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Altered books are a wonderful three dimensional story medium. They create an interest and depth to your story and become a work of art unto themselves. We are going to be creating one in class.
The Tunnel Calamity by Edward Gorey, Laura Carson: Alice in Wonderland, Ingrid Dijkers Work, Susan Brown Concertina Book
Assignment:
Students will create a 4 to 6 page tunnel book.
When considering the narrative content of your tunnel book, try to think of narratives not as simply stories, but as situations that present a sense of intrigue. A tunnel book is not a format in which you can tell a narrative with a distinct, beginning, middle, end, and climax-- instead, think of narrative moments in time; scenes that make the viewer question what they are seeing, scenes that are poised in the midst of action. Narrative can be found anywhere, from the newspaper to the pair of lost keys you find on a sidewalk to significant moments in your own life. In a narrative moment, something is happening; the viewer is aware of a history that preceded the moment and some action that is yet to come.
You are free to use whatever materials best convey you ideas; paint, pen and ink, pencil, found objects, cardboard, photographs, etc. Consider all aspects of your design carefully; how will the tunnel book look when it is lying flat? How will it look when it is extended? Where is the focal point of the scene? How will the viewer enter the scene? This is an opportunity for you to synthesize all that you have learned this semester, as such, careful planning and an inventive solution to the assignment is expected.
Browning, Celine. "Intro to Drawing and Design." : April 18, 2010. 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://sunydrawing.blogspot.com/2010_04_18_archive.html>.
Learning Targets:
Students will learn how to create a strong composition with an area of emphasis.
Students will learn how to use wet and dry mediums to create foreground, mid-ground, and background.
Students will continue to build on their observational and communication drawing/painting skills through telling of story.
Vocabulary:
Tunnel Book
Altered Book
Sculptural book
Foreground
Mid-ground
Background
Craftsmanship
Negative space
Positive Space
Depth
Overlapping
Story
Scene
Elements and Principles of Design
Materials:
Drawing paper
pencils
color pencils
markers
x-acto knives
mat board
glue
misc. wire or wood, optional
Sketchbook
History of Tunnel Books
Joanna Davis has created a wonderful explanation of the tunnel book below:
Tunnel books look like a series of cardboard sheets which stand parallel to one another and are viewed from one end. This project is a "tunnel" or "peephole"book with a set of pages bound with accordions on two sides and viewed through a central opening. Openings are cut in all but the last sheet so that the viewer looks through the layers while seeing parts of them. Writing in the tunnel books is probably best if large and brief. Initially made for promotional purposes, like the opening of the Thames Tunnel in 1851, tunnel books have become popular with artists, including Edward Gorey.
- See more at: http://www.incredibleart.org/files/Joanna-Popart.htm#sthash.J46xibT4.dpuf
Davis, Joanna. "Pop Art Tunnel Books." Lesson Plan:. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://www.incredibleart.org/files/Joanna-Popart.htm>.
The tunnel book, also known in the 19th century as a "peep show", was developed as a three-dimensional souvenir, used to document and recreate for the viewer, important places and historical events. The tunnel book format has also been used as a structure for making illustrated children's books and paper theaters.
Pop up Books
The popular method of folding and cutting so that opening pages causes part of the page to move or poke out in an unexpected manner might be an interesting way to reinforce a concept.
Resources:
Examples of different types of book bindings
Worksheets/Rubrics:
Worksheet on creating tunnel books
Wisconsin State Art and Design Standards:
C.12.8 Use the natural characteristics of materials and their possibilities and limitations to create works of art
D.12.6 Apply problem-solving strategies that promote fluency, flexibility, elaboration, and originality
E.12.1 Communicate ideas by producing sophisticated studio art forms, such as drawings, paintings, prints, sculpture, jewelry, fibers, and ceramics
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