Lessons in Art History

Collaborative Art History Gridding Investigations, Studio Art 11/12, SKSS

The Great Wave, by Hokusai (original colour woodblock, 1829)

The Old Guitarist, by Pablo Picasso, 1904, oil painting
Collaborative Gridding Acrylic Painting, SKSS

SKSS Art Students assemble the finished work!

Recently, I had the pleasure of connecting with a former SKSS art student who is currently studying design.  As an art educator I am always interested in art and design university studies; however, our conversation quickly turned from the content of university assignments to the importance of art history. Evidently, this vibrant alumnus argued a personal passion for why young students need to study and investigate aspects of art history. 

 

Painting Inspired Sculpture, grade 10-12

Dali, The Melting Clock                                     Edvard Munch                                                       Edvard Munch, Madonna

Art teachers have always looked to the masters for inspiration in the field of art education.  Further, keeping art history exciting and meaningful to current students tends to be the challenge or we risk the classroom quickly turning into an ‘art in the dark’ slideshow lecture.  In this sense, my brief conversation questioning the need for more art history lessons personally inspired and influenced our art making process and artistic investigation this year at South Kam. Specifically, we learned more about symbols in visual language and aspects of gathering clues through images to reveal what was important to people from the past.

In fact, I encourage you to join Ellen, my former student, online sharing her passions for art history through her growingly popular Instagram feed: @arthistorylesson.  Thank so much for the lesson, Ellen!

Personal Images Inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper, 

Drawing & Painting 11/12

Plaster Frescos, Grade 9/10 

Investigating Portraits, Studio Art 11/12

Just a Chunk of Mud!

Portraits can be the toughest thing to represent in art.  Every day we look in the mirror, to check our own appearance.  We go to school, or to work, and look at faces; eyes, mouth, nose, ears.  We are very familiar with these features, and yet ask someone to draw a face and you'll most likely hear, "I can't draw faces!"  So imagine these students being told to not just draw, but to sculpt faces!
Beginning with nothing more than a block of clay and a balled up peice of newspaper, the students began forming and manipulating their clay to resemble a real face.  For most, it was a challenge to see how much the eyes sink in, or how much the nose protrudes.  To be able to sculpt a lifelike jaw-line or to bend the clay to create a believable ear was not easy.  Then of course there are lips and nostrils (most students don't even like to say the word "nostril")! And let's not forget finishing details like hair - and maybe a gothic, spiked choker! The students persevered.  I wish parents and random people from the community could do a walk through on these constructive days.  They would see a highly focused group of teens; collaborating and problem solving.  They would  see creative thinking and admire the way artists can make something incredible - from a chunk of mud!

*Special thanks to Rhona Armes for sharing her time, knowledge and enthusiasm with this class.