Come explore what screen printing is and how to bring it to your K-12 art room!

Screen printing has been around for centuries and is generally credited to China in the Song Dynasty. The process gained prominence in the Western world in the early 1900s because it didn’t need a fancy printing press. The medium exploded in the mid-1900s with Harry Gottlieb’s expressive prints, Andy Warhol’s famous Pop Art images, and Corita Kent’s text-based works. Today, artists like Wendy Red Star blend traditional Indigenous symbols with contemporary themes. Screen printing remains a powerful medium for storytelling, dynamic imagery, and cultural expression. 

Screen printing is a relatively low-tech printmaking option—you don’t even need a printing press or expensive chemicals. Start with a mesh screen, DIYed from an embroidery hoop or purchased specifically for screen printing. Create negative space on the screen to push ink through with glue, sticker paper, or emulsion. Play with shapes, colors, and layers to create graphic images that will hone students’ digital design-thinking skills.

Grab the stencil printing materials below to try screen printing:

• Stencils
  Create using paper, cardboard, or acetate sheets.
• Cutting Tools
  Cut out the stencil using scissors, craft knives, or laser cutters.
• Screens and Frames
  Stretch traditional screens over frames. Substitute embroidery hoops or stretched pantyhose.
• Emulsion
  Photosensitive emulsion creates a solid layer on the screen that ink cannot pass through. Ensure your brand does not require darkroom conditions.
• UV Light
  Expose the emulsion-coated screen so it hardens into a solid layer. If your budget doesn’t allow for a UV light, use the sun!
• Screen Printing Ink
  Use water-based screen printing ink or try acrylic paint as an alternative and fabric ink for textiles.
• Image Materials
  Sketch with paper or gather images of student artwork. Trace with permanent markers on acetate.
• Scoop Coater
  Apply emulsion evenly across the stencil or sub with a squeegee or piece of cardboard.
• Squeegee
  Pull ink evenly across the stencil or sub with a piece of cardboard.
• Red Polyethylene Tape
  Frame the printing area on the screen with this residue-free and reusable tape.
• Paper or Fabric
  Print on smooth, sturdy paper such as cardstock or fabric.

1. Create screens.

Coat the screens with light-sensitive emulsion. Let dry for 24 hours in a dark place while students move on to the next step. To save class time, you can also pre-coat the screens so they’re ready to go! Alternatively, skip the emulsion process and use stencils.

2. Plan designs.

Guide students through planning their designs. Break designs down into one to three layers to keep things simple. Encourage students to use high-contrast imagery to make the layers easier to see. Transfer each layer of the design to a separate sheet of acetate.

3. Expose screens.

Secure the first layer of the acetate design to the screen. Expose the screen to UV light according to the suggested time on the emulsion container. It’s a good idea to do an exposure test to ensure the timing is correct.

4. Wash out the screen.

Use warm water and a sponge to lightly wash out the image area of the screen. Scrub lightly so the rest of the emulsion stays on the screen.

5. Prep your printing space.

Setup is key because the ink dries so quickly! Frame the area you want to print with red polyethylene tape on the screen. Cover the table with large scrap paper and make registration marks for the final image and paper and screen. This will ensure students align each layer correctly. Line up paper on the table and secure with tape. If you’re using stencils, place them on the paper. Carefully put the screen on top.

6. Apply and pull the ink. 

Add a thick line of ink on the top piece of red tape. Use a squeegee and pull evenly down the screen to distribute the ink through the mesh. Gently lift the screen to reveal the print!

7. Let dry and repeat!

Carefully remove the paper and set it in a clean spot to dry. Repeat the process with more layers.

For more in-depth steps in a handy video format, watch the Pack, Getting Started with Screen Printing in PRO Learning.

Bookmark these quick and easy tips to streamline screen printing with large classes!

Teaching screen printing to a large class of students has a lot of moving parts! Stay organized and plan ahead to make the most of your class period. You’ll discover students’ engagement will skyrocket. Plus, you’ll know all the prep is worth it as soon as you see the excitement on their faces as they pull their first print.

Here are some pro tips for streamlining the classroom screen printing process:

• Share screens and stations to boost collaboration and provide extra hands for pulling prints.
• Pre-mix and pour ink in small cups so the entire bottle doesn’t dry out or spill.
• Turn it into a group project and provide pre-made screens with images. Students can customize their final print by choosing their imagery and layers.
• Cover tables with butcher or bulletin board paper, disposable tablecloths, or newspapers for easy cleanup.
• Pre-label bins and buckets for more easy cleanup, including labels like Clean Tools, Ink-Covered Tools, and General Waste.
• Cover clean tables with clean paper for drying prints.
• Provide a giant tub of water to throw inked screens in so the ink doesn’t dry and clog the mesh.

If you’re looking for a fresh way to hook your students and foster design thinking, try screen printing! Students will love this low-tech process that produces powerful imagery. Encourage students to play with layers for endless combinations and experiment with various surfaces for functional pieces. Streamline the process by pairing students together, prepping materials ahead of time, and labeling bins for easy cleanup. Turn your classroom into a dynamic printing studio and spark excitement with each pulled print.

What questions do you still have about screen printing in the art room?

Share a screen printing shortcut or hack!

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post Screen Printing Success: A Step-by-Step Guide for Busy Art Classrooms appeared first on The Art of Education University.

We often teach our students that they can send powerful messages through their artwork. What if your students took this one step further to use their art to directly impact their community and the environment? Empower your students to use their art beyond self-expression and harness it as a tool to raise awareness and inspire action! Introduce environmentalism and visual activism to make real-world applications that are sure to hook students and transform them into changemakers.

Give back to the environment with two visual activism strategies and discover three fascinating artists leading the charge!

Strategy 1: Embrace sustainable art practices with recycled materials.

Upcycling and sustainability in the art room begin with the materials students use. It encourages students to think critically about waste and budget and think creatively about material manipulation and transformation. This focus reinforces to students that their artistic decisions can have a positive environmental impact and further enhance their art’s message. 

Provide structure and support with the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals offer a framework for addressing environmental challenges. For example, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production encourages reducing waste and using resources wisely. It would be a great tie-in to a paper-making lesson using scrap papers. Incorporate the SDGs into your curriculum to make your lessons more impactful, expose students to new connections, and create cross-curricular activities. 

Check out the following three resources for ideas to embrace sustainability in your art curriculum:

1. Zero Budget Art Room
2. How to Embrace Limitations to Tap Into Creativity With Your Students
3. 12 Ways to Be Environmentally Conscious in the Art Room

Strategy 2: Design thematic projects to explore environmental issues and tap into students’ interests.

Introduce environmental issues in student artwork through the use of themes. Break down big topics into easier-to-digest themes for students to select from. For younger students, focus on simple concepts that they encounter every day, like recycling. For middle school students, introduce more complex initiatives like climate change or deforestation. For older students, allow more abstract issues, such as resource depletion or environmental justice.

Garner support from teachers in other content areas to enhance the depth of each project and reinforce the interconnectedness of learning. Another way to gain support and inspire students is to bring in guest speakers who are environmental scientists, local activists, or community leaders. Facilitate guided research from multiple perspectives so students can learn more about their topic. This is a great opportunity to discuss strong research skills and how to be a responsible digital citizen.

Once students have information on their topic, it’s time to brainstorm! Reflect on what stance they want to take within their topic and what they want to prompt the viewer to do. Sketch ideas that convey their messaging and consider how upcycling and sustainability in specific materials can detract from or support their idea. Show them the artists below to highlight what other artists are doing in the field and get them to think outside of the box before diving into their final creations.

Discover three environmental artists sparking change!

Note: Artists are arranged in alphabetical order by their last name. Peruse the links below and consider how these artists and works fit into your district and curriculum parameters to determine if they are a good fit and appropriate to share with your students.

1. Mel Chin

Mel Chin’s Revival Field explores bioremediation, which uses plants to remove toxins from contaminated soil. His work, using plants to heal the earth, focuses on overlooked communities that suffer the most from environmental harm. Chin’s work is a model for how art can show an audience a solution to a real-world problem. 

