Title: Variation as a Means of Thinking Outside the Box
Medium: Collage
Materials: Black and white papers (sheets and paper from large rolls), scissors and blades, glue, rulers and pencils.
Reproductions: Images that showcase visual variation (suggested artists): Durer, George Grosz, Hokusai, Matisse, and Louise Nevelson.
Grades: 9-12
Time: To be determined by the Teacher
Learning Objective:
Through observing and discussing reproductions, and creating black and white collages under a strict set of parameters (see details below), students will also learn that they can make their work more visually engaging and interesting through variation, they will also learn strategies through which to construct compositions that emphasize visual variety made entirely from homogeneous modular forms.
Motivation/Demo:
Teacher: Today we will explore idea of variation in art. Variation can play a key role in making the ordinary become extraordinary. Let’s take a look at some artwork that really uses variation to its greatest advantageÉ
View selected images and ask the students the following:
Can you identify examples of how variation in this image?
What does variation contribute to this image?
Why do you think these artists strived to offer so much visual variety?
Impart the idea that visual variety is stimulating to the viewer and can be a means to get an audience to look closer and think more deeply about an artwork.
Teacher: Now that we have a better grasp on the concept of variation now we will try to make images that include as much variation as possible. You will be given a strict set of parameters to work within and the challenge for you will be to figure out ways to create variation with only a limited set of options.
Guidelines for Activity/Demo:
Hand out materials.
Independent work:
Assist students individually as needed.
Reflection:
Why is it important for artists to make their images appeared varied through, line, shape, color, and texture?
(Collect their answers at the end of the lesson.)
Can you identify all the ways in which variation is represented in this piece?
How does scale affect our ability to create variety?
Please show an example where the geometric shapes maintain their identity as such? Now find an example where the geometric shape has become transformed by the overall arrangement? What is needed to make shape successfully disappear and become something else?
How is variety used to control the viewer’s focus, attention, and visual pathways?
What was the experience of doing this project like for you? What if anything did you learn from it? How can you apply that elsewhere?