Pottery+and+Mixed+Media+Projects+and+Assignments



= @Pottery and Mixed Media Calendar =

Click on @Pottery and Mixed Media Calendar to see abstracts of the day's events for this course.

//Thanks for electing this class. I am extremely excited to be teaching a mixed media class with a focus on ceramics. Ceramics is my favorite media of art. There is something about being human and connected to the earth, fire and I will explain more in person… if I keep writing I will sound crazy or it will be the beginning of a romance novel. //

//Now on to… why I’m not there with you. I have been given the gift of life with a new child (due Aug. 14) and I am practicing my new duties of being a father. My wife and I our having our child in California and soon after will be taking our baby boy on his first vacation to Dhaka! If all goes accordingly, I will be back in school on August 29 (frazzled) //

//Your patience in the first few weeks of school is greatly appreciated. //

//Sincerely, //

//Mr Hansen //

= Brief Disclaimer: =

We are going to start this course by focusing in on two very precise questions: What is art and how can I talk about it? and What do I like in art? To make things more tangible and efficient we are going to focus, first, on ceramics (when answering these questions), then we will move into mixed media. I have ideas on how I want to weave mixed media and ceramics together and I will discuss those with you when I return because I would also appreciate your input.

To answer these questions we will be doing research and a study. Normally, I would integrate in-class research with clay manipulation skills, activities to break things up and create a rich learning environment. However, I’m very particular with how I would like ceramics to be taught and it is not fair to you or the sub to expect that to be done. Therefore, you are going to have to be patient and studious till I return; and then we can get arm deep in mud.

Therefore, I have planned a research of the Elements and Principles of Art to begin the study of “What is art and how can I talk about it?” Next, I planned a study of ceramic art by regions to begin to answer “What do I like in art?” If you complete these to mini units successfully, then we can have a sturdy foundation to talk about art meaningfully.

I understand that these to units may become mundane and monotonous, because they lack a tactile experience. However, like I explained, we do not have the luxury to start the year differently.

Mr Hansen

= Research: Elements and Principles of Art Study = __//Due Date: August 18, 2010//__

= = **Art Elements:** Line, Shape, Color, Value, Texture, Space and Form **Art Principles:** Balance, Unity, Emphasis, Pattern, Movement, Variety

Links explaining all the elements and principles call be found by clicking on @Pottery and Mixed Media Useful Links.

The Elements and Principles of Art help an artist create good art. Notice two key words: help and good. First, they help you create, but do not guarantee you a good artwork; just as good words and good grammar help you create, but do not guarantee you good writing. Secondly, they help you create only good artwork. To achieve great artwork, you need to place a bit of YOU within each artwork. We will talk more about great artwork as we go through the year.

What I would like you to do for this lesson is search for an image of a piece of pottery that is a great example of one element and one principle. For example, you may find a ceramic bowl that __emphasizes__ __lines__. Therefore, you found a piece of pottery that is a great example of the Element of Art: line and Principle of Art: Emphasis.

I would like you to find an example of every element and principle. You can mix and match, but need to provide an example of each. So for you math wizards, that will be 7 examples and one of the principles will have to be repeated because there are 7 elements and 6 principles. Note: You may want to bring a pen/flash/memory stick to save your work and images.

Click on @Elements and Principle of Art Pottery Study Exemplar to view an example of what I am looking for in this study.

There is no rubric for this study. It will be graded purely upon completion. However, I am human and will probably end up making judgments on the type of student you are by the effort you place within this study. Also, you may want to look at the next study, because you can use some or all of your findings from this study within your next project.

You have three complete blocks of class time to complete this project. That should be more then sufficient time. If you happen to be an extremely efficient with your time, then you may bring in other work to complete.

= Project: What I like? = //__ Due Date: September 5, 2010 __//

__**Objectives**__

1. Exposure to numerous ceramic artwork 2. Compartmentalizing what you like 3. Synthesize you likes into an artwork

__**Parameters**__

1. Region 2. Size 8” X 10” (minimum) 3. Compose of minimum of 3 things you like

The first objective of this study is to expose you to several varieties of pottery. You can find several great websites within Useful Links, under Art Magazines and Major Art Museums. I am a firm believer in that you don’t know what you like till you have been exposed to it. How do you know which ice cream you like best till you have tasted all 27 varieties of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream? Or think of this as the Bachelor or Bachelorette reality show. A bit corny, but I sure you get the point.

Then, I need you to save the images you like. Try breaking it down into the Elements/Principles of Art, for example, an image of a piece of pottery where you like the shape of the pot or you like the colors of another vessel. When you go through this process, you are compartmentalizing what you like. I would like you to go one step further and break it down into four regions: Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. Note: You may want to bring a pen/flash/memory stick to save your work and images.

Lastly, you need to synthesize the information you collected and you will be doing this by region. Your synthesis will be in the form of a detailed drawn design (and colored). Designs need to be at minimum 8 by 10 inches, because we will be making these designs to scale for our next project. You will draw a design for a ceramic artwork inspired from the things you liked, minimum of 3 thinks you like from a particular region. Therefore, you will have a design from the Americas, Asia, Africa or Europe. You need to draw three designs, so you will be representing three of the four regions. Be sure to save all the images you used as inspiration in your designs (I will ask to see them).

I’m looking forward to seeing what your creativity designs.

Note: I would take the synthesis part seriously because we will be hand-building these designs when I return.

=Project: Making of What I like?= __//Due Dates: Hand-building Practice Pieces September 13, September 15, September 19//__

Before we begin fabricating our What I Like? designs with clay, we need to develop the pottery skills needed to produce these intricate designs that you works so hard on. Therefore, we will be practicing hand-building techniques for the next three weeks. Once we mastered the hand-building skills needed for our designs, we will start constructing our What I Like Designs?

Click on Pottery Hand-Building Description for a more detail explaination of the requirements. Click on Pottery Hand-Building Skills Rubric to see your assessment tool.

We have worked diligently for three weeks on our techniques/skills and now we are ready to build our designs. I have given you feedback on your design plans. I expect you to make the necessary changes and begin building your pots ASAP. If you have any questions concerning your designs or my comments, please consult me before building. When asking a question, try to practice using the art terminology of line, shape, space, color, value, texture and form or balance, unity, emphasis, variety and movement. In addition to working on your hand-built vessels, we will be practicing and producing thrown pots during our class time.