Board Game

 Board Game 

The American Folk Art Museum

 I have presented my 6th grade with the problem of developing a board game. I posted guidelines on the blackboard, yes blackboard. Our Art Room communication board is made of slate. It is a treasure. The guidelines included basic requirements: a game board, moveable tokens and or other game instruments, objective with rules and an overall unified feel or theme. We discussed using known games as stepping stones and not as direct templates. The project asks for group work. I am not typically a big fan of group work, however it is a skill that needs nurturing and this project calls for group work. Students were on task, involved, over the top thrilled with the assignment. Simple supplies consisted of paper, paint, markers, glue, scissors and what ever recyclable components their concept called for. Some students printed out images and words to add, while others handmade everything. At the close of the project the groups presented the games to the class commercial style. The goal was to present in a persuasive "buy this game" style. Several groups used the Billy Mays style and totally enjoyed pitching their game. Finally, students rotated and played the games giving constructive evidence based feedback to the creative game planners. 

The Artist's Daughter

The Artist's Daughter

Frans von Stuck

I have always loved this blue-ribboned girl. Her sideways glance is simply the best. I have come across several images of this sitter. Some in pastel, others showing a full face pose. This work is oil on board, rich and full of life. Her name is Mary. This beautiful portrait is on view at The Toledo Museum of Art.

The Hand

The Hand

A 7th grade student shared a curious home project that was created from a silicon glove, paper mache and paint. She said that the idea came to her while gathering eggs. She wears the gloves while tending to her chickens. Her mother asked if she had any ideas for a 6th grade birthday party project...and so The Hand came to be. If the examples that follow seem to have an Egyptian kiss..they do. My students, grade 6-8, explored Egyptian art before The Hand. I find that planting seeds in the garden of their mind helps to funnel student imaginative energy. Too many choices can result in lost souls. Students then learn how to Steal Like an Artist.

 Inspired by the Illuminati

Inspired by Spider Man

Inspired by a chameleon

 

Inspired by Star Trek 

Inspired by Egyptian Art

Inspired by a love of Math

Inspired by henna hand design

Supplies

disposable glove/gloves

styrofoam packing peanuts

masking tape

paper mache mix
Elmer's glue

newspaper

paint brushes - variety

gesso

tempera or acrylic paint, possibly inktense pencils

embellishments (paper clay, jewels...)

1. Stuff glove with crumbled packing peanuts. Crumbling allows for proper finger filling. Fill the glove very full. A pencil's eraser end can help poke and compact crumbles in finger area. Work towards the full shape that you desire. Tape the  glove shut with masking tape. The palm area should be rounded. A squared off palm is awkward.
 

2. At this point some of my students chose to wrap their hand mummy style with masking tape in order to pose the fingers. Some left the open hand shape and moved on to paper mache.

3. Paper mache - Apply mache mix to an area of glove. Apply newspaper. Use very small pieces of newspaper so that they may seamlessly work their way around the intricate hand shape. Each time newspaper is applied it should be burnished, rubbed down with a finger. This action makes the paper pieces act as one. Students are always amazed when a project is smooth almost wood-like. Burnishing is the secret. One overlapping layer = 2 layers and that is good.

4. When the paper mache step is complete and thoroughly dry apply a coat of gesso to the entire hand. This step will seal the work and create a white work surface for the next step.

5. When the gesso is completely dry it is time to design and paint. At this time choose tempera or acrylic paint. Most students chose an all over color. Let it dry and penciled in the details followed by more paint. Other students decided to paint each section separately and so they drew out their design right on the gesso hand.

6. Embellishment Possibilities (the fun part) - paper clay, sharpie defining/refining,  

jewels, words & images cut and collage, an artist statement or story ...

7. Display - The hands pictured are displayed by attaching the hand to a bottle cap that best fits the art. As you can see the Star Trek piece is set on a shiny silver Clinique jar cap. A showcase display was created at the end of our project. The back paper was super shiny reflective gold wrapping paper... a nod to our Egyptian research prior to our project. It was called A Show of Hands. The students were proud and the showcase audience was at an all time high.

Clever Tricks

Mix the paper mache mix with 3/4 the amount of water and add about 1 cup of Elmer's glue to the mix. The mix will be stickier, stick better to itself and the glove and make a harder end result.

Keeping track of many hands that look the same.. Which project is mine? A question that can stop art production on a dime. Solution - Each class period received a construction paper tab about 4" x 1". Each class period had a color. For example, 1st period blue, 2nd orange and so on. Students sharpied their last name and period number towards one end of the tab. The tabs were attached to the palm end of the hand when the students closed up the hand upon stuffing. The tags were removed on bottle cap attachment day. Student names and period were written on a small paper and glued underneath the attached bottle cap.

enjoy!