NATURE FOUND OBJECT DESIGNS: DISTANCE LEARNING FOR WEEK 3

Where am I and why am I holding a bunch of green weeds? This is a type of edible weed called Chickweed and I am standing in my back yard, about to toss some to our five hens. If you watch the video, you can see the chickens at the very end. I was making some art with things I gathered in my yard! You don't need fancy art supplies to create something beautiful! Scroll down to see what this week's optional art assignment will be...

Mrs. Nichols' cross design made with Chickweed, leaves, and sticks

video for Lower School students (YouTube)
(I am sorry about the glare, ya'll: I tried unsuccessfully to fix it.)

video for Upper School students (YouTube)

Andy Goldsworthy is a famous British sculptor who uses natural materials to create temporary artworks. He spends all day outside, gathering materials such as stones or leaves. Then, he arranges these in beautiful patterns. The finished piece doesn't last long, so Andy photographs the sculpture. He is very interested in the formal qualities of line, shape, color, and texture: 

radial arrangement of rocks in order of value (light to dark), Andy Goldsworthy

arrangement of leaves in a color gradation, Andy Goldsworthy

arrangement of broken rocks, Andy Goldsworthy

Who Is Andy Goldsworthy? YouTube (suitable for elementary and middle school)

Andy Goldsworthy: Land Art (for middle and high school)

Our optional art assignment this week is to go outside and collect some natural materials such as sticks, leaves, dirt, rocks, or pine straw and then make some designs! You don't need fancy art supplies to create something beautiful: you can make art out of anything. 

This week, you will need to go out and find your materials for the project: you won't be using pencils, paper, or paint! 

I walked around my neighborhood and picked up a few things I thought were interesting, then created this flower design! This is made with seed pods from a sweet gum tree (sweet gum balls), pine cones, Magnolia leaves, and hickory leaves. I also found some gravel down the street but decided not to use any for this design: 

What do you have a lot of in your yard? Sweet gum balls, pine straw, pine cones, dry leaves, sticks, rocks, or dirt? You can actually find lots of different kinds of dirt outside! Some of it is gray, red, brown, or even black. What could you make with just plain old dirt? 

Step One: Find some natural materials that have fallen - please don't pick leaves or flowers that are still living on the plant. (Of course, if you have some chickens, picking some Chickweed is fine!)

Step Two: Start arranging your materials in a pattern: smallest to largest, or lightest to darkest, or a circle pattern!

* What is a beautiful pattern that you found?

* Could you arrange the materials in a shape, such as a heart or a cross shape? (Middle and high school students, make it a complex pattern, not too simple!)

* Or, could you create words with your materials that someone might find in your neighborhood? Could you leave a hopeful message? 

Step Three: After you have created a design that you like, photograph yourself with it and email it to me at annanichols@hcachristian.org before the end of the day on Friday, April 17. 

I will choose the most interesting, creative design and award that student artist a prize! Our first prize winner