Ancient Map Project

This project was completely inspired by the students (sixth grade). We finished a project early one day, allowing for some free drawing time. Students took this opportunity to invent a new group drawing game, the outcome of which resembled an old map. With this in mind, we created our Ancient Map Project. Students worked in groups, developed a theme, and co-created these beautiful works of art.

Some students chose to rip the edges of their maps to create an even more old-timey effect. We all dyed our maps with coffee and tea, and then added watercolor to differentiate the land, for example, from the water. Most importantly, students learned that by closely observing something they wish to draw -- for example, a picture of a sea monster -- they can (with patience) draw a beautiful sea monster. Amazing!

Imagination Nation

 

Island of Doom

Land of Goonevil (ahem... "Good" and "Evil".. get it?)

Old Timey Silhouettes

For one of the first projects we did for Visual Art and Technology (a high school class), students created "Old Timey Silhouettes" of themselves using Photoshop. This project is really simple and works to familiarize students with basic functions in the program.

Here are links to the two tutorials from my YouTube channel that provide step-by-step instructions on how to complete this project. (And even though it's very step-by-step, everyone created a very different work of art, which was really nice to see.)

Step 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52m8HPaRirg
Step 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqeGkocBd8M

And here are some beautiful examples: