Gyotaku

Gyotaku is a printmaking art form in which actual fish are used to make prints. This art form started back a couple hundred years ago when Japanese fisherman wanted to record their catch. In our class we used fish models and paint to make our prints. Here are some of the results.

Paper marbling

So this week we looked at the ancient art of paper marbling. For those who are not familiar with this art form, it is the application of an ink or water resistant  paint in water. What results is a film of paint or ink that floats on the surface of the water. When this occurs, you "swirl" the paint and create a marble pattern. Then you dip the paper in for a few seconds and transfer the marbled pattern onto the paper.

Another alternative to using oil based paints or inks would be to use shaving cream and water based paints. We used tempera paints and these are the results.

Papermaking

Papermaking start back in Egypt with papyrus, a plant a Egyptians used back in the 3rd millennium B.C.. Our modern "paper" has its roots or start back in ancient China in the first millennium A.D. So I taught a lesson on how to make handmade decorative paper. The students seemed enjoyed decorating their paper.

The Mad Sprayer

I have one particular student-artist who is obssessed with spraying paint on canvas. The student is like a modern day Jackson Pollock. Here is one of the pieces created by said student-artist

Wooden Figure Sculpture

So this week we are starting to learn about figurative sculpture. I brought in a bag full of wooden dowels and other small pieces. The students had a ball creating all types of human like figures

Here is one of the figures made by a student. The students really love the freedom to create whatever they can think of which is great because they are the most creative I feel when they have more freedom to explore a concept.