“The world is but a canvas to our imagination.” -Henry David Thoreau
Lesson: Block Printing Studio Art
Essential Questions:
What does it mean to be "an Osprey"?
What are your positive vibes/ hopes for our future campus AND SELVES?
How can information be shared artistically?
How and why is art used as a vehicle for communication
Enduring Understanding... ~How can you change your thoughts to change your mind? How do you depict this.~
Student Practices : Students will-
Create a unified, professional, permanent art installation (prayer/hope flags) for our new campus (!) that will depict positive Osprey life and hopes for the future
Come up with original design to produce multiple block prints ( 5 preliminary sketches first)
Comprehend and practice value, form and line via different forms of constraints.
Practice varied line quality while carving
Understand drawing value in “reverse"
Print editions of their block on prayer flags + paper prints ( print sale at school) + individual homemade flags
Compose an artist statement describing their process, mediums used and how their piece depicts positivity
Terms: Value: the lightness or darkness of a color or shade. Contrast: the degree of difference between tones. Composition: the act of combining parts or elements to form a whole. Negative Space: the space lacking design Constraints: the materials used to create art Brayer: the ink rolling device Edition: a series of prints from same artist
Constraints: - pencil - pen - brayer - blades + handles (MUST USE 3 SIZES OF BLADE) - paper - foam blocks - water soluble ink - spoons - prayer/hope flags - your inspiration + imagination! - mini printmaking press
In class activity: "How do you define 'an Osprey'?" The spirit of an Osprey can be many things, and can be taken with you on the rest of your life's roads....which road do you want to take in this life? WHY ANIMAS?
Animas High School prepares all students for college and postsecondary success by creating critical thinkers and engaged citizens through an innovative, student-centered, project-based curriculum. Choosing Animas High School doesn’t take a leap of faith. AHS is an intelligent choice for a relevant, rigorous education. Animas High School is a free, public charter school open to all. Animas students are academically, socially, emotionally intelligent young adults who have professional, articulate presentation skills and know how to advocate for themselves. AHS prides itself in its open dialogue where all perspectives are welcome. Students are well known in Animas High School’s inclusive, small school setting
RIGOROUS ACADEMICS
Where students are prepared for college and career success.
Traditional academic learning is held to a higher standard through authentic problem solving and critical thinking.
Learning is relevant to the world around us. Students find connections to their lives and community.
Writing and communication skills are developed with college-level writing assignments.
Graduation requirements for all meet competitive college admission requirements.
CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE
Where students are held to high expectations.
Professionalism is learned through exhibitions and presentations of learning.
Select student ambassadors represent self, school and community through tours, shadow days and marketing efforts.
Expectation and reinforcement of positive, inclusive peer interaction.
Accountability embodies kindness and problem solving through solution-oriented thinking.
Decision-making relies upon student voice, where students learn advocacy and the importance of multiple perspectives.
ENGAGING LEARNING Where students see the relevance of their education.
Senior project features college-level writing and thesis defense.
Exhibitions give student experience engaging with authentic, professional audiences.
Interdisciplinary learning integrates Humanities, Science, and Math content in projects that answer real world questions that professionals are asking.
Through community interaction, students engage authentic, professional audiences who work in the area of study.
history of prayer flags:
Originating in India, as Buddhist sutras written on banners. In the fourth century BC, they were incorporated into Tibetan Buddhist practice. When placed outdoors, according to tradition, the prayer flags initiate peace and good tidings, their sacred mantras etched on the wind. While prayer flags are used mostly in Tibetan Buddhism, they actually have their roots in India where sutras were written on cloth. The cloth on which these sutras were written were brought into Tibet around the year 1040, although Tibetan Buddhists had heard stories of the flags' existence for over 200 years. When the flags were first created in India, the practice of printing on cloth was a fairly new idea. Because of this, when the flags were brought to Tibet, the Tibetan people were also taught how to print on cloth. Sadly, after China took control of Tibet in 1950, the Tibetan people lost many freedoms and rights that they enjoyed when Tibet was an independent country. Since then, there has been a decay in the religion, identity, and culture of the Tibetan people.
