Color, collage and chameleons.Color is a key element of art. Collage collage (kəläzh`, kō–) [Fr.,=pasting], technique in art consisting of cutting and pasting natural or manufactured materials to a painted or unpainted surface—hence, a work of art in this medium. is a creative technique. Chameleons are creatures that change their colors to blend in Verb 1. blend in - blend or harmonize; "This flavor will blend with those in your dish"; "This sofa won't go with the chairs" blend, go fit, go - be the right size or shape; fit correctly or as desired; "This piece won't fit into the puzzle" with their environments. This lesson is a wonderful combination to review color at the primary level. Primary Colors those developed from the solar beam by the prism, viz., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, which are reduced by some authors to three, - red, green, and violet-blue. These three are sometimes called fundamental colors. See under Color. See also: Color Primary We began by reviewing the primary colors and using the blotto blot·to adj. Slang Intoxicated; drunk. [Perhaps from blot1.] blotto Adjective Brit, Austral & NZ slang technique to create a multicolored paper. I had my students fold pieces of 9 x 12" (23 x 31 cm) Manila paper in half either vertically or horizontally, and open them up. We then squeezed drops and dribbles of the primary colors of paint near the folds on one side of the paper. The papers were folded carefully and rubbed, then opened back up. My students looked for the new secondary colors secondary color n. A color produced by mixing two primary colors in equal proportions. See Table at color. secondary color A color produced by mixing two additive primary colors in equal proportions. that had formed. The multi colored papers were allowed to dry and saved for future use. They would be used to make a cutout cut·out n. 1. Something cut out or intended to be cut out from something else. 2. Electricity A device that interrupts, bypasses, or disconnects a circuit or circuit element. 3. of a chameleon chameleon (kəmē`lēən, –mēl`yən), small- to medium-sized lizard of the family Chamaeleonidae. About eighty species are found in sub-Saharan Africa, with a few in S Asia. . Warm and Cool Colors To review warm and cool colors, we looked at landscapes of various environments, particularly the rain forest, and discussed how warm and cool colors together are found in many habitats. To create our backgrounds, I introduced a collage technique using torn tissue paper and diluted white glue. Paint brushes and 9 x 12" (23 x 31 cm) pieces of white construction paper were passed out. Cups of watered-down white glue and containers of warm and cool color tissue papers were placed on the tables. Following my demonstration, I instructed students to brush glue over an area of the construction paper, then tear pieces of tissue paper and place them on that area, making sure to overlap the pieces. They were then to brush the white glue solution on top of the torn pieces of tissue to form a coating. As students worked, oohs and aahs could be heard throughout the room as the colors of the tissue paper bled into each other. The collages were allowed to dry and saved as the background for the final collage. Observing Chameleons Observing pet lizards and looking at photographs from wildlife calendars and books from the library helped us to discover many types of chameleons. We discussed the various shapes, colors, and textures that make up the chameleon family. The multicolored blotto papers from the first lesson were given to students along with oil pastels Oil pastel (also called wax oil crayon) is a painting and drawing medium with characteristics similar to pastels and wax crayons. Unlike "soft" or "French" pastel sticks, which are made with a gum or methyl cellulose binder, oil pastels consist of pigment mixed with a and scissors scissors Cutting instrument or tool consisting of a pair of opposed metal blades that meet and cut when the handles at their ends are brought together. Modern scissors are of two types: the more usual pivoted blades have a rivet or screw connection between the cutting ends . I demonstrated how to draw a simple chameleon by turning my blotto to the backside (easier to see on the plain side) and drawing simple shapes: a large oval for the body and a smaller one for the head. I used curved lines to connect the head to the body and to draw a tail at the other end. Following my example, and relying on their observations of chameleons, students eagerly drew their creatures and then cut them out. The cut shapes were turned over to the painted sides. Students added details--eyes, mouth, skin textures--using a variety of lines, spirals, dots, ovals, and inventive marks. The Finished Collage Reviewing the techniques of children's book illustrators, such as the collage work of Eric Carle, Ezra Jack Keats Ezra Jack Keats (March 11 1916 – May 6 1983), author of The Snowy Day, was an easel artist and one of the most important children's literature authors and illustrators of the 20th Century. , and Lois Elhert, the first graders were ready to put their pictures together. They twisted strips of brown Kraft paper to form branches for their chameleons to sit on. Students glued the branches to the tissue collaged background papers. To make the chameleons pop up, I demonstrated how to take a small strip of scrap paper scrap paper n → pedazos mpl de papel scrap paper n → papier m brouillon scrap paper scrap n → , fan-fold it, and glue it to one end of the back of the chameleon and then glue the other end to the background paper. Students glued strips to the head, body, and tail areas. Once the chameleons were in place, the rest of the picture could be completed. We discussed what objects could be used to complete the environments and students got to work. Leftover painted papers from previous collage lessons were placed on a supply table. Students chose from these and were asked to use any scraps left from their blotto papers. Closure We reviewed the elements of line, shape, color, and texture, as well as the techniques involved in blotto, drawing, and collage. Students learned that there are many factors to consider in picture making. The results were phenomenal! The collages burst with color and delighted the eye. No two pieces were alike. Each chameleon had its own personality, just like student artist who created it. NATIONAL STANDARD Students use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories. Kathy A. Miller-Hewes is an art teacher at Ridgeview Global Studies Academy in Davenport, Florida Davenport is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,924 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,995. . |
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