21st Century Ideas for Art Lessons, Art Journal Entries and Risk Pods

Week 1

Artist/Educator: Emily Brewer

Abstraction
Ambiguity
Appropriation
Authenticity
Autobiography

Balance
Beauty
Boundaries
Brush technique
Chance

1) Principle: Abstraction
Lesson Artists: Shepard Fairey, Banksy, Picasso
Agenda Posters Have student artists pair up and take a photo of one another in a
stance for an agenda poster. Student artists will use the filters on their phone or iPad to
create an abstract image of themselves. This could be done as a mini lesson before the
big project where they could use Photoshop if available to make their work abstract.
Student artists should take their pose, facial expression, props and filters into
consideration so they can get their meaning across. They will then use this new
abstracted photo for an agenda poster what they stand for.
2) Principle: Appropriation
Lesson Artists: Do Ho Suh, Warhol, Brian Dettmer
Photo Montage After looking at examples of photo montage and appropriation, have
student artists modernize an old famous artwork or photo and make it relevant to
today. This will be a digital work created in Photoshop. *This would go well with the
authenticity art journal reflection on page 2
3) Principle: Balance
Lesson Artists: Goldsworthy, Da Vinci, Vermeer, Michael Anderson (wood carver)
Color Drawing Have student artists visually represent how they measure what is
important to them through a color drawing. Ideas could be: school, work, play, beliefs,
values, views, family, friends, hobbies, etc.
4) Principle: Chance
Lesson Artists: Duchamp, John Cage, Acrylicized (group of artists)
Nonobjective Student artists can take a chance and try something new Questions: Is
there anything that youve been trying to do? Is there a material that you have a difficult
time with that you need to conquer? Create an artwork about your experience in that
medium represent the excitement, struggle, victory, etc. and show your journey
through nonobjective form.
5) Principle: Autobiography
Lesson Artists: Frieda Khalo, Dustin Yellin, Van Gogh
Laminated Layers Student artists will create a self-portrait through layers of story
using laminated sheet and permanent markers. Each lamination sheet will tell part of
the artists story and the result will end up creating a self-portrait who they because of
their story. Student artists will map out the end result on drawing paper and use it as a
template to place designs on each layer. Layers will be hung from the ceiling one inch
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21st Century Ideas for Art Lessons, Art Journal Entries and Risk Pods
apart, one in front of the other so the viewers can see the different layers that make up
the whole.
6) Principle: Ambiguity
Art Journal Reflection
Mystery Photos Have student artists look at photography that uses ambiguity. How
does the meaning of a piece change from having different items blurred out or in focus.
For example: A close up of a wooden gate in one photo the fence is in focus and
whats through the crack in the gate is blurred out how would the meaning change if it
was reversed?
7) Principle: Beauty
Art Journal Reflection
Without Bias Give the student the definition of beauty without telling them what the
word is. Have them write out things that they feel match this description. I think when
most people think of the word beauty they think of pictures of women. I want to see
what they think beauty is without that imagery.
8) Principle: Authenticity
Art Journal Reflection
Borrowing, Plagiarizing & Originality Ask student artists what they think is right when it
comes to using other peoples work in their own. Then, have a discussion about
originality, authenticity, credit and respecting others original work.
9) Principle: Brush Technique
Risk Pod Exploration
Watercolor Student artists get time to experiment with watercolor and the different
types of brushes along with tools like liquid mask, films, ripping texture, webbing etc. No
right or wrong way of using them figure it out.
10) Principle: Boundaries
Risk Pod Exploration
Breaking the Rules What are the rules of drawing? What are the rules of holding a
pencil? What are the rules of building a mug out of clay? What materials are required to
paint? What if you didnt have _____, what could you use instead? Is there another way
to do these things? (Maybe bring in my 3Doodler)
11) Principle: Chance (Colleen Roetemeyer)
Risk Pod Exploration
Artist Mafia Student artists will be dealt specific playing cards at each table. These
cards represent different roles in the game of mafia. The Vandal would do an act of
vandalism to another artwork while everyone is asleep. When they wake up they
continue to work on their piece until the cards get dealt again.
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LESSON CRITIQUES:
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21st Century Ideas for Art Lessons, Art Journal Entries and Risk Pods

Critique of Lesson
Meanwhile, in art history
The most compelling thing(s)...
Graphic novels = appealing to audience
I really liked the idea that the student artists arent just creating a spread for
themselves, but that its going to be printed and made into a book for the class,
as a class teamwork and collaboration! I also like that art history using
classical artists is worked into the modern graphic novel.
One thing I might change...
Well written, cant think of anything without being extremely picky
Critique of Lesson
I Need Myspace
The most compelling thing(s)...
Digital space =Very Relevant
Its a good challenge for student artists to create tangible from intangible ideas.
One thing I might change...
As a visual thinker Im having a hard time visualize what this project ends up
looking like. I know that its nonobjective, but I wish there was an exemplar.
Critique of Lesson
Messages its all about the medium
The most compelling thing(s)...
I LOVE the idea of using data as artistic medium great way to make
interdisciplinary connections!! Traveling exhibition to get their messages out!
One thing I might change...
Great idea, nothing jumps out
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My TED Talks:
TED Talk- Jay Silver: Hack a banana, make a keyboard!
Art Journal Reflection
Invention Have student grab an item or a two from around
the room. How can you transform this object into something
totally new? Have student artists write out their idea, materials
needed for it to function, the purpose of their new invention
and how it would work.
(Ken Robinson)

TED Talk- Brian Dettmer: Old books reborn as art

Art Journal Reflection
Honor What is something old or outdated that you could make into something that
would honor that item?
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21st Century Ideas for Art Lessons, Art Journal Entries and Risk Pods

In-class TED Talks:

TED Talk- Phil Hansen: Embrace the Shake

Art Journal Reflection
Limitation Drives Creativity What if you had certain limitations to create art? What if
you couldnt see, how would you make art? What if you couldnt use your fingers, how
would you make art? What if you only had one bobby pin and a piece of paper, how
would you make art? This could be the art journal reflection before the Boundaries
Risk Pod listed above.

PBS Video- The Art Assignment: I Could Do That

Risk Pod Exploration
Challenge Accepted Lets see if you could really do that. Choose an easy looking
work of art and have the student artists try and recreate it using the same material used
in the original. Without telling them what the work is about, have them write their own
artist statement about the work.

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