Classroom Application:

Create seed bombs to take this concept to your students and their neighborhoods. Seed bombs are small balls of soil with seeds that you throw into underutilized spaces to promote plant growth. Students can create two seed bombs each—one to keep and plant themselves and one to donate. Gift the second seed bomb to a local community clean-up initiative. This allows students to help with re-greening efforts in their community. 

2. Olafur Eliasson

In Ice Watch, Olafur Eliasson moved ice from Greenland’s glaciers to city centers. It made climate change a real experience that people had to face every day. His work turns environmental data into a physical, interactive display that you cannot ignore. It forces people to confront the impact of climate change and take action.

Classroom Application:

Make a stop-motion animation that documents a natural process of change, like an ice cube melting or organic material decaying. Students will photograph the gradual transformation from the same spot, visually tracking each stage as it unfolds. The more sequential photos they take, the smoother and more fluid their animation will be. Use a stop motion app or simple slideshow presentation to arrange them in order. This activity challenges students to think critically about how small, incremental changes can accumulate over time.

3. Maya Lin

Maya Lin’s What is Missing? is an environmental memorial that highlights biodiversity loss and climate change. Through art, science, and data, she raises awareness of species and ecosystems at risk. Lin’s work highlights the damage happening to the environment right now. It reminds us of loss and why we should push for a more sustainable future.

Classroom Application:

Design postcards to raise awareness about an endangered species or ecosystem. Students research their subject matter and draw it on the front of the postcard. Students write a short advocacy message about the importance of their issue with one way the recipient can help. Students mail the postcard to a friend or family member to spread awareness to someone they love and advocate for action. Use the Postcard in Earth Biomes Lesson in FLEX Curriculum for a full list of supplies, standards, objectives, and step-by-step instructions.

Art has the power to not only raise awareness but to drive real change. By incorporating eco-friendly themes and practices in your art room, you empower students to make a difference. Show students how to use their creativity in upcycling materials with sustainability in mind. Embrace environmental themes to practice solid research and communication skills. Introduce the three artists above to broaden students’ horizons with what’s possible with visual activism and how professionals are sparking change. Mobilize your art curriculum so your students will make a positive impact on the environment for years to come!  

How do you incorporate sustainable practices in your art room? 

Who is your favorite visual activist to share with students?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post Make an Impact: Helpful Environmental Service Learning Ideas in the Art Room appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Are you looking to captivate your students with photography but don’t have access to fancy equipment or a darkroom? We have good news! You can bring photography into any art room by harnessing the power of sunlight to create stunning blueprints. Cyanotypes, with their mesmerizing Prussian blue color, offer a unique and accessible way to engage students in a different form of artmaking. It’s also a simple process that encourages experimentation while introducing foundational composition and chemistry concepts. Dive into a world of blue and discover simple tips to incorporate cyanotypes into your art room.

Keep reading to learn how you can implement and elevate cyanotypes in your classroom without a darkroom! 

Why cyanotypes?

Sir John Herschel invented the cyanotype process in 1842, but Anna Atkins brought it to popularity. Cyanotypes offer a unique blend of art and science and allow students to explore photographic processes without a camera. The artist arranges objects to create visually engaging images to explore composition as well as positive and negative shapes. The process uses ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide. These chemicals are sensitive to UV light and produce blue-toned prints when exposed and washed. If you live in an area with limited UV or sun exposure or want to print indoors, use a UV light kit.

Here are three cyanotype artists to share:

1. Anna Atkins was the first person to create a book using photographic images. She used the cyanotype process to create detailed and scientifically accurate images of botanical specimens, blending the fields of art and biology. 
2. Christian Marclay creates cyanotypes to explore the visual representation of sound and music. He places musical objects like records, cassette tapes, and other audio equipment onto photosensitive paper. 
3. Meghann Riepenhoff is a US artist who makes unique cyanotype prints using the natural properties of water. She uses natural materials like water, soil, and dust to physically etch into her photographic materials. 

Elevate cyanotype printing in the art room with these five methods!

1. Toning

Toning cyanotypes can alter their color and add depth and variety. Common toning agents include tea and coffee. This technique allows students to experiment with different hues. 

1. Prepare the toning solution.
   Mix your chosen toning agent (tea or coffee) with water. The concentration will depend on the depth of color desired. Tea will give a lighter, more translucent brown, while coffee will produce a deeper, richer brown.
2. Immerse the print.
   Submerge your dry cyanotype print into the toning solution. Let it soak for several minutes, checking periodically until the desired color is achieved.
3. Rinse and dry.
   After toning, rinse the print in clean water to stop the toning process. Hang or lay flat to dry completely.

2. Multiple Exposures

Creating cyanotype prints with multiple exposures can result in complex, layered images. This technique encourages the exploration of layered compositions and visual storytelling. Experiment with a variety of objects that have different textures like lace, feathers, or paper cutouts. Also, play with exposure time to create depth and contrast in the final print.

1. Plan the composition.
   Select the design elements to layer and arrange objects or negatives on the cyanotype paper.
2. Expose and develop.
   Expose the paper to light for the first layer. For instance, you may lay a transparent leaf on the paper and expose it to sunlight.
3. Repeat exposure.
   Remove the first object, add new objects (such as a different shape or color), and expose it to light again. This layering creates a complex, multi-dimensional image.
4. Develop.
   Rinse in water as usual to reveal the final layered image.

3. Wet Cyanotypes

Wet cyanotypes involve adding moisture to the process to produce unique, textured effects. This technique creates organic patterns, adding an element of unpredictability. More water will create a softer, watercolor-like effect, while less water will make more defined textures.

1. Prepare the paper.
   Lightly moisten your cyanotype paper with a spray bottle or immerse it in water.
2. Apply the cyanotype solution.
   Apply the cyanotype solution to the wet paper using a brush or sponge. The selected tool will also contribute to unique patterns.
3. Expose and develop.
   Arrange objects on the coated paper and expose the print to sunlight or UV light. Rinse in water and let dry.

4. Fabric Cyanotype

Printing cyanotypes on fabric opens up creative possibilities with wearable art and textile design! Fabrics like cotton or silk may produce different results in texture and color. Play with enhancing or modifying cyanotype designs with fabric dyes or paints.

1. Prepare the fabric.
   Wash and iron the fabric to remove any sizing or dirt. Stretch the fabric on a flat surface.
2. Apply the cyanotype solution.
   Brush or sponge the cyanotype solution evenly onto the fabric in a dimly lit area.
3. Arrange objects.
   Place objects or negatives on the coated fabric.
4. Expose and develop.
   Expose to sunlight or UV light, then rinse the fabric in water. Allow it to dry thoroughly.

5. Hand-Coloring

Adding color to cyanotype prints highlights details and adds a mixed-media element. Once the print is dry, students can use watercolors, colored pencils, or other media. Additionally, hand-coloring is a great way to “save” any cyanotypes that don’t turn out as planned.  

1. Prepare the print.
   Allow the cyanotype print to dry completely.
2. Add color.
   Use watercolors, colored pencils, or other media to add details and colors to the print.
3. Fix the color.
   If using watercolor or other wet media, let the color dry completely before handling. Optionally, apply a fixative to ensure the colors stay in place.

With no darkroom required, cyanotypes make blending artistic techniques with foundational concepts in chemistry and composition easy. Embrace the world of camera-less photography in your classroom through this engaging and versatile medium. Whether incorporating the basics of cyanotype printing or elevating the technique with advanced methods like toning, multiple exposures, and wet cyanotypes, the possibilities for creativity and experimentation are endless!

What is your favorite way to elevate cyanotypes? 

How do you incorporate the outdoors into your curriculum?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post Back to Basics: How to Teach Cyanotypes in the K-12 Classroom appeared first on The Art of Education University.

As art teachers, we know the power of the visual arts to connect and move people. Now, science is proving what we’ve understood all along! The field of neuroaesthetics is showing how art can improve emotional well-being.

