TechMakesArtEasy4everyteachergura

Technology Makes Art Easy for Every Teacher

in Every ClassroomMark Gura - Presenter

markgura@verizon.net

Where Do We Come From?... Where Are We Going? ~ Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin

We Know the Need: ART is among the first things cut when there are time, budget, and space issues . As a result qualified, certified art teachers become short in supply, art rooms become scarce. etc.

What’s the OPPORTUNITY?

Every teacher an art teacher… every classroom an art room.Visual Art should be a significant, constant part of every student’s educational experience… Kids NEED it!Visual LearnersMultiple IntelligencesFosters CREATIVITYAligns powerfully with all subject areas!

Technology makes it possible! The big Bugaboo… TALENT, is beside the point… All students can have a satisfying, enriching experience in learning ART

• Tools• Techniques & Approaches

(Drawing, Painting, Collage, Mixed Techniques, Sculpture, Word Art, etc.)

• Projects (Techniques Applied)• Archiving, Sharing

Art Activities: What’s Meaningful?

An artist is someone who fills space in a beautiful, meaningful way! Arthur Wesley Dow

TOOLS 4 Making ART (free, user friendly, ubiquitous)• MS Word

for drafting and drawing

• Painting Programfor drawing and collaging

• Photo/Image processing

• Screen Capture/Cropping Tool

Interesting Art experiences involve combining tools and techniques

A sample digital art makingScenario… Search for an image andDownload.

Open in Image Processing program and CROP, Adjust, Use Effects, etc.

Use MS Word (Auto) SHAPES to draw a frame…then Insert image into it

OPEN image in Painting program, use “Crayon Brush” to color image and add tone.

Use “Pencil” tool to add details

Painting with “Office” Software?

Creating a design inspired and informed by the work of Piet Mondrian

Use MS WORD – AUTO SHAPES “Lines” features

Meaning through CONTEXT: What do artists achieve with abstract design?

Meaning through goals, parameters, and challenges

Victor Vassarelly

Meaning: Following inthe footsteps of famousartists.

Kandinsky

Meaning: Following inthe footsteps of famousartists.

Student work!

Complementary Color - Hard Edge Abstraction done with MS Word

Seymour Papert on Constructivism

• Learning by Doing• Technology as a Building Material• Hard Fun• Learning to Learn• Take Time – the Proper Time for the Job• You Can’t Get it Right Without Getting it

WrongTaken from Eight Big Ideas Behind the Constructivist Learning Lab (Papert 1999)

Management Factors:

- Time- Storage Space- Student Workspace- Frustration/Distraction- School – Home Continuum- Consumables vs. Virtual Materials

Classical Approach to

DRAWINGStrategic Construction of Images

MS Word

How to approach representational drawing?

Contour Drawing the “Natural Way to

Draw”

“Drawing with Pencil Tool (Mouse) – Tracing outlines of observed shapes…

Drawn with MS Word (Auto) SHAPES menu AND Painting Program

How do artists like Cezanne DRAW convincing representations ?

Table Top Still Life

Ah ha, drawings can be CONSTRUCTED of basic shapes!

Table Top Still Life Drawn in the “GIMP” program

Learning to see like an artist…

Scaffolding Drawing Skills?

Drawing requires: understanding, observation, and reflection!

Technology supports students in exploring, understanding, and learning to make art! Q: What kind of art will we make now that everyone can draw?

Composition/Design

A starting point: A set up still life or photo of still life.

Challenge: Fill the space with a representation of what you observe.

??

Teacher: Why did you make it that size? Why did you put it there?

Technology allows for EASY, casual experimentation.

ART is based on Conscious Decisions - expression enabled by informed ability.

Composition is Intentional, not accidental!

Collage / Mixed Techniques

An abundance of material

Copy and size as needed…

Process for effects

“INSERT”, adjust size and placementUse MS Word or PowerPoint as work “canvas”, SAVE with Screen Capture Tool

Use intermediary program to add, adjust, TRANSFORM…

e.g. Paint, Paintbrush, ArtRage GIMP

Projects to apply techniques and structure learing experiences.

Hero Trading Cards

New Images from the Floating World

Contemporary Ukiyo-e done with today’s image making technology.

Technique: Use a simple Painting Program to transform a color photograph to a black and white line drawing.

Technique: Change a photo from color to black and white.

Technique: Use software to increase contrast and eliminate middle tones.

Technique: Use a Painting Program to “paint out” all but the dark outline.

12

3 4

Finally, INSERT the “processed” photo elements into PowerPoint , “size” and arrange them to compose a narrative in black line and flat tone…

Transformed and combined, the collage elements create a “genre” piece that communicates information, ideas, and impressions… clearly!

From photo to ‘drawing’

From ‘drawing’ to sculpture

Flat, linear sculpture?

Keith HaringJean Dubuffet

Beware of Instant Art!

Meaning through reflective PROCESS

Use MS Word (Auto) SHAPES menu “Callouts” to create comics/graphic novels

Background photo processed in Picasa – Finished piece done in MS Word

Word Art

Sculpture

Project: Graphic Enhanced Sculpture, Repetition in Imagery, Communication of Facts and Impressions

• Browser• Picasa (Photo Processing Application)• MS Word

Exploring, reporting, expressing in 2, 3, and 4 Dimensions

African Cultural Study Box Sculpture

Technology used as an enabler:

Search for, then download the graphics needed. Then size, and reproduce them to satisfy the needs of the emerging sculpture.

Focus on the meaning and the message – technology is a very user-friendly means.

Use Technology to crop, reduce or increase size, flop, blur, copy or whatever is needed to make an image communicate what you’ve learned!

Capturing, Archiving, Exhibiting Student Art Work… Virtually.

(With some cross curricular enrichment and assessment advantages)

Photo graph the work in the round (the 4th Dimension)!

String the photos together for a Virtual Reality effect.

Use Power Point, Movie Maker, etc.

http://www.slideshare.net/markgura/african-culture-sculpture

Share the work globally, temporarily or permanently…

Use Web 2.0 to share ART, Reflections, … and invite feedback!

Meaning through ACCOUNTABLE TALK!(see University of Pittsburgh’s Institute of Learning’s

PRINCIPLES OF LEARNING

Use Web 2.0 to share Art, Reflections, Accountable Talk… and invite feedback!

Use Web 2.0 to share Art, Reflections, Accountable Talk… and invite feedback!

Use Web 2.0 to share Art, Reflections, Accountable Talk… and invite feedback!

Blogging is now common practice for artists!

Use Web 2.0 to share Art, Reflections, Accountable Talk… and invite feedback!

Use Web 2.0 to share Art, Reflections, Accountable Talk… and invite feedback!

Contact Mark by email: www.markgura@.net

ISTE Book Store:http://www.iste.org/source/orders/isteProductDetail.cfm?product_code=netart