Prayer flags are now highly discouraged by the Chinese government, but many still fly proudly over the Himalayan landscape. However, because of the changes that took place after Chinese control, many traditional prayer flag designs have been lost forever.
**Contrary to popular belief, prayer flags do not carry prayers to gods, but rather are used to promote peace, strength, compassion, and wisdom. The wind is said to carry these messages from the flags to all people**
The colors hold meaning: Tibetan prayer flags are bright and beautiful, but their colors aren't just for show. Each hue signifies an element — and the flags are always arranged in a specific order, from left to right: blue, white, red, green, yellow.
Blue : represents the sky White: represents the air Red: symbolizes fire Green: symbolizes water Yellow: symbolizes earth. All five colors together signify balance.
Good intentions are important. You don't have to be a Buddhist to hang prayer flags, but there is a right way to hang them. While stringing your flags up wherever you choose to display them, it's important to keep good, selfless motivations in mind, in keeping with the flags' ultimate purpose, which is spreading positivity far and wide. Tibetan prayers and mantras are written on the flags. It is believed that by hanging flags in high places the lung ta will carry the blessings depicted on the flags to all beings.
STEP 1: Design 4 preliminary sketches on 1 piece of paper depicting your vision of your flag. *ideas: - positive mantras - 'An Osprey' defined - AHS logo your flag design MUST INCLUDE
a wish for self/others for the upcoming school year and future campus
an animal, icon or symbol that represent qualities that are important for students in this school to have; depicting positivity, knowledge, growth, etc. from our "What it means to be an Osprey" discussions
strong composition
clean, purposeful mark making (carving)
your image printed on both sides
your name + date (in corner)
artist statement on backside of editions
STEP 2: pick your favorite design and refine
STEP 3: After having a final/original design checked off by me + critiqued by peers, draw your final design on the block, using a ball point pen. REMEMBER that the image cut out of the block will be reversed when printed.
STEP 4: When cutting the image out, remove areas that you DO NOT want to be printed. Select the appropriate blade, insert it into the handle and hold it as you would a pencil while cutting. Always cut away from the body-position other hand away from cutting direction.
STEP 5: After cutting is completed, you are ready to ink the block. Work on a clean, flat surface when rolling the ink. Roll the brayer through the ink, making sure its entire surface is EVENLY inked. Roll ink onto block evenly.
STEP 6: Place your paper on the inked block carefully so it does not slip and blur the image. Using a plastic spoon, rub the entire surface of the paper/ individual flag.
STEP 7: When you are satisfied that the image has been transferred to the paper, carefully peel it away from the block by the corners. Lay your print on the drying rack, ensuring it is not touching anything else. Repeat to create your edition of prints!
Standard 3: Invent and Discover to Create *Generate works of arts that employ unique ideas, feeling, and values using different media, technologies, styles and forms of expression. To make art involves creating, inventing, conceiving, formulating, and imagining art; communicating , ascertaining, and learning about art; building, crafting, and generating art; assembling and manufacturing art; discovering, fashioning, and producing art; and CAUSING ART TO EXIST!
3.1: Demonstrate competency in traditional and new art media, and apply appropriate and available technology to express ideas.
Standard 4: Relate and Connect to Transfer *Recognize, articulate, and validate the value of the visual arts to lifelong learning and the human experience. To respond to art involves relating to art; connecting to art; personally linking to art; associating with art; bonding to art; moving toward art sensibilities; shifting to art orientations; thinking about art; attaching meaning to art; replying to art; reacting to art; internalizing art; personalizing art; and relating art to culture and diversity.
4.1: The work of art scholars impacts how art is viewed today. 4.2: Communication through advanced visual methods is a necessary skill in everyday life. * why do artists produce preliminary plans?