Let’s explore how to harness neuroaesthetics through service learning in the art room to improve health and quality of life.

What is neuroaesthetics?

Neuroaesthetics is the study of how our brains respond to art. When we look at art, parts of our brains light up! These parts handle emotion, senses, and pleasure and release dopamine, which makes us feel good and reduces stress. Susan Magsamen explores how creating and viewing art can help people in her book called This Is Your Brain on Art.

In hospitals and nursing homes, art can be a positive distraction. It helps people focus on something calming. A study of burn victims found that looking at pleasant images reduced their pain. This shows that art doesn’t just fill a space—it makes people feel better! Understanding how art affects the brain enables us to see the full power and potential of student artwork. Use this science as part of a service learning project to bring art and positivity to others in the community.

Bring the power of neuroaesthetics into your classroom and community with these ideas!

Compare and contrast two artworks to capture emotional responses. 

To introduce students to neuroaesthetics, compare two very different artworks. The Scream by Edvard Munch and Water Lilies by Claude Monet are great examples to start with! These paintings show how art can prompt different emotions. The Scream often makes viewers feel tense or anxious, with the subject’s intense facial expression and the artist’s use of bold colors and swirling lines. 

In contrast, Water Lilies creates a sense of calm through soft, subdued colors and flowing shapes. Talk with students about how each piece affects their mood. Ask them to think about how the elements of art contribute to the mood. Segue into how creating and sharing calming art can bring tranquility to others, especially those who are sad or struggling.

Create calm with color field artists.

Research shows that certain colors can boost our well-being. Non-objective art, especially by Color Field artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Helen Frankenthaler, is ideal for this activity. The large-scale artworks with big splashes of color are a great introduction to color symbolism. 

Introduce Color Field artists and how they used color to convey emotion without recognizable subject matter. Reinforce color theory, focus on mixing tertiary colors, and explore blending. Lead a guided visualization by asking, “What colors make you feel calm? Are they cool or warm? Saturated or muted?” Students paint a non-objective piece, using color to evoke calm. Experiment with materials like squeegees, rollers, and sponges for blending.

If you’re looking for resources to scaffold this process but don’t have time to create your own, check out FLEX Curriculum. FLEX is a standards-aligned curriculum with a vast archive of lesson plans and student-facing resources. Use worksheets like Showing Emotion: A Formative Tool and Discussion: Colors and Feelings to guide students in exploring emotions through color. 

Visualize positive themes through hand lettering.

Ask students to list positive themes like hope, peace, love, and kindness. By transforming these abstract ideas into hand-lettered art, students see how art can inspire. Read Ish by Peter H. Reynolds to encourage students to embrace abstract art and capture their theme’s essence. 

Students choose a positive theme and reflect on how to represent it visually. Ask questions like, “If kindness were a color, what would it be? If hope were lines, what type would it be?  If peace were a texture, how would it feel?” to guide their visualization. Discuss text in art and the importance of different font styles and sizes. Practice various words and quotes with step-by-step hand-lettering directions and drills. After sketching different word and composition combinations, choose a favorite to turn into a final artwork with markers and paint.

Share art in community spaces to positively transform well-being.

Once students create their artwork, it’s time to share it with the community! Brainstorm a list of places with your students that could benefit from calming artwork.

Here are some community space ideas to include:

• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Shelters
• Rehab Facilities
• Veterans’ Centers
• Hospice Centers
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Mental Health Clinics
• Libraries

Reach out to venues via email and share your plan for displaying calming art. Discuss details about the space and display and how long the artwork will be up. Consider easy-hang options like using butcher paper for quick setup or pre-matting the pieces for a polished look. Coordinate with the venue to choose the best method.

For more innovative and time-saving ways to display student artwork, check out the following tips:

• Art Room Hacks: New Ways to Display Artwork
• 7 Nifty Ideas for Storing, Hanging, and Displaying Artwork
• How to Select Art Show Artwork and The Best Adhesives to Hang Art

Invite students and families to visit the exhibit by emailing home or including it in the school newsletter. Provide a box, blank cards, and pens for visitors to write letters to the students about how the artwork made them feel. This reinforces the value of the students’ work and highlights the impact of visual art.

Service learning helps students see how their art can make a difference. Creating art for therapeutic spaces boosts creativity and teaches students the emotional power of their work. By placing hand-lettered quotes or giant color field paintings in hospitals or shelters, students bring calm and comfort to those in need. It shows that art connects us and supports others beyond the classroom. Art-based service learning gives students purpose and shows how their artistic efforts can help the community.

How do you guide your students to think about the emotional impact of their work?

What are your favorite ways to incorporate service learning projects in the art room?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post 4 Ways to Use Student Art for Community Service Learning & Well-Being appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Shake things up with how you teach value and bring drypoint to your students for ultimate engagement.

Drypoint originated in the late 15th century but because it’s such an enriching process that creates rich, velvety lines, it’s one that’s here to stay. Along with providing many opportunities for students to explore how line and pressure create different values, drypoint promotes backward design thinking. Students engrave the images in reverse so that when they ink and print the plate, the final image is facing the correct way. The drypoint process of engraving, inking, printing, and refining also mirrors the scientific method, encouraging students to hypothesize, test, and revise their work based on the observed results. This cyclical learning process enhances their ability to critique their work and approach problems.

A little bit of prep goes a long way!

Preparing for drypoint printmaking may seem daunting, but with a few strategic steps and hacks, you can create a seamless experience for you and your students.

Here are a few tricks to keep your classroom under control:

• Pre-rip or cut both dry and damp rags and paper towels for wiping plates and hands.
  
• Set up stations for each step of the process to keep tools and spaces organized and clean.
• Provide disposable gloves for even speedier cleanup!
• Place non-slip material under plates when engraving so they don’t slide.
• Add a masking tape border to the copper plates to prevent cuts.
• Pre-squeeze and pre-mix inks to minimize waste.
• Collect lots of small scrap “pincher” papers for students to use as tweezers to keep their final prints clean.
• Pre-cut printing paper so students can grab and go!
• Assign students roles such as Ink Manager, Tool Keeper, Print Monitor, and Cleanup Crew to foster responsibility and ensure smooth transitions between tasks.
• Display several anchor charts around the room of tools and steps to keep students on track.

Gather these supplies and follow these four easy steps for your students to pull their first drypoint print!

To bring drypoint printing to your students, gather the following materials:

• Plates
  Start with a copper or zinc plate. Trade for plexiglass for a cheaper alternative.
• Etching Needles
  Incise lines with needles, nails, or even toothpicks.
• Printing Ink
  Use oil-based ink for the best results. If oil-based is not allowed, try water-based ink.
• Triangular Scraper
  Pull the ink over the plate. Sub for a piece of cardboard for a free hack!
• Cheesecloth
  Remove excess ink from the plate with a lint-free rag.
• Newspaper
  Catch any lingering ink on the plate and it’s great to cover surfaces for easy cleanup!
• Spray Bottle
  Fill with water to dampen the paper.
• Press, Baren, or Roller
  Apply pressure with a printing press, baren, roller, or heavy spoon.
• Paper
  Print on smooth, sturdy paper such as cardstock.

1. Draw a design and transfer it to the plate.

Share examples of drypoint prints and black and white photographs for students to identify seven different values in each image. Students create their own sketches that also include a range of seven values. Encourage various markmaking techniques such as crosshatching or stippling. 

Transfer the sketch with carbon or tracing paper and a waxy pencil or crayon to the plate.

2. Master the engraving process.

Students carve the design into the copper plate using a drypoint needle. Emphasize how the line depth, spacing, and variety will influence the value in the final print. Keep track of your sharps with a checkout or numbered system for safety and inventory purposes.

3. Ink like a pro!

Model the inking process before students attempt it on their own. Apply a large amount of ink to the top of the plate. Pull the ink over the whole plate using a flare scraper or cardboard. Then, wipe off the extra ink with a cheesecloth or rag. Use newspaper to wipe out the highlights.

