Applying Art

Posted by Kristina | 0 comments

We’ve all heard the phrase “those who can’t, teach.”  Ouch!  In some cases that would appear to be true, but most are quite gifted in what they do.  I think one of the greatest things I can do as an artist is to inspire someone else. I do this by showing them my work, pointing out the good, the bad and the ugly about it and then teaching them my techniques. While they work, I offer constructive criticism. Art is a gift, yes, but it is also a learned skill that anyone can achieve to a certain degree. Some will want to learn only the basics and be satisfied, but others will want to explore and create and would be disappointed if no one was willing to point out to them what was not working with their creation.

While art is about fun, it is also about rules. Art operates within a system of limitations … only when these “rules” are learned can an artist truly emerge and appear to “break” them. You know for yourself when something you view is “working” or not; no one needs to tell you the perspective is off or the colour scheme does not adequately portray the image and mood. In fact, we do this every day simply by getting dressed.

The first thing to keep in mind is that art is a skill, and any skill can be learned with proper instruction and a certain willingness. Yes … YOU!  So, if you are willing to give things a try in the art department, let’s get to the good stuff.  My hope is to present a few ideas to get you started on honing your own skill, alongside your students, without breaking the bank.

Scissor Art

I saw this idea on the wall of the Sunday school classroom I was in this past week.  You need a piece of paper, any size, some crayons or pencil crayons, a pencil and eraser (I do allow erasing in my class!) a pair of scissors and your imagination. Using a pencil, trace around the scissors onto the paper in any way you like, open or closed, thinking all the while about what creature or object you can transform the outline of the scissors into.  I saw monkeys, girls skipping rope (the part of the scissors your fingers go into became the legs and feet),  bird’s eyes and beaks, rabbit ears, aliens, flowers, (the scissors were closed, to make a stem), a horse on wheels and a body builder (the scissors were open and the part where your fingers go were the big muscles).  Can you imagine it, too?

Newspaper Clothes

While not necessarily “art” per se, you will make this with your own hands so I think it counts.  Perhaps you would want to do a little skit when you are newly dressed.  Newspaper clothes are a simple thing and look really cool, too.

For a skirt: Use large sheets of newspaper.  Fold along the top (the narrower edge) so your skirt will be the length you need and then pin the edges together.  If you used more than one sheet of newspaper, pin all the sheets together at the top fold.  Ask a partner to hold it firmly at your waist while you pin in as many pleats as you need or like.  You can simply add one large pleat at the front or back or have many smaller pleats.  You can cut out designs on the “hem” or tear it, depending on who you are pretending to be.

For a tunic top: This is made by folding a large, double sheet of newspaper in half.  Tear out a semi-circle shape at the center of the fold.  This will be the neck.  Slip this over your partner’s head and then pin up the sides under the arms, being careful not to poke your friend and to always put the sharp ends of the pins pointing downward.  Gather your tunic in at the “waist” with a rolled belt of paper or yarn … whatever gives you the look you want.

Book Covers

How about the classic “book cover” idea?  All you need is some construction paper or scrapbook paper, if you desire color, or plain, white computer paper.  Make sure the paper you are going to use will fit around the book you would like to cover, and wrap around the edges nicely.  Draw any design you like, adding pressed flowers, leaves or other ephemera and cover it with packing tape.  You can then tape this onto the cover of your book, on the inside of course.  As always, let me know what you think!

Check out my article on page 31 of the funky flipbook edition of Heart of the Matter Magazine.

Kristina Campbell is a happily married wife in her eighth year of homeschooling the flybytheseatofyourpants method. So far her two boys seem intelligible and relatively unscathed. She also mentors with Setting Captives Free and in her spare time loves to scrapbook, paint, make linoprints and write novel study guides. In your spare time, you should check out her blog OnFire in PNG.