Gallery
Day 1: Sketchbook covers
During the first class, the students were introduced to using sketchbooks for planning, and had the opportunity to make a work of art on their sketchbook covers.
Discoveries and Learning from Day 1:
Some of the students mentioned how it was hard to draw on the gesso'd covers, while others offered advice of drawing lighter with your pencil. Some students mentioned how their original sketch was different than their final piece. One boy talked about how he attempted to draw Master chief and it wasn't as detailed as the character but that "for me, this is good."
The students really recognized their growth as artists and as thinkers. They explained how they are developing already from sketch to final drawing.
Some of the students mentioned how it was hard to draw on the gesso'd covers, while others offered advice of drawing lighter with your pencil. Some students mentioned how their original sketch was different than their final piece. One boy talked about how he attempted to draw Master chief and it wasn't as detailed as the character but that "for me, this is good."
The students really recognized their growth as artists and as thinkers. They explained how they are developing already from sketch to final drawing.
Day 2: Gesture and contour drawing and character ideation
During this class, the students were introduced to sketching contour and gesture drawings. They then brainstormed ideas for the characters and environments they will sculpt.
Discoveries and Learning from Day 2:
One student mentioned "don't draw the outline. Draw a stick figure and fill in in with scribbles". After he mentioned that, the students were eager to give it a try. It worked! The class cheered out with their success. Another student then mentioned how "if you draw the stick figure and scribble, it makes it look more realistic". The students observed their drawing and were astonished by this discovery.
One student mentioned "don't draw the outline. Draw a stick figure and fill in in with scribbles". After he mentioned that, the students were eager to give it a try. It worked! The class cheered out with their success. Another student then mentioned how "if you draw the stick figure and scribble, it makes it look more realistic". The students observed their drawing and were astonished by this discovery.
Day 3: Creating Characters with Clay
Today, the class practiced sketching their characters, then got to work on sculpting them from clay. Each student experimented and discovered how to shape the clay into the character they envisioned.
Today, the class practiced sketching their characters, then got to work on sculpting them from clay. Each student experimented and discovered how to shape the clay into the character they envisioned.
Discoveries and Learning from Day 3:
One student explained that his idea for his character has changed because throughout the week, he's sketched cats. He is now going to sculpt his cat, and later, create an environment for her based on his house. He drew her next to a window with red shutters because "she's always going in and out of that window".
One student was trying to shape a large spherical head. He flattened a slab of clay, saying "I don't know how I'm going to make it hollow." His friend suggested, "roll it. Make it flat and then roll it into a ball." This didn't work very well, so the student tried a few things, eventually pinching two half-spheres and attaching them. He got frustrated a few times, but by the end, had discovered how to achieve the form he wanted.
One student explained that his idea for his character has changed because throughout the week, he's sketched cats. He is now going to sculpt his cat, and later, create an environment for her based on his house. He drew her next to a window with red shutters because "she's always going in and out of that window".
One student was trying to shape a large spherical head. He flattened a slab of clay, saying "I don't know how I'm going to make it hollow." His friend suggested, "roll it. Make it flat and then roll it into a ball." This didn't work very well, so the student tried a few things, eventually pinching two half-spheres and attaching them. He got frustrated a few times, but by the end, had discovered how to achieve the form he wanted.
Day 4: Creating Characters With Clay
Today, students continued to work on their clay characters, addressing structural issues, further developing characteristics and features, and adding fine detail.
Discoveries and Learning from Day 4: Many students discovered that coiling is a great way to build with clay noting that it is much easier to create round volumes with coils rather than trying to hollow out solid lumps of clay or stick two large forms together. Many students paid close attention to their drawings, using them as references for texture and size comparisons. One student created texture on his dragon by adding scales that were the same shape and size of the scales in his drawing. Another student kept referring to her sketchbook to figure out how large she should make the head of her gorilla in relation to its body. A third student created the head and the body of his dog using the multiple thumbnail sketches he made of the dog at different angles to help him figure out what the back and sides should look like. These students are demonstrating successful planning - a necessary skill in all aspects of personal and scholastic/professional life.
Day 5:
During this class, students worked to complete their clay characters and begin planning and creating their environments.
Discoveries and Learning:
During this class, the students aired their knowledge about safety when cutting! In the group demonstration, they actively participated in sharing the proper safety technique to cut cardboard. When constructing, one student discovered a way to fold and hold open her environment using string. She shared her discovery with her peers, by helping them add this feature to their environment. Many of the students had discovered the difficulties of working with cardboard to create art. Many of them struggled to cut the cardboard on their own, looking for help from peers or instructors.
During this class, the students aired their knowledge about safety when cutting! In the group demonstration, they actively participated in sharing the proper safety technique to cut cardboard. When constructing, one student discovered a way to fold and hold open her environment using string. She shared her discovery with her peers, by helping them add this feature to their environment. Many of the students had discovered the difficulties of working with cardboard to create art. Many of them struggled to cut the cardboard on their own, looking for help from peers or instructors.
Day 6: Planning Environments
During this class, students finished planning their environments and started building them.
Discoveries and Learning:
Day 7: Building Environments
Students continued to build the settings or environments in which their clay characters will interact.
Day 8: Stop-Motion Animation
During this class, Students planned out their storyboards and finished their environments and character designs.
Discoveries and Learning:
Many of the students discovered some of the cool things they would be able to do, using fishing line, to make their characters look like they're "flying" or "falling" in.
Many of the students discovered some of the cool things they would be able to do, using fishing line, to make their characters look like they're "flying" or "falling" in.
Day 9: Stop-Motion Animation
In this class, students took pictures of their sets and characters to use in stop-motion animations.
Discoveries and Learning: