of the trip was to explore the wonders of art, and discuss as upcoming ECE's, the importance of fostering creativity in young children. To be quite honest, I was not enthused as some of my fellow classmates about this class adventure. Personally I find art galleries "boring" (for a lack of better terms), and cannot see myself wondering around room to room, standing in front of huge canvases, trying to interrupt the meaning the artist is portraying. However, these preconceived notions quickly disappeared once I begin to actively engage in this art critique experience. I was interesting to note the many perspectives my friends and I had about particular pieces, and this I must say peaked my interest in valuing and appreciating artwork.



My sister & I 


At the very beginning of our unguided tour, I came across Laura Muntz Lyall's painting shown above (Interesting Story). Illustrated in my perspective, were two siblings resting alongside one another, while the eldest of the two read. Immediately I fell in love with the piece, as it evoked various feelings of joy and contentment. It drew me back to my younger days when my sister Taneisha and I, would sit for hours reading together in our familys' living room. Growing up we had a strong passion for books, and would visit the library every Friday after school was dismissed. Seeing that Taneisha was 17 months younger than I, many times I would end up reading to her. Quite often during summer break, we would be inside the house couped up somewhere reading books until there were no more new ones to read. In all a feeling of happiness suddenly irrupts from within, as I caught myself smiling seamlessly.



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This painting from my point of view emits a sense of sisterly love and affection. It also portrays a sense of relaxation and pure contentment. If the viewer has a close relation with a sibling or close relative of theirs, the painting becomes relatable, and a connection can be felt. This I believe is the intended message of the artist. She is able to captivate and illustrate the feeling of serenity, comfort, happiness, and warmth all of which emulate from this painting. 

Colour

Colour is a very powerful element of art. It can evoke various feelings such as a sense of darkness, joy, or excitement. For example, red symbolizes is colour of fire and blood. It is associated with power, strength, determination, as well as passion and love. On the other hand yellow represents sunshine, and is tied to feelings of cheerfulness, energy and friendliness. Colour is "based on the passage of light. It is the visual sensation of light caused by stimulating the cones of the retina. As the light source changes, so does the color. With no light there is no color" (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p.136). Furthermore, colour makes us respond and react with feelings (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009). In relation to the painting, I am in love with the soft, neutral colours the artist chose. Amongst the neutral colour palette, the viewer can spot a light source shining directly on the little girls faces. It is here that the warm colours of yellow and cream intertwine with the overall neutrality of the painting, creating a underlying glow to the piece.   



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The Field of Early Childhood Education

It is important as educators, that we foster the appreciation of art in young children. Art as mention, can be interpreted and perceived in many ways. It is through this avenue that we gain further insight and deeper understanding of artistic pieces. Critiquing and discussing art with young children, allows them to ask questions, and actively explore and connect with the world around them.



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  "Colour is a power which directly influences the soul."

    Wassily Kandinsky

References:

(2011). Art database; Lynall laura muntz. Canadian women artists history initative. Retrieved from http://cwahi.concordia.ca/sources/artists/displayArtist.php?ID_artist=38

Schirrmacher, R. , & Fox, J. E. (2009). Art & creative development for young children. Belmont, California: Delmar Cengage Learning.

Art Explorer # 2: Instant Sculpture with Found Objects 



Finished Sculpture

Elements of Art: Design & Composition

So here I am slightly tired, sitting on the couch watching the legendary Scooby-Doo movie with my little sister. Literally two-minutes after the movie ends, she begins wondering over to the kitchen in search of something to eat. She then calls me over with the biggest grin on her face. Knowing her, I knew exactly what she wanted seeing that she stood in front of the snack cupboard. As I was about to grab the box of Oreo's located on the top shelf, I turned around and told her we were going to make a healthy snack instead. Immediately that big ol' grin on her face disappeared... but this, is always a tactic she uses! As I opened the fridge and began pulling out an assortment of vegetables, this became my source of inspiration!

Materials Used

• Tall Table Glass
• 6 containers of Ranch Dipping Sauce
• Cucumber
• Carrot 
• Red Bell Pepper 
• Yellow Bell Pepper
• Broccoli  
• Tomato
• Sheet of Paper Towel
• Toothpicks

The Process

Quite often, individuals like myself may find it difficult to carry through an assignment such as this. The problem I seem to run into is the inability to see beyond the function of a given object. Yes, I have a pile of food on the counter, but that is all i see-food! I simply cannot envision creating a unique sculpture of some sort out of it. The breakthrough however, is to cease the critical thinking. Design thinking can stand in the way of creativity, as it can hinder the ability to imagine and see things in abstract ways. In saying this, I grabbed the broccoli and placed it in the table glass. From then on, I just "went with the flow"! The end result I was quite proud of as it resembled a coulorful wedding bouquet, or vegetable arrangement. If you truly know me, you'll stand in agreement when I mention my love for weddings. From the start, the bright sunlight beaming through the shutters, and the warmth of spring the in the air, reminded me of weddings and flowers. Furthermore, many will attest to the fact that we are our biggest critics, and hence I kept destroying and re-doing my creative piece. In a way, I felt it was not creative enough... or seemed plain silly! Regardless I persevered hoping the end result will some how match up with my creative inspiration, and I'm glad to declare it did!

Design & Composition

Design or composition according to Schirrmacher & Fox (2009), is said to be "the overall mark of success, the standard of achievement, and the frosting on the cake" (p.142). The pair went on further to say that with a good design and composition, the artist can feel a sense of accomplishment; balance; notice a unified blend between line, shape, colour, texture and form; ensures a focal point is evident, that captures attention (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009). Various elements of design and composition, are apparent in the sculpture which I have created. For one, as a viewer your eyes are immediately drawn to colourful vegetable pieces sticking out from the broccoli. In particular...the bright yellow, red and orange colours attract my attention. This can also be seen as the focal point of the entire sculpture. Furthermore, amidst the colour and shapes there seems to be a balance to the piece, in the sense that it is not overcrowded with a variety of elements.

  

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The Field of Early Childhood Education

It is quite evident that children in today's society lack the genuine appreciation for art, and the different meanings/interpretations it embodies. We as educators can "use the principles of design and composition to talk about works of art and make children aware of the planning and energy that often accompany the making of art" (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p.142). Although young artists may care very little about the design and composition of their masterpiece, the discussion of such principles can generate meaningful learning opportunities. In addition, activities such as these can serve as a great creative experience for children. As I had mentioned, I found this assignment difficult to complete because of my inability to see beyond the function of particular objects. Children are naturally creative within this dimension, and we must continue to foster such creative expression. If we can get cchildren to actively interact with their environment by picking and choosing elements from around the classroom, as innovative individuals that they are.. the creations/sculptures they make will be a sight to see!

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"If you don't take chances, you can't do anything in life"

Michael Spinks 

 
Reference:

Schirrmacher, R. , & Fox, J. E. (2009). Art & creative development for young children. Belmont, California: Delmar Cengage Learning.