Mixed Media Art

After drilling students on the Elements of Art and Principles of Design for an entire semester, I thought a great project for the end would be a Mixed Media Self Portrait that incorporates a personal goal. I quickly threw together an example today:

Like any good artist, I started this having no idea what it was going to look like. ;-)

I knew I wanted a checkered floor done in 1 point perspective and to create a room or setting for the scene. My original thought was to express my love of baking...hm.

I found a few images I liked (going for speed, not skilled drawing today) and found that they inspired a theme. Score! I glued them down, added a few bells and whistles to have a quick mixed media art project. The words 'tame the mind.' are written under the peaceful head. 

So what do we have here...

• repetition is used to draw the eye towards the figure in the back
• emphasis is also created by the presence of a second figure looking towards the first
• blue is a dominant color, creating unity
• string is used twice, once to bind a head, the second to bind feet to a weight (rock)
• texture created with fabric, newspaper and quilled papers

The overall message I decided to go for was the desire to tame or control the mind. I indicated a weight or lack of movement in the foreground figure. Presumably the one who's mind needs binding. 

We haven't started the project yet. I am a bit nervous. I know that many students will want to rush through the project and not really think about what they are creating. I plan to have them develop it in stages to limit this. Before explainging the project, I plan to have them complete these steps:

Step 1: List 5 things that are important to you and why. List 3 personal goals you have for yourself. 

Step 2: Choose one of these things you want to use in your project. Answer the following quesions: What colors do you associate with this? If your goal or object were to have a setting, where would you put it? What are some images that symbolize your goal or object that do not include the item itself?

After this I will introduce the class to mixed media art and review the skills we have been learning throughout the year. Good luck!! 

Update on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 5:58PM by sonja

Student artwork from the mixed media project! Amazing what they come up with. I love it!!!