4. Print and review.

Walk the inked and wiped plates over to the printing station. Lightly spray a sheet of paper with a spray bottle. Blot it with a paper towel if it’s too wet; it should be slightly damp. Line the paper up on top of the plate. Use a press, baren, roller, or spoon to press the paper onto the plate. 

Carefully lift the print, using scrap paper as tweezers to keep the final print fingerprint-free. Demonstrate how to number, title, and sign the print.

Drypoint is such an underrated medium in the K-12 art room. It exposes your students to the art of printmaking and provides an opportunity to explore the element of value in a fresh way. The drypoint process also encourages students to hone their backward design thinking and make connections with the scientific method. There are many hacks to make drypoint affordable and manageable for the art room, such as subbing plexiglass for copper plates and cardboard for scrapers. Give drypoint a chance and get ready for rich, nostalgic imagery that will keep you and your students captivated!

What reservations or questions do you still have about drypoint in the K-12 art room?

Who are your favorite drypoint artists to share?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post Discover an Unexpected Way to Teach Value Through Drypoint Printmaking appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Hear the stories of artists in the military, plus ideas to bring them to your students.

A little razzle-dazzle may have saved lives in World War I.

In the days before radar, soldiers would need to spot an enemy ship through a scope and estimate its distance, direction, and speed. In 1917, as German U-boats targeted ships with deadly accuracy, artist Norman Wilkinson came up with a radical plan. Rather than trying to hide the ships, he wanted to paint flashy designs to disorient the enemy. The Navy experimented with painting ships using geometric lines and shapes to make it harder to tell the ship’s orientation. 

Put this story to work in your classroom.

Many art teachers love Op Art because it’s systematic and highlights the careful arrangement of the elements within a composition. Many students love Op Art because the projects have a high success rate. It’s easy to understand and it’s visually striking. 

Share the history of Dazzle Camouflage as a hook to get students interested in your Op Art lesson. If you want more ways to introduce Op Art, check out the artist bios of Victor Vasarely and Bridget Riley in FLEX Curriculum. You’ll also find student-facing resources like timelines, videos, and visual references of Op Art patterns. 

Who you gonna call? Ghost Army!

During World War II, the U.S. Army recruited artists for what they described as a non-combat camouflage unit to misdirect the enemy. The job was far more risky than it sounds. The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops was eventually renamed the Ghost Army. Artists, including some who would go on to have prominent art careers, such as Ellsworth Kelly and Art Kane, utilized their talents. They created an illusion that the Allied forces were preparing to go to one place while they actually planned to go to another. To make this illusion, they constructed inflatable tanks, stretched canvas over wooden mock-ups of trucks or planes, and used audio recordings to simulate the din of an active platoon.

One strategy was partially covering and camouflaging their creations so enemy scouts would catch their “mistakes.” Because the scouts believed they caught a glimpse of something they weren’t meant to see, they perceived it as valuable intelligence. For a group of roughly 1,000 artists, impersonating a group 40 times their size was extremely dangerous. Success in their mission would draw the enemy closer to them. However, they couldn’t defend themselves in heavy combat. Their creative and courageous actions were successful and likely saved the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers.

Put this story to work in your classroom.

Design immersive installation pieces that incorporate sound, light, and tactile elements. If you don’t have the space, time, or resources to do full-blown installations for each student, groups can mock up faux installations by drawing on printed pictures of school spaces. Students will consider how the elements they include can misdirect their audience and create intriguing stories with twists and turns. This exercise encourages students to consider the role of art in shaping perception and influencing reality. 

Soldiers win the fight, but artists win hearts and minds.

Wars are fought on multiple fronts. In order to be victorious, the nation must support soldiers on the battlefield and at home. To win hearts and minds, they produce propaganda. In January of 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt gave an address making the case for aiding Great Britain and greater US involvement in World War II. He said the US would be helping to protect four universal freedoms that all people deserve: speech, worship, want, and fear. 

Norman Rockwell listened to the speech and it inspired him to create his Four Freedoms series. He went to the Office of War Information with his posters and they turned him away. The Saturday Evening Post believed in Rockwell’s vision, and they commissioned him to make the works to go along with corresponding essays. People loved the series! The Post received 25,000 requests for reprints. They quickly worked out a deal to sell war bonds and stamps featuring Rockwell’s images. The Office of War Information came to print roughly 4 million posters of Rockwell’s Four Freedoms between 1943 and 1945. 

Put this story to work in your classroom.

Use Norman Rockwell to introduce media literacy and visual communication. Discuss the series and how he made abstract concepts concrete and relatable for an audience. Challenge students to make visual representations of ideals they hold dear. Hang them around the school to encourage character development. It’s a great way for students of any age to be a force for positive change!

Inspire students to look at the benefits and importance of visual art outside of your classroom walls and their current experiences with the military stories above. The brave and ingenious artists of the Dazzle Camouflage, Ghost Army, and Norman Rockwell all impacted society and history for the better with their creative problem solving. Bring these artists into your curriculum to foster historical connections, honor their contributions, and build communication skills.

What is your favorite fun fact about art shaping history?

Do you do anything special to celebrate Veteran’s Day in the art room?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post 3 Fascinating Stories of Artists Serving the Military appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Keep reading to learn about different kinds of clay, the stages of clay, and answers to frequently asked clay questions!

Where does clay come from?

Clay is a natural material that comes from the ground. It consists of minerals such as silica, magnesia, and alumina mixed with water. You can find clay deposits and dig them up. Of course, naturally found clay can have any number of other elements mixed into it. Once the clay is harvested from the ground, it goes through a labor-intensive process of drying, filtering, and rehydrating to make the consistency perfect. However, most of us order clay online and get it shipped straight to our classrooms or studios.

What are the different kinds of clay?

There are many different kinds of clay on the market. This is exciting because there are so many options to choose from! However, if you’re new, too many options can be intimidating. Below is a short list of the most common types of clay, categorized by firing needs.

Here are four types of clay:

1. Air-Dry
   Air-dry clay can sit out and harden without any baking or firing. Unfortunately, air-dried pieces remain porous and tend to be more fragile. These are good for quick activities where you need a tight turnaround or need to create something small like a pendant, ornament, or beads.
2. Low-Fire
   Earthenware, also referred to as low-fire clay, is fired to a lower temperature in the kiln. Fire low-fire clays in the kiln at cone 06 to cone 04 to make it hardened and non-absorbent. This equals around 1,600-2,000 degrees Fahrenheit! Low-fire clays are popular in the classroom because they are forgiving and easy to work with. They are great for beginners and hand-building.
3. Mid-Fire
   Stoneware, also referred to as mid-fire clay, is typically fired around cone 5 or cone 6. Stoneware tends to be smoother and more pure than earthenware clays. It’s a popular choice for industrial production because it’s very durable and versatile. Mid-fire clays are suitable for hand-building, wheel throwing, and molding. 
4. High-Fire
   Porcelain is the most common type of high-fire clay and tends to be dense. Because of that density, they can be harder to work with but result in thin yet strong and durable pieces. High-fired clays are less absorbent and vitrified, meaning they fire at a temperature high enough for glass to form and act as a glue. This type of clay is suitable for very advanced courses. 

What are the different stages of clay?

While different types of clay have characteristics based on mineral composition, the stages are the same. Each stage is based on how water affects the clay and, therefore, its plasticity, or how moldable it is.

Here are the six most common stages of clay:

1. Slip
   Liquid clay is referred to as slip. Create slip by crushing dry clay and mixing it with water until it has the consistency of a milkshake. You can use slip for casting, but it is most commonly used as a “glue” when hand-building and attaching pieces.
2. Plastic
   When you open a new box of clay it should be in a wet or moist state. Wet clay is soft and easy to shape. This is the stage clay should be for hand-building or wheel-throwing.
3. Leather-Hard
   As clay partially dries, it becomes leather-hard. Clay, at this stage, is strong but still somewhat flexible. It’s still dark in color and will feel slightly cool from the remaining moisture. It’s good for carving, trimming, or attaching pieces. 
4. Bone-Dry or Greenware
   This is clay that has completely dried out and is ready for the kiln. It will be light in color and dusty. It’s brittle, so handle it gently! 
5. Bisqueware
   The first firing is referred to as a bisque firing. This firing will harden or even vitrify a piece, making it impervious to water. You can’t rehydrate or attach wet clay to a bisqueware piece.
6. Glazeware
   Glaze bisqueware to add color or a finish. Glazes have a combination of minerals, but essentially, they coat a ceramic piece in a layer of glass and pigment during a glaze firing. Different glazes melt at different temperatures, so it’s important to use glazes that fire at the same temperature as the clay. Other alternatives to glaze include paint or oil pastels.

For a student-facing resource on these key clay stages, download The 6 Stages of Clay anchor chart in FLEX Curriculum. This resource has each stage of clay with a short description and visual. Make copies for students to put in their sketchbooks or post in your room near your clay station.

What makes clay “blow up?”

Most of us experienced a mini explosion in the kiln or have seen someone else post about one in an art teacher group. What causes this to happen? The short answer is water. If you fire clay before it’s completely dried out, moisture trapped inside the clay body will turn to steam. As water molecules turn to steam, they expand. The steam gets trapped in the clay and builds up pressure, resulting in cracks or a shattered piece.

Air bubbles are a hotly debated cause of explosions in the kiln. An air bubble itself is unlikely to cause an explosion, but a pocket of air sealed in the clay may hold moisture and lead to the problems outlined above. If there is a hollow cavity in your clay, it is best to poke a vent hole for the steam!

How can I avoid explosions in the kiln?

Avoid problems by allowing ample dry time. While the exact number of days a clay piece needs to dry will depend on several factors, including the size of the piece and the humidity in the room, give all clay at least a few days to dry before firing. Pay attention to the clay’s color and feel to determine if it’s bone-dry. Greenware will often appear lighter in color. If it looks darker and feels cooler to the touch, it’s still at the leather-hard stage. An easy test is to place the item on a piece of scrap paper. Note if the paper warps or leaves a damp mark.

Clay is a medium that requires patience. Waiting before firing is critical, but a longer time in the kiln can help too. Most electric kilns will allow you to choose a firing speed, so opting for a slower bisque fire is always a good idea. A strategy called candling heats the pieces up at 180-200 degrees Fahrenheit for a number of hours to ensure the clay is dry before firing. 

What other logistics do I need to consider?

Ceramics can be a complicated artform—it has a lot of chemistry elements and stages in the process. Don’t let the science intimidate you! Just like with any medium, learn the foundation, such as the stages of clay, basic hand-building techniques, and how to operate your kiln. Then, add in new elements to experiment with every now and then! Before you know it, you’ll be an expert.

Here are a few quick tips to be safe and successful in the art room:

• Stay clean.
  Silica particles in clay can become harmful over time if you inhale too much dust. Wipe surfaces with a wet cloth and ask custodians to wet mop your floors more often. 
• Get organized.
  Labeling shelves by days of the week can help you track how long pieces have been drying before bisque firing.
• Take pictures.
  If you teach younger students who may not always recognize their work (or carve legible initials in the bottom of their pieces), take a picture of each child with their sculpture before they drop it off on the shelf. 
• Keep clay out of the pipes.
  Clay going down the drain will leave sediment that can build up and clog your pipes. Wipe off excess clay before students wash their hands. Use a bucket to “pre-rinse” hands so students can remove the clay then go to the sink and wash with soap. Keep another bucket under the faucet to catch any lingering clay, like in the video below. The clay will sink to the bottom of the bucket and the “clean” water will flow over the top and down the drain.

How can I reclaim and rehydrate clay?

At some point, every art teacher encounters a box of clay that has sat on the shelf too long and it’s stiff and dry. Save money and rehydrate old clay into brand-new clay!

Here is an easy strategy to rehydrate your old dry clay:

1. Place the block in a bag.
   Put the dry block of clay into a plastic bag. If there are no holes, the one it came in will work perfectly.
2. Add water.
   Pour about a cup of water into the bag, around the clay.
3. Seal the bag.
   Place the sealed bag into a bucket. 
4. Submerge in water.
   Fill the bucket with water until the bag is submerged.
5. Wait.
   Let the clay soak for at least 24 hours. The outside water will create a pressure that will force the inside cup of water back into the clay.
6. Wedge.
   Once rehydrated, remove the clay from the bag and wedge it to evenly distribute the moisture. Store in an airtight container or bag to prevent it from drying out again.

Another way to rehydrate your clay is to add water, let it sit, and then wedge it, like in the video below. This method creates a super fun activity for early finishers of all ages! Plus, it’s a great way to recycle clay scraps or incomplete projects and build hand muscles. 

Clay is one of the oldest and most enduring art materials. Students love to get their hands dirty and build something they can cherish for years to come. Keep the experience positive by allowing plenty of dry time so every sculpture can make its way through the kiln safely. Remember student safety and wipe up as much clay dust off the tables and floors daily as possible. Stay mindful of the science and stages of clay to keep intimidation at bay and provide a magical experience for your students! 

What clay lessons do you love to teach year after year?

What was your biggest blunder with clay?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post Clay 101: How to be Safe and Successful with the Rock Star of the Art Room appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Delve into the origins of graphic design and unplug from digital tools to focus on foundational design principles with the exercises below!

The Origins and Evolution of Graphic Design

The art form of graphic design emerged in the early 20th century. It evolved from the practices of typography, illustration, and printmaking. Before the digital era, designers relied on physical tools, such as pens, rulers, and grids, to create logos, posters, and advertisements. This hands-on approach is still valuable today! It teaches students the fundamentals of design without the distraction of technology.

Graphic Design vs. Digital Art: Understanding the Difference

While graphic design and digital art share some common ground, they serve different purposes. Graphic design focuses on visual communication and problem-solving through imagery, typography, and layout. It’s about conveying a message or brand identity, often in commercial contexts. Digital art, on the other hand, encompasses any artwork created or manipulated using digital tools and it emphasizes creativity and expression. Both fields overlap but graphic design is often more functional, whereas digital art is more expressive.

Screen-Free Graphic Design Exercises

Screen-free graphic design exercises offer several benefits for students but the main one is enhanced focus. Without the distraction of technology, students are able to concentrate on mastering foundational design principles and techniques. Working with physical materials fosters a deeper understanding of design concepts, like layering, through hands-on experimentation.

1. Logo Layers

Students create logos for imaginary companies using only paper, pencil, and markers. Experiment with different shapes, fonts, and layouts to convey a brand’s identity. Provide tracing paper and demonstrate the graphite transfer process to quickly replicate shapes and fonts. Tracing paper or acetate sheets also allows students to play with arranging and rearranging layers. Discuss how different elements can visually support a brand’s messaging and mission.

2. Artist Books

Bookmaking can be as simple or complex as you want it to be in your art room. Introduce students to artist books—handmade or altered books that include works of art on each page and spread yet also become a sculptural work of art as a whole. There are many simple bookbinding techniques to try. Incorporate sewing with Japanese stab binding or embrace folding with an accordion book, explosion book, or circle book. Play with the principles and tips from the other exercises to create interconnected pages and spreads.

3. Posters

Have you ever walked the halls and seen horrendous posters created by other teachers or students? There really is an art to strong poster design! As art teachers, we are often the “unofficial official” poster makers of the school. Share your composition knowledge with your students so they can effectively design posters for causes they care deeply about. Show students how to create visual balance, how to organize text so it’s easy to consume, how to emphasize important words or ideas, and how to harness negative space to guide the viewer’s attention.

4. Scaled Text 

Provide dot grids to help students create clean, precise designs that focus on scale and proportion. Correlate dot grids to the ruler feature in digital software. Students draw a word or letter in a unique font on a dot grid. Free draw it smaller and larger to replicate the image. Then, manually scale up and down the original word or letter using the dots as a guide. Discuss how free drawing versus manually scaling changed proportions and balance and how it affects the overall image.

5. Paper Cut Outs

Gain inspiration from Matisse’s paper cut outs and use up scrap paper! Provide colored paper, scissors, and glue. Students recreate and simplify a famous artwork or create an icon that represents an artist’s style with only paper shapes. This activity pushes students to break down complex images into layers, shapes, and colors.

6. Infographics

Visualize data and create hand-drawn infographics for an issue or topic students are passionate about. Students have the opportunity to perform ethical research practices and learn how to communicate complex information clearly and effectively. Use dot grids to help students break down their compositions into organized sections.

7. Stamp Making

Guide students in creating stamps to explore how simple shapes and lines create repetitive patterns and textures. A great place to start is with eraser prints because they are cheap and quick to make! Connect this process with how digital brushes work. 

8. Typography

Writing and handwriting were a big deal before typing! Go back to the art of hand lettering with calligraphy drills and fun supplies like pen and ink. Plus, it’s a great way to practice those fine motor skills and discuss the anatomy of letterforms and the impact of typography on design today.

If you want to investigate the historical context of graphic design and gain more lesson plan ideas, enroll in the graduate course Studio: Graphic Design. PRO Learning also has two awesome Packs to watch: Exploring Visual Communication Through Graphic Design and Introduction to Graphic Design. Each Pack is full of short teacher-facing videos and supplementary resources.

Artists Who Bridge Offline and Online

Artists who seamlessly blend traditional and digital techniques are great sources of inspiration and possibility for students. Bringing artists to your curriculum is also a prime opportunity to infuse art history. The Bauhaus art movement of the early 1900s created streamlined, functional pieces of architecture, furniture, and design. The role of typography in Bauhaus graphic design is pivotal because it connects artistic expression, branding, communication, and advertising. Show students Bauhaus posters to highlight the exciting evolution of the field!

Here are two contemporary artists who bridge offline and online processes:

1. Austin Kleon
   Kleon describes himself as a “… writer who draws. I make art with words and books with pictures.” He combines text and design with collage and permanent marker to create his recognizable black-and-white quotes.
2. Paula Scher
   Scher is one of the most influential graphic designers in the world. She merges design with traditional painting to create work that spans from hand-painted maps to corporate logos.

Understanding the history and cultural context of graphic design helps students appreciate its role in visual communication. It also enhances their ability to think critically about the images they encounter daily. For both contemporary artists and your students, mastering traditional and digital design skills is crucial for navigating our visual world where both realms increasingly overlap. By trying exercises like paper cut outs, scaling fonts, and working with acetate layers, students build a foundation of strong design skills that will translate to a variety of creative fields.

What hands-on activities do your students enjoy before moving on to digital tools?

Share a favorite artist who blends offline and online processes.

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post How To Unlock the Power of Paper with 8 Simple Graphic Design Exercises appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Grab paper and a brayer and let’s uncover how to make powerful stencil prints with your students.

How old is stencil printmaking?

Stencil printmaking is all about communication. Prehistoric people used hands as stencils on cave walls to mark their presence. Japanese Edo and Meiji artists refined the stencil technique to create intricate patterns in katazome. Now, there are street artists who popularize stencils to convey powerful social messages. Exploring the evolution of stencil printmaking prompts an appreciation for the medium and connects tradition with modern approaches.

Check out these three artists who share deep messages through their work:

1. Banksy
   This anonymous street artist is iconic for his provocative stenciled artworks that address political and social issues. 
2. Shepard Fairey
   Best known for his Obey Giant campaign and the Hope poster for Barack Obama, Fairey’s graphic style merges stenciling with strong visual messages.
3. Swoon
   A contemporary artist who blends stencil and wheat-pasting techniques to create intricate and emotive portraits that emphasize storytelling and community engagement.

What are the two types of stencil printmaking?

Stenciling starts with creating a negative shape in a stencil that you can roll ink over. This creates a positive shape on the final print. The two common stencil printmaking techniques include screen printing and hand stenciling. Screen printing involves using a mesh screen, either a store-bought screen printing screen or one made from an embroidery hoop. Screen printing is ideal for creating t-shirts, posters, and more.

Hand stencils require just some paper and a brayer and are the simplest version of stencil printmaking. Construct stencils out of paper, acetate, thin cardboard, or cardstock. The sturdier the material, the longer it will hold up to multiple layers of inking. It’s also fun to experiment with different combinations of layering stencils, colors, and mediums. It’s common to use water-based inks, acrylics, or even spray paint (with proper ventilation!)

How exactly do you make a stencil print?

Let’s walk through the process together, step by step. The best way to learn stencil printmaking is to dive in and make one yourself! Spend time exploring so you can anticipate student needs before instruction. Stencil printmaking uses simple materials and has straightforward steps.

Grab the following materials:

• Stencils
  Create using paper, cardboard, or acetate sheets.
• Cutting Tools
  Cut out the stencil using scissors, craft knives, or laser cutters.
• Screen Printing Ink
  Use water-based screen printing ink or try acrylic paint as an alternative.
• Palette
  Load the brayer with ink with a piece of acetate, glass, or plexiglass.
• Brayers
  Apply ink evenly to the printing surface with roller tools.
• Paper or Fabric
  Print on smooth, sturdy paper such as cardstock or fabric.

1. Model the design process.

Planning is imperative in the printmaking process. Share your planning with your students so they can see how a stencil creates positive and negative shapes. Show your designs and how they translate to stencils. Then, demonstrate how to print a sample. Printmaking is a very abstract concept so it’s very helpful for students to see the whole process and how all the steps connect in the final print!

2. Break down sketches into four quadrants.

Students divide their sketchbook pages into four quadrants. Each quadrant will represent one layer of their design. Students can layer from the lightest to the darkest color or the largest to the smallest stencil. If this is their first time doing stencil printmaking, start with simple shapes to create a nonobjective print.

3. Create stencils.

Transfer each design layer onto stencil material. Students can do a graphite transfer, redraw it, or scan and print it. It’s helpful to have students mark the part they are cutting out (the positive shape) with an X and the part they are keeping (the negative shape) with a checkmark.

4. Cut out the stencil design.

If using scissors, demonstrate how to cut shapes out of the center of a paper. If using craft knives, review safety procedures for using sharps. Students carefully cut out the shapes marked with an X.

5. Set up the printing area.

To keep cleanup a breeze, cover the paper with a giant messy mat, a roll of butcher or bulletin board paper, or a dollar store plastic tablecloth. Create a registration system or way to ensure the paper and print are in the same spot each time. Use a marker or tape to denote where the paper goes. Use small pieces of painter’s tape or washi tape to secure the paper to the table. Use longer pieces of tape on top of the paper to mark where the stencils go. Use additional small pieces of tape to secure the stencil to the paper.

6. Ink the stencil.

Roll out the ink or paint on a palette until it reaches a velvety consistency. Load the brayer with ink and apply it evenly over the stencil.

7. Reveal the first layer!

The first layer is the most exciting! Gently lift the stencil to reveal the first layer. Ensure fingertips are clean or use a tab of scrap paper as “tweezers” to avoid fingerprints.

8. Keep layering.

Align the next stencil over the print using your tape registration marks. Attach the next stencil with small pieces of tape and repeat the inking process.

9. Dry and sign.

Allow prints to dry and then show students how to title, number, and sign their prints.

What are some simple ideas to take stencil printmaking further?

Encourage students to create multiple prints and experiment with different colors, the number of layers, the arrangement of layers, and altering the background surface. Students can print on unexpected textures and materials to add surface variety and play with new options!

If you’re looking for step-by-step standards-aligned lesson plans to bring printmaking to your students, try FLEX Curriculum. FLEX has a vast archive of lessons and student-facing resources, plus a feature where you can search by medium, including Printmaking. Resources of note include artist bios of all three artists above, the Printmaking Skills: Stenciling practice sheet for grades K-2 and 3-5, and the Creating a Stencil guide.

Stencil printmaking offers a dynamic way for art educators to connect traditional art forms with contemporary techniques and social messages. It’s an invaluable tool to grasp layering and color theory and hone communication and planning skills. Students will love learning stencil printmaking because they can make functional art from custom t-shirts to impactful posters. This practical and relevant form of printmaking ensures students are well-prepared for the evolving world of art and design.

In what ways does stencil printmaking reflect the processes used in digital art creation?

What interesting materials or surfaces would you recommend printing on and why?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post How to Transform Stencils Into Elevated Printmaking in the K-12 Art Room appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Surrealism allows us to enter a world where imagination reigns and reality is wonderfully distorted. There are many iconic Surrealist artworks, from The Son of Man to The Persistence of Memory. However, there are an array of lesser-known Surrealist (and Surrealist-inspired) artworks ideal for energizing your K-12 art lessons. These captivating pieces will help your students delve into the dreamlike and the extraordinary while fostering creativity to envision beyond the norm. Get ready to transform your lessons with these weird and beautiful artworks that promise to inspire and hook young artists in new and exciting ways.

Keep reading for some weirdly awesome artwork that your students won’t be able to stop staring at! 

What is Surrealism?

Surrealism is an art movement that emerged in the early 20th century. It aimed to unlock the imagination and explore the unconscious mind. Characterized by dreamlike imagery and unexpected juxtapositions, Surrealism challenges our perception of reality, blending the fantastical with the everyday. This movement invites viewers to engage with artworks that defy logical explanations and provoke deep psychological insights. Students love Surrealism for its mystique and clever imagery.

1. The Dancing Wind by Rob Gonsalves

Rob Gonsalves (1959–2017) was a Canadian artist known for his innovative use of perspective and optical illusions in his paintings. His background in architecture provided him with the skill set to master perspective, points of view, and 2D design to play and bend reality. His goal was to create paintings that spoke to the wonderful imagination of children. Gonsalves’ work often features seamlessly blended transitions between reality and fantasy, creating intriguing and imaginative visual experiences.

Classroom Application

Use this artwork to teach students how to manipulate objects to transform them into something else. Students merge two different worlds or settings in one composition. Students can also select two objects and have them morph from one to the other. Guide students through Surrealism and how to create concept drawings with the Dream Drawing Lesson in FLEX Curriculum.

2. Untitled (2012) by Kyle Thompson

Kyle Thompson is an American photographer known for his eerie and surreal images. He explores themes of isolation and the uncanny. Thompson’s ability to evoke a sense of unease and wonder through unconventional settings and compositions creates a dreamy yet unsettling atmosphere. He applies Surrealist techniques to photography that challenge viewers’ perceptions of reality. 

Classroom Application

Introduce this photograph to show how placing a repeated object in an unexpected scene can create interest and tension. Students stage and create their own photos, focusing on the scene, pose, and objects. Take it one step further and play with digital editing to replicate objects throughout the photo.

3. Crown by Josh Keyes

Josh Keyes is an American contemporary artist whose detailed paintings often feature animals in fantastical and fragmented landscapes. His work combines realistic details with powerful poses to create thought-provoking and visually striking imagery. He imaginatively explores themes of nature and the human condition through symbolism. His environmental commentary is a great avenue to prompt students to think more conceptually.

Classroom Application

Use this painting to explore symbolism. Identify a list of things students see. Then, reflect on what they may represent, especially in context altogether. Students select their own environmental issues to advocate for. Brainstorm a list of symbols that will convey their issue and message. Play with composition to explore various options for arranging their symbols. The Surreal Still Life Lesson in FLEX is a perfect way to explore symbolism with personal objects. 

4. Watcher 02 by Naoto Hattori

Naoto Hattori is a Japanese contemporary artist known for his intricate and whimsical surreal paintings focusing on stream-of-consciousness creativity. His work features outlandish creatures characterized by highly detailed and distorted features. Distinguish his work by his use of bold, vivid colors and meticulous texture details, both of which create deeply immersive, unique worlds. His art brings bizarre creatures to life, drawing fascinated viewers of all ages.

Classroom Application

Examine Hattori’s artworks to identify familiar animals and features. Compare and contrast with traditional images of the same identified animals. Discuss how the shift in scale of some of the features changes the feel of the artwork. 

5. Mama, Papa is Wounded! by Yves Tanguy

Yves Tanguy (1900–1955) was a French surrealist painter and writer recognized for his abstract and otherworldly, timeless landscapes. His work is characterized by unconventional shapes and vast, dreamlike spaces. Tanguy explored the subconscious mind through automatism, making him a key figure in Surrealism. 

Classroom Application

Introduce this artwork to discuss abstract forms, what a landscape is, and the parts of a landscape (foreground, middle ground, and background). Students share where each form is located on the picture plane. Compose a story for what’s going on in the landscape, using evidence to support the scene. Students design their own ethereal landscapes, using abstract forms and textures to produce a unique and imaginative scene. Use the FLEX Lesson, Landscape: Choices by Chance, to compose landscapes in unconventional ways. 

Surrealism offers an exciting opportunity for students to break free from conventional thinking and explore the potential of their imaginations. Surrealism artists and Surrealist-inspired artists provide engaging images your students won’t want to stop examining and talking about! The artworks above introduce the world of Surrealism through exaggeration, juxtaposition, symbolism, and abstraction. Use them in your next lesson with a fun Surrealist game to jumpstart your students’ imagination. Encourage them to embrace the unexpected and see how far their creativity will take them!

Who is your favorite Surrealist artist? 

What is a Surrealism project that you love to teach?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post 5 Strange and Awesome Surrealist Artworks to Boost Your Surrealism Lessons appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Bright, bold colors evoke a sense of energy, excitement, and pure joy that transcends age and culture. Neon and fluorescent colors hold a special place, capturing this inherent fascination with their luminous intensity. The use of fluorescent colors can instantly elevate an artwork and make it totally rad. While often used interchangeably, these terms actually represent distinct concepts: neon refers to a specific gas used in lighting, whereas fluorescent describes a broader range of colors that mimic that iconic glow.

Learn how fluorescent colors were developed, why they are so bright, and how you can use them in your art room.

How were fluorescent colors developed? 

In the early 20th century, neon lights harnessed the unique glow of electrified neon gas within glass tubes. Their vibrant hues and mesmerizing glow quickly captivated the world, transforming cityscapes and advertising. The jump from neon lights to the fluorescent pigments, commonly called neon colors, happened somewhat by accident.

In the summer of 1933, a college student named Bob Switzer hit his head and awoke from a coma with blurred vision. He began experimenting with fluorescents during his recovery in his family’s dark basement. His brother Joe used them for magic tricks! The Switzer brothers came up with a new polymer mixture with fluorescent dyes that allowed them to mix pigments like traditional paints while retaining the fluorescent properties. They used their ultra-bright colors for black light magic shows, advertising, and fashion. Fluorescents were not simply a gimmick—they improved visibility and safety for everyone, from crossing guards to construction workers, and even the US military.

What makes neon colors so bright? 

Light consists of a spectrum of different wavelengths which are perceived as different colors. White light has the full spectrum. When you see a color such as the red of a stop sign, the white light hits that sign. The sign absorbs all of the light except for the red waves. The red part bounces off the surface into your eye. The lower frequency cones detect the red. In addition to the colors of the rainbow which make up the visible spectrum, there are wavelengths of light humans cannot see. There is infrared, which is lower energy, and ultraviolet, which is higher frequency. 

Fluorescent colors reflect the energy of visible light and also convert ultraviolet light, which is much higher energy, into visible light. The absorbed energy excites the electrons in fluorescent molecules. This increases their energy level! When the electrons go back down to their normal energy level, they emit energy in the form of visible light. This emitted light combined with the normal reflected light means that fluorescent colors are giving off extra visible light. 

Can I mix to make neon colors? 

You will not be able to create fluorescent colors by mixing traditional pigments. There may be some DIY recommendations, such as soaking the tip of a highlighter in water to extract the ink. It’s generally better to buy fluorescent materials to avoid potential issues with chemicals. Remember, the label indicating a material is non-toxic means it is not expected to be harmful if used as intended. There is a lot of complicated chemistry involved in creating fluorescent materials. This is seen in the story of the Radium Girls—a reminder that there can be grave consequences when things go wrong. If you do choose to experiment with fluorescent powdered pigments, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.

Why use fluorescent colors? 

Because fluorescent colors emit more energy than those in the standard spectrum, they appear brighter and grab people’s attention. The increased visibility makes them a wonderful tool for advertising and safety. But don’t underestimate the power of the fun factor! The glowing colors as you turn on a black light never fail to elicit awe and delight from students.

Consider creating a black light room for your art show or create a fun experience with a glow art day. Do a mad scientist theme and fill beakers with fluorescent paints. Kick things up a notch with plastic bugs or animals floating in the glowing solutions! Students can practice observational drawing skills with fun “scientific” drawings documenting every specimen’s detail.

How do I get my colors to gleam?

To make your colors really light up, you need black lights and fluorescent materials. The number of black lights will depend on your specific space, but there are numerous options at affordable prices. Remember, ambient light will diminish the effect, so cover windows and shut doors if possible. While there are many fluorescent materials available, including colored pencils, markers, and crayons, the best results tend to come from more opaque media with highly saturated colors. Start with neon oil pastels and fluorescent acrylic or liquid tempera paints for a huge impact!

What should my students make?

Neon colors will bring new energy to just about any project. Swap out one material for a fluorescent version to reignite a tried and true assignment. Use these extra bright colors as an opportunity to introduce wild and fun art movements and artworks into the curriculum. Additionally, harness the vibrant origins and create connections with history and science.  

Here are four lesson ideas to try in your classroom:

1. Use psychedelic art as a trippy and fun way to connect with art history.
   Psychedelic art of the 1960s and 70s was heavily influenced by the Surrealist and Art Nouveau movements. Show your students a collection of artists, including Alphonse Mucha and Peter Max, and discuss how the element of color can affect perception. 
2. Lean into a science connection and explore bioluminescence.
   Show a collection of creatures that emit light such as fireflies or the deep sea angler fish. Students select a creature to be the subject matter of their next artwork.
3. Give abstract drawings a Reggie Laurent-inspired glow-up.
   Reggie Laurent shared his story at a previous NOW Conference. Students block out shapes in white oil pastels and then apply neon colors. Add complexity and interest to the shapes by giving each one unique patterns. Draw line designs to fill the negative space.
4. Explore the fashion world.
   Challenge students to create rad 80s- and 90s-inspired looks. If you lived through these trends and survived to talk about it, bring in some old pictures. Sharing a laugh at your blunder years can be a great way to bond with students, especially since these trends are circling back! 

For more logistical tips on how to create a black light gallery with lots of bright project ideas, watch the Black Light Art Pack in PRO Learning.

Fluorescent colors provide a unique and exciting avenue for students to explore how science and art intersect. The ultra-bright colors will get your students engaged in any lesson. Whether exploring psychedelic art, delving into bioluminescent creatures, or crafting neon fashion designs, the possibilities are endless! Plus, art teachers deserve to play too—bring these exhilarating colors to your own artwork and see what happens. This year, embrace the brilliance of fluorescent colors and let creativity radiate!

What is your favorite art project that uses fluorescent colors?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post Back to Basics: How to Give Your Colors a Neon Glow Up appeared first on The Art of Education University.

In a world buzzing with AI headlines—from ominous predictions to promises of overcoming human limitations—AI is the topic on everyone’s lips. No matter where you stand on the topic, it’s inevitable that our students will encounter and use it. It’s important to be proactive and teach our students how to use AI responsibly as a tool. We want them to harness AI to unleash their creativity rather than replace it! Use the steps below to guide them through vital AI discussions centered around an art lesson idea they will thoroughly enjoy.

Unlock creativity with this captivating lesson idea that merges Surrealism with AI!

Get started with AI and learn about popular platforms. It’s important to note considerations when bringing AI into the K-12 art room. Then, discover ways to streamline your planning and assessment! If you’re looking for even more ways to dive into the transformative role of AI in teaching art, enroll in AI in Art Education.

1. Connect with art history.

Before diving into AI and digital tools, it’s important to put them in the broader context of art history. This helps students connect past lessons to new media. The Surrealist movement, known for its disjointed and dreamlike qualities, naturally complements AI’s strengths in generating unexpected and imaginative imagery. Just as Salvador Dalí pushed the boundaries of reality with imaginative concepts, AI can assist students in exploring and transforming visual elements to create innovative art. By delving into this connection, students will see how modern technology continues the Surrealist tradition of pushing creativity and challenging perception. 

Use Salvador Dalí’s artist bio in FLEX Curriculum to support learning. Each artist bio includes an image of the artist and/or artwork, quick facts, a list of famous works, and a brief history of their life and career. Artist bios make great screen-free resources for students to read about an artist! 

Once students have a basic understanding of Surrealism, focus on specific pieces that exemplify it. Key pieces can include The Persistence of Memory, The Son of Man, or Europe After the Rain, II. Give students time to examine the artwork and compile a list of everything they see. Take those observations to the next level by asking why the artist may have made those choices and what the “big idea” may be. This process helps students connect their observations to the underlying meaning of the piece. Additionally, ask students to note where they see the melding of reality and dreams to set the stage for their artmaking prompt.

2. Plan with keywords.

Brainstorm relevant keywords to input into an AI image-generating tool. Encourage students to list five or more hobbies and interests, followed by five or more adjectives to describe their dreams. This helps gain student buy-in by leveraging what they like while also creating a link to Surrealism. Remind students not to use copyrighted images, personal identifying information, and celebrity names.

3. Understand AI technology.

Before letting them loose with AI technology, take the time to discuss what AI actually is. While many students may have heard of AI (or even used it!), they may not fully understand how it works or the implications of using it. AI systems use data from various online sources and analyze patterns to make predictions and create outputs. For instance, platforms such as Dall-E can transform keywords into visuals, making the artistic process exciting and interactive. Consider reviewing and using a student agreement for the appropriate use of AI tools in the art room.

4. Generate images.

In the AI image generator of your choice, students will enter their keywords as a descriptive sentence. For example, if they love soccer and ice cream, and their dreams are often foggy and involve water, they might input something like, “Playing soccer while eating ice cream in a foggy, water-filled world.” As they explore the images AI generates based on their commands, prompt them to adjust their instructions to experiment with filters and rearrange or swap words. Students will save several images to select their favorite.

5. Explore image editing tools.

It’s time to dive into image editing tools! While processes will vary depending on the platform you select, key tools to review include text, drawing, layering, and transparency. Discuss the concept of ownership and require students to incorporate their AI image as only one element of their artwork, rather than relying solely on it. The final piece should reflect personal artistic choices.

6. Get hands-on!

The final step is what will truly unlock creativity. Students will step away from the computer and get their hands dirty! Print the final artwork and manipulate it in some way. Students can cut their image into strips and weave it, paint or draw layers on top, rip it up and rearrange it into a new collage, or stitch a design through the composition. This tactile approach allows students to further explore and enhance their artistic expression beyond the digital realm. It emphasizes the use of AI as part of a holistic process and not a means of generating a product.

Much like a paintbrush, AI can be another tool in your students’ art kits. Just as the artist controls the brush, students can learn how to responsibly use AI to reflect their unique artistic vision. Integrate AI into art projects a little at a time to expose your students to cutting-edge technology and new ways of self-expression. Infuse Surrealism to add a dose of art history and foster art observation and analysis skills. Combine traditional artistic methods and materials with modern AI platforms to create a rich and relevant learning experience to bridge the past and future of art. 

How do you integrate AI to push creative boundaries?

What other art movement lends itself to AI image generation?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

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