Seventh and Eighth graders have been working hard on a two fold design unit. They first explored positive/negative shapes and relationships in our world. We drew the negative spaces of still lifes to get an idea of the strength of that space. We then learned about Notan design. Notan designs develop when you equally use the positive and negative space. Students used xacto knives to precisely cut the paper. Notan designs are displayed currently by our dance and 8th grade science room.
After learning the strength gained in a design using a 50% black to 50% white ratio, we created new designs that we carved into printing blocks. Our printmaking unit had us exploring how to use found objects and other art materials to create prints. Students made prints with string and cardboard, styrofoam, and ez cut blocks. We also painted on the tables to make monoprints. Students made over 30 prints. Come see some of our work outside the art room.
An accent to the printing unit was our marbling work. We used carrageanan, which is a seaweed in powder form, to thicken water and make it possible to float acrylic paint on the mixture. The paint can then be manipulated and picked up on a piece of paper. This ancient book art was tons of fun and really cool to watch the designs emerge.
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