Project: Expressive Quote Paintings Students studied examples of artists using expressive painting techniques such as the German Expressionists, the Post-Impressionists, and Abstract Expressionists. These artist's styles were then used as inspiration for students' expressive quote paintings. Each found an inspirational or expressive quote which communicated something meaningful, relevant, and timely. These quotes were used, in conjunction with the expressive painting style studied to generate a cohesive expressive painting. We studied various methods for generating visually interesting typography and lettering styles. Check out some of the finished works below.
Project: Functional Ceramic Design & Surface Techniques Students took visual notes while learning some of the basics of functional artwork design. Applying familiar techniques such as slab-building with new approaches and uses, students are deepening their understanding of clay construction by building mugs with functional handles. They are also practicing under-glazing techniques including sgraffito. Check out some of the final products below.
Project: Packing Tape Sculptures Looking at examples of modern street artists like Mark Jenkins, students learned to understand art as having an element of surprise. To apply this, students worked in small groups to plan, design, build, and install large scale packing tape sculptures in classrooms around the school grounds. Using simple materials like plastic wrap and packing tape, students make careful casts of their arms, legs, and torsos and tape them back together to make full or partial body sculptures. Some are silly while others are mysterious, but all are surprising to find around the school. These characters can then be clothed and placed in their spaces around the school. Check out some of the in-progress and final works below.
Project: Representative Designs - Personal Brand Logos Another role of the artist is to understand and use Representative Symbols within the Design Process. Students worked on developing a personal brand logo using some version of their name as a representation of their identity. They studied examples of symbol use throughout history and applied this to better understand how they are used in modern logo crafting and propaganda. Using age-old design techniques, students generated a personal logo. The first step was to sketch 30 variations of their logo. Next, they worked to demonstrate strong craftsmanship skills by make a high-craft rendering of their logo. With this design base, students then used iterative serial artwork examples like those seen in the late 20th century Pop Art movement to make many copies of their logo. For this, they used the printmaking process and lots of popping colors. Finally, they mounted all of their work for presentation. Check out some of the final drawings and prints below.
Project: Data Visualization - Spatial Reasoning Maps Another role of the artist is to visualize data and information from actual, real-life sources. For this project, students studied the nature and function of maps, looking at a collection of maps throughout history and of various kinds of territory. After selecting, cropping, and zooming in on a region via Google Maps, students exercised their spatial reasoning abilities by drawing a map of their selected region. Check out some of the final works below!
Project: Community Awareness - Empty Bowls Project One important role of the artist is to use art to bring people together, to raise awareness of communal issues, and to support the community in which they live. This spring, we are going to host an Empty Bowls Ceremony -- an international event intended to raise awareness of local hunger issues. During this event, local artists (our students) make and donate a collection of ceramic bowls for an art show. All proceeds will be then donated to the local SOMMA Food Bank. This year's Empty Bowls Ceremony took place during the Band Concert in the OHS Cafeteria and Gymnasium on Thursday, March 8th.Check out some of the photos of the Empty Bowls Event below!