When you hear music, what do you think of? Do you think of images about the music you hear?
Today we will listen to some Guitar music and look at paintings of Guitars to share what we see and feel on paper.
Bruce Langton is a local artist well-known all over the world for animal and wild life paintings as well as his illustrations of books. His books have won many awards for his illustrations throughout his life including H is for Hoosier and Counting Cardinals (we study these in 2nd grade). He has illustrated drawings for 22 books, and has over 150 limited edition prints and etchings.
In addition for his love of nature is his equal passion for music and being on stage. Langton started to use his love for music, drawing his inspiration from band members and musicians as well as the beauty of fine musical instruments to paint what he loves. He is also quoted as saying, “Music is what soothes your heart and starts your imagination on a voyage…painting’s conclude its final destination.”
Play this for just 30-60 seconds
Guitars can bring the imagination senses to life for all ages and painters reflect this.
From Pablo Picasso's very famous The Old Guitarist to Norman Rockwell's Illustrations and paintings of our every day youth adventures.
Project Description - Ink drawing using a guitar stencil with watercolor splash in for Art to Remember!
Goal: To complete a guitar project inspired by Bruce Langton a local artist and illustrator using lines, shape, color, and any advanced elements of art.
Step 1-
Be sure your name tag label is on the back. If you would like your name to show on the front, write your name in the lower front corner of your art work with black marker.
Using a stencil, trace the guitar shape onto your page with black pens provided. Your guitar can be anywhere on the page (vertical, horizontal or diagonal). Adding in detail with the pen brings so much of the guitar to life, so try to make the guitar represent you and your interests! Its also ideal to fill the pages from side to side because this image is an "art to remember" image. So try to have it go off the page or stretch across in a unique way.
Special Note - When using the pen, don't worry about making a mistake because all art has mistakes. As you are learning about having grit and problem solving, art has the same challenges. If you make a mistake with the pen, you can "fix it" by making the sketch look "sketchy" or different. Try to move ahead in a way that continues to make your creation special. The point here is that many times in art work, there are mistakes. THAT IS PART of learning (in ART and MATH and problem solving). These examples below all have "mistakes" in them, but they become a part of the painting and only the artists know those errors.
Step 2 - Next, we will add in color using watercolor. You will have to have courage and grit when painting with watercolor. DON'T WORRY on mistakes, keep creating from what happens.
Here are a few watercolor tips:
Start light and go dark at the very end. You can use black, but its recommended very very little. It gets blobby.
Using very little water helps produce very bright vivid colors while more water dilutes this.
It only takes ~15 seconds for watercolor to dry (you can't go back over it). Keep water on the spot if still working it.
Clean your brush often, then dab a paper towel before putting in the paint tray and keep the water clean too.
Do not "overwork" your watercolor and paint, it will crumble and you will get the paper shavings
You can mix colors on the top of your tray or try on scrap paper first.
Don't forget to try different sized brushes but a good medium brush is what you need.
COLOR MISTAKE TIP: If you make a mistake, take a paper towel and soak it up clean and lift up don't swipe.
Prep can be day of for this project.
Supplies:
Name tags, black sharpies
Art to Remember Paper
Black Pens
Designs from each student (we will keep with smART)
Watercolor Trays
Medium to Small Brushes
Paint trays for mixing water color shades
Water cups (about 2-3 students per cup)
Paper towels and scrap paper
Dry racks.
Further Reading Optional - Bruce Langton's Bio (1952 - present)
He was born around 1952 in Minnesota and raised in Wisconsin. In Wisconsin he spent many hours on the lakes and in the fields with his father and brother fishing, hunting, and observing nature. Langton started painting at an early age and had his mind set on being a professional artist since the 3rd grade. In high school, he became intrigued and in love with music. After much conversation with teachers he decided to pursue art as his career with music as some of his art inspiration. Today he lives right HERE in Granger, Indiana.
Bruce Langton is an artist known all over the world for animal and wild life paintings as well as his illustrations of books. His books have won many awards for his illustrations throughout his life including H is for Hoosier and Counting Cardinals (we study these in 2nd grade). He has illustrated drawings for 22 books, and has over 150 limited edition prints and etchings.
As his art career blossomed, Langton started to use his love for music drawing his inspiration from band members and musicians as well as the beauty of fine musical instruments to paint what he loves. He is also quoted as saying, “Music is what soothes your heart and starts your imagination on a voyage…painting’s conclude its final destination.”
He continues to make fine art for a living and is a musician (and song writer) in a local band. In his own words he says “I choose art but I have always had a dream of being on stage. It’s just my nature and for some odd reason, I just have to be in front of people. It’s where I feel most comfortable. I have had a wonderfully successful career as a fine artist and have been fortunate to become nationally renowned for what I truly love most.”