Self-Portrait: 12

This Lesson Explores:

collage, texture, mixed media, transfers, self-portraiture, expression, representation, and symbolism

Morgan Hughes

Lesson Plan

Self-Portrait Textured Collage

12th grade

BIG IDEA:        Artists incorporate images and various materials to express themselves and in the process learn about themselves

                           Aim:                To create a textured self-portrait collage utilizing at least 2 principles of design

Rationale:       Students are interested in designing and creating artwork that represents them while learning about history and new art mediums

Behavioral Objectives

• Analyze the symbolism and identify principles of design of Robert Rauschenberg’s collages and Kara Walker’s Silhouettes (Appropriate age)

• Compare and contrast Rauschenberg’s and Walker’s techniques and images

• Understand both skill and self-expression through subject matter 

• Demonstrate and apply the process of creating actual texture or the illusion of texture within a collage 

• Apply this process in an original and completed full color composition

Vocabulary/Key words

Principles of Design: Balance, Rhythm and Movement, Proportion, Emphasis, Pattern, Unity and Variety

Concept vs. Formal Elements

Materials:  12”x16” paper, pencils, scissors, matte medium, glue, magazines, laser jet printers, digital camera(s), photocopier, blender/transfer markers, paintbrushes, tissue paper and other textured paper.

Resources: Handout of the Principles of Design and images of artwork by Robert Rauschenberg and Kara Walker: (PowerPoint)

Motivation

-Handout: Principles of Design

-PowerPoint presentation of brief history of artwork of Rauschenberg and Walker with inquiry base learning:

-How are the seven elements of design used in Rauschenberg’s and Kiefer’s collages?

-How are the works similar?  How are they different?

-How does Walker depict expression through the silhouettes?

-How do they depict design and symbolism?

-List ideas or symbols that represent themselves or words that represent their name

Procedure

-Explain: Students will use their list to create a self-portrait collage with at least two principles of design.  Each collage will have a silhouette of them either by a photo taken or from a magazine figure.

-Show example of silhouettes and how they can create images or patterns within the silhouettes

-Take tissue paper and layer the paper over one another using glue and a paintbrush to demonstrate actual texture

-Demonstrate various ways to collage materials such as layering paper with glue or matte medium to create texture

-Photocopy a piece of lace fabric to demonstrate the illusion of texture.

-Rub a blender marker over a laser jet print face down onto the main project paper to demonstrate another collage element

-Place a magazine or photo up, with a paintbrush layer the matte medium on top of the photo.

-After it dries apply the matte medium again but in another direction

-Repeat these steps about another 2 times 

-When this has dried place in a container with warm water and remove the paper.  The paper image will attach itself to the matte medium creating a translucent appearance. 

-Glue Decorative paper and symbols found

-Students will begin to take photos, explore human figure in magazines, collage, sketch and brainstorm using materials provided

Assessment

Formative:

-Classroom discussion and participation is provided

-Handout of Principles of Design to keep students on task

-Students are provided with rubric to stay on target task

-Observe sketches and discuss what ideas, colors and textures from the procedure they will be using to create their collage

-Scan room to make sure students are using materials correctly

-Identify and students use of symbolism, their silhouettes that represent themselves

-Observe students use of the principles of design

-Inquire students about which two principles of design they are gong to utilize in their Collage

            How are they using them?

            Why are they using them in that way?

Summative

-Rubrics will be marked and given back to students

-Final Critique at end of project

-How does your self-portrait communicate ideas about yourself?

-What obstacle did you encounter in the process?

-How did you resolve them?

-What aspects of the project did you need to reevaluate either in subject matter or materials?

Closure

How does your knowledge of the principles of design compare to what you knew prior to this lesson?

How did Walker and Rauschenberg influence your collage imagery?

What types of collage did you find most challenging?

What will you improve upon next time?

Standards and Benchmarks

NYS

1.  Creative Opportunities: students learn about transferring images and using various materials cohesively

2.  Knowledge of the Visual Arts:  Principles of design

3.  Valuing the Visual Arts: learning to appreciate established artists such as Rauschenberg and Walker

NYC

I.    Arts Making:  Transfer techniques, layering, utilizing various mediums cohesively.

II.   Literacy in Art: vocabulary and critically thinking about formalism (7 principles of design) and the relationship that has to symbolism and concept.  Making observations, Comparing and ontrasting artwork

III.    Making Connections: Math through the 7 principles of design and History through learning about the history of art

V. Careers and Lifelong learning: Students gain awareness of established artists and their work