Making the Art!
You found your inspiration and know what you want to make, you create your design and have a good idea of how you want to make it, now it's time to really get to work!
As you are creating your art, it is important to keep these three concepts in mind. First, you want to create original work. Next, in order to do so you'll want to use class time productively. Lastly, if you get stuck, and it happens to all of us sooner or later, it's best to be persistent no matter what you think of your work in progress. Let's take a look at each of these a little closer.
As you are creating your art, it is important to keep these three concepts in mind. First, you want to create original work. Next, in order to do so you'll want to use class time productively. Lastly, if you get stuck, and it happens to all of us sooner or later, it's best to be persistent no matter what you think of your work in progress. Let's take a look at each of these a little closer.
Develop an Original Work of Art.
Developing an original work of art means understanding what a copyright infringement is. in short, if you find a photo or artwork online and copy it exactly, its a copyright infringement. You are copying someones else's work. So how do we get around this?
First understand, we aren't talking about tutorials. It's ok to copy a work if you are running a tutorial to learn how to use a material or a new technique. In those situations, you are copying to learn and it is expected that the final piece will look very similar to the work in the tutorial. However, understand that this is not an original work of art.
Next, understand that it is ok to use a reference image. It will help your work if you are looking at an image of the thing you are trying to draw. The best way to avoid copyright issues is to use your own photos as a reference. If you take the photo, its yours, no problem.
Sometimes, however, you won't be able to take a photo. In this situation, it is ok to find a reference online. however, you do not want to copy the photo exactly. Instead, think of ways to change the image. You might combine several images into a new one. The idea is to change it enough so that it becomes your own.
First understand, we aren't talking about tutorials. It's ok to copy a work if you are running a tutorial to learn how to use a material or a new technique. In those situations, you are copying to learn and it is expected that the final piece will look very similar to the work in the tutorial. However, understand that this is not an original work of art.
Next, understand that it is ok to use a reference image. It will help your work if you are looking at an image of the thing you are trying to draw. The best way to avoid copyright issues is to use your own photos as a reference. If you take the photo, its yours, no problem.
Sometimes, however, you won't be able to take a photo. In this situation, it is ok to find a reference online. however, you do not want to copy the photo exactly. Instead, think of ways to change the image. You might combine several images into a new one. The idea is to change it enough so that it becomes your own.
Use Class Time Productively.
Time is short. before you know it, the semester will be over and you won't be in art class any longer. You won't have the same opportunity to paint with acrylics on canvas, or draw with prismacolor pencils, or any of the other materials that are available to you in the art room.
What you will have time to do is snapchat, text message, play games and watch videos. Those will still be there. Art will not.
So, consider this before you pull out your phone. Think about how you will feel when art in no longer a thing. It might take some self discipline, but do yourself a favor. Put the phone away and take as much advantage of the short time you have in art. You will thank yourself later.
What you will have time to do is snapchat, text message, play games and watch videos. Those will still be there. Art will not.
So, consider this before you pull out your phone. Think about how you will feel when art in no longer a thing. It might take some self discipline, but do yourself a favor. Put the phone away and take as much advantage of the short time you have in art. You will thank yourself later.
Persist! Even When Problems Arise.
Getting stuck is something every artist encounters. It occurs when an artist begins a work but decides to quit before they are done. This sticking point takes place for two reasons.
Sometimes you have a vision of what you wish to create in your head but soon realize what you have laid out on paper doesn’t reflect your vision. You become discouraged. You think, “This isn't what I wanted. This isn't turning out how I envisioned. I'm giving up.”
Other times, your initial efforts surpass your expectations. What you have produced is some of your best work. Even though the work isn’t finished, you freeze. You cannot move on for fear of messing up what you’ve already created.
I decided to ask students what has helped them surpass the sticking point. Here, in their words, is what they said.
Nadia: “A teacher can help me move beyond a sticking point by offering suggestions on how to improve the piece. If I don’t want to continue working on my project because I don’t like how it looks, having the teacher explain what to do to make it better can get me going again.”
Mackenzie: “Sometimes I just need a break from it. I’ll put it away and start working on something new. Then, when I come back to it, I can sometimes see the problem.”
Malcolm: “I would tell another student who was stuck to consider other artists who kept going. Think about Michelangelo and the Sistine Ceiling. He had all sorts of problems painting that but he kept going and didn’t give up.”
Kamryn: “Ask yourself, what is it I don’t like about this art? Try to identify the problem and then find a solution.”
Nyssa: “Talk it out with other students. Ask them what they think the issue might be with the artwork and ask how you can improve it.”
Katie: “If the work is coming out good and you’re afraid you’ll mess it up, find something small you can add. This way you’re only changing one little thing. Just do one little thing at a time and it won’t be such a big deal.”
Alicia: “Take the risk. Risk taking always outweighs the bad.”
Rachael: “Tell yourself, you’ve come this far, don’t give up now.”
Sometimes you have a vision of what you wish to create in your head but soon realize what you have laid out on paper doesn’t reflect your vision. You become discouraged. You think, “This isn't what I wanted. This isn't turning out how I envisioned. I'm giving up.”
Other times, your initial efforts surpass your expectations. What you have produced is some of your best work. Even though the work isn’t finished, you freeze. You cannot move on for fear of messing up what you’ve already created.
I decided to ask students what has helped them surpass the sticking point. Here, in their words, is what they said.
Nadia: “A teacher can help me move beyond a sticking point by offering suggestions on how to improve the piece. If I don’t want to continue working on my project because I don’t like how it looks, having the teacher explain what to do to make it better can get me going again.”
Mackenzie: “Sometimes I just need a break from it. I’ll put it away and start working on something new. Then, when I come back to it, I can sometimes see the problem.”
Malcolm: “I would tell another student who was stuck to consider other artists who kept going. Think about Michelangelo and the Sistine Ceiling. He had all sorts of problems painting that but he kept going and didn’t give up.”
Kamryn: “Ask yourself, what is it I don’t like about this art? Try to identify the problem and then find a solution.”
Nyssa: “Talk it out with other students. Ask them what they think the issue might be with the artwork and ask how you can improve it.”
Katie: “If the work is coming out good and you’re afraid you’ll mess it up, find something small you can add. This way you’re only changing one little thing. Just do one little thing at a time and it won’t be such a big deal.”
Alicia: “Take the risk. Risk taking always outweighs the bad.”
Rachael: “Tell yourself, you’ve come this far, don’t give up now.”
Once you have created your art, you are ready for the last part, the Refection Phase!
The Standards
The National Core Arts Standards
Create/Creating: I Plan and Create
Standard 1: Generate artistic ideas.
Standard 2: Develop artistic ideas.
Standard 3: Complete artistic work.
The National Core Arts Standards
Create/Creating: I Plan and Create
Standard 1: Generate artistic ideas.
Standard 2: Develop artistic ideas.
Standard 3: Complete artistic work.