"Dot Day" Celebration & Exploration

      Our arts methods Professor showed  our class an interesting animation based off a book by Peter H. Raynold's, called "The Dot" . A celebrated children's book, Raynold's story
was made into a short animation. This animation was an enduring story about a young student who felt she couldn't draw, so wouldn't try. The teacher cleverly encouraged  the student by framing her "dot". She felt she could do better, and eventually surprised herself with the amazing things she could do with "a dot."

     In celebration of "International Dot Day", we students as a group
engaged in many different ways to "make our own dots" in a class mural.
We started out with each of us having a cup of a primary color
tempera paint, and was given complete artistic freedom with that
color. She played music while we painted, and when it stopped, we
moved to another section where a previous student was painting.
We were encouraged to mix and blend the colors, and over lap our designs to see not only the results of the color blending, but also what we thought would add to the design.
Once we were back in out original spot, we stopped and let the mural dry. We then
cut out our dots.

Our Class Mural

 

. Our Arts methods Professor then introduced us to several different methods of creating a dot, and encouraged us to explore with the media the different things we could do. It was extremely fun to play with all the media, and discover what they could do. We had to have at least four, but we weren't limited on what they could be, and were encouraged to try some methods not presented by the Professor as well.
 
    I liked the sun catcher project, where baby oil is used on construction paper to make it transparent. The oil pastels used on the project helped created a bit of a resist, and the oil helped blend them with a cotton swab. You had to be careful not to smudge the pastel too much, unless that was what you were going for, since it moved well with the baby oil.




      I also really enjoyed the project where crayons were used as a resist to water color paints on paper. The use of different colored crayons under the water colors gave a striking contrast to the soft colors of the paint, and gave a nice texture. You can see where the paint seeped through the wax where you drew lightly, and how it just rolled off where you pressed harder. It had a nice affect.

Water Color and Crayon Resist

   
The coffee filter project was very fun as well. I have never considered putting water color paint on them, and was amazed at the pretty result. Putting it on a can of spray paint to dry in a bowl shape, we used spray starch to turn it into a hardened bowl. It was a very nice idea. They came out beautifully. The only thing to remember is that they can get very wet with the water colors, and that you should put a paper towel under the can the filter is drying on, to prevent messes.
 

coffee filter and water color starched

We were even given a certificate stating that we participated in "International Dot day". 

 


We also as a class put up all of our art experiments  in a class display.

 

Here's my display

     I myself decided to try my hand at using acrylic paints to make my own "dots". I had a lot of fun layering and moving the paint around. It was very therapeutic, just using colors without any real purpose other than to swirl it around, with no real reasoning.

An extension exercise I would use this for, would be to use it to teach color use in a class room. Another, would be to challenge students to use just a circle in a composition, to convey a mood or idea with nothing but color, and the shapes. A non-artistic extension exercise, I would use this project in mathematics, by having the children explore with the projects, then find the diameter or radius of the circles they have created.

My dot painting

 

 

Other dot (made of clay)

 



Foot Print Project (^-^)

For my first project, I was given the task of describing everything that I have done, or that has influenced me, in a visual way. So, thinking upon this, I was given the idea of doing a foot print, and putting in it the things that describe, and have made me, well, me.

Given this great idea, I traced then cut out my foot print on construction paper.  I found the things that I felt represented me, and put them inside of it. I made sure they were important things, things that described my core interests and personality.
Here are the steps in which I took to make "my foot print":

Step 1:    Think about what makes, or has made you who you are  
               today. 
    This should include the major influence of childhood through adult hood. It's  an    introduction to who you are.  They should be your most important parts of your life. Be sure to include your name!

Step 2:   Trace and cut out your foot, or shoe print.
      If you have small feet, you can use both if need be. Doesn't matter if it's your left or right foot.

Step 3:   Use 3 or more different media to represent yourself.
         
            You can use ink, paint, crayons, fabric...endless media. But a minimum of 3 so you learn about the uses of the different media.

           This activity would be useful to use in a teaching environment, because it not only encourages a child to really think about themselves, but what makes them special. It can promote self-esteem, allow shyer students to express themselves, and gives you, as the teacher, a valuable incite about what your student's interests and life is like. It can be a valuable tool to use in figuring
out how to teach not only the students as a group, but the individuals as well. It can lead to a better understanding about how to teach your students, in accordance to their types of learning.

An extension exercise this would be useful for, would be to ask how their summer vacation went, or their proudest moment. This type of project would have many uses and benefits.
                                                                  (^o^)  (^v^) (^-^)