ART SKILLS MAKE GOOD ART

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Map of Art Skills Art Curriculum

Wheaton High School Minnesota

BUILD AND APPLY YOUR SKILLS

Application is making a connection to past learning and discoveries. It is a necessary task. Without the application of new skills and understandings such as design principles, a person continues on the same level as one who has had no training or practice.

There are many talented and creative persons who have great ideas (insights and things to say) but who have had no training in methods, composition, perspective or techniques. Such" natural" artists are called PRIMITIVES.

   Any person who is entirely natural, instinctive or self-trained is called a  primitive. Primitives do things in their own way until they learn another, perhaps better, way. Henri Rousseau is a famous French primitive who was greatly admired by the modern art masters. America has produced hosts of unknown or less well known untrained artists. Grandma Moses, who began painting in her 70's is an example.

        My purpose in art class has been to equip you with some working tools and knowledge, which you have the choice to use or not to use at any time in the future.
 
Will you be a better person if you APPLY these learnings?
Probably, but if not, you will definitely be a better artist.
Every art assignment given to you here has put one or more into focus.
Here are some of them:

LOOKING AT YOUR OWN CREATIVE ASSETS
These include Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes
Answer each point with either 'N' 'Y' 'O'. N=mostly not; Y=mostly yes; O=other or not sure

( ) I use or acknowledge the whole picture space (area) when I draw or paint

( ) I think of the area outside of objects as well as areas inside of objects

( ) I recognize and use flat 2D pattern areas

( ) I recognize and use figure and ground (positive-negative spaces)

( ) I am able to shade (model tonally) with brushes, pencils, charcoal or pastels.

( ) I understand the concept of icons or symbols

( ) I understand the concept of environment

( ) I am able to mix any tone of gray - black to white using a palette

( ) I am able to see a color and mix it

( ) I am able to observe something and reproduce it with good proportions

( ) I can do things a new way and have new ideas about what art is

( ) I am able to draw and shade basic masses or volumes

( ) I can turn a 2-dimensional shape into one that looks 3 dimensional

( ) I draw in linear perspective using one or two vanishing points

( ) I understand detail and apply details to pictures for interest

( ) I know some of the many styles of arts in the past

( ) I think about motivations that make me create

( ) I have more respect for the creative process from idea to completion

( ) I know about clay: direct medium, construction, decorating, firing

( ) I can draw delicate detail with a pen or brush

( ) I am able to draw and shade with liquid transparent washes

( ) I have a good idea what makes a design harmonize

( ) I can describe art using art visual terms

( ) I understand and use design terms

( ) I can shade with a brush

( ) I can see shapes and patterns in composition

( ) I can draw a building in perspective

( ) I can draw human figures accurately & in proportion

( ) I can use transparent washes

( ) I notice contrasts of color, tone, shape, etc.

PERSONAL ASSETS THAT HELP IN CREATIVE PURSUITS

( ) I look and discover details

( ) I want to share personal feeling or insights with others

( ) I am open to critiques and suggestions

( ) I think about how I can improve my work

( ) I use computer resources for creative ideas

( ) I am interested in discovering work of other artists

( ) I have fixed opinions and ideas about most matters

( ) I am patient about getting it right

( ) I am mostly focused and not distracted

( ) I believe that art has a value

( ) I believe it is possible to judge art quality

( ) my work is done caringly

( ) I believe failure is a good way to learn

( ) like discovering a new method or way

( ) I am a good listener

( ) I have a good sense of where I will be in 3 years

Wheaton High School

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4 21 2005