Due: Thursday, November 17, 2016
Artists often use their art to express their thoughts and feelings. We have just been through a long, divisive election season, and emotions are high. Yours might be too right now. Use that to your advantage in this next homework assignment.
Part 1: In your journal, write down your thoughts and feelings about the election. How might you describe your experience of the political process over the past year? How do you feel at this moment? What does the future look like to you? Do you have any advice for your friends and family? What would you say to children?
Part 2: Use that written reflection in developing a mixed media artwork that expresses those ideas and emotions. Consider using visual metaphor rather than being literal.
Before settling on your technique, study the mixed media collages of Romare Bearden, the photomontages of David Hockney, and the photomanipulations of Yasumasa Morimura.
The images below are by Romare Bearden (1911 - 1988), a Social Realist of the Harlem Renaissance.
Artists often use their art to express their thoughts and feelings. We have just been through a long, divisive election season, and emotions are high. Yours might be too right now. Use that to your advantage in this next homework assignment.
Part 1: In your journal, write down your thoughts and feelings about the election. How might you describe your experience of the political process over the past year? How do you feel at this moment? What does the future look like to you? Do you have any advice for your friends and family? What would you say to children?
Part 2: Use that written reflection in developing a mixed media artwork that expresses those ideas and emotions. Consider using visual metaphor rather than being literal.
- This is a collage, but it can include other media as well.
- Be as expressive as you can. Say something!
- It should have a strong composition. Apply what you know about the Principles of Design: Contrast, Balance, Emphasis, Repetition, Movement, and YES YES YES Variety and Harmony sweet Harmony.
- You should develop the composition through thumbnail sketches.
- It should be bigger than your sketchbook.
- It can't have any words. Show, don't tell.
Before settling on your technique, study the mixed media collages of Romare Bearden, the photomontages of David Hockney, and the photomanipulations of Yasumasa Morimura.
The images below are by Romare Bearden (1911 - 1988), a Social Realist of the Harlem Renaissance.
For style and composition, look at the work of the Italian Futurists as one approach:
Or, for a darker view, the work of Georges Grosz and Jack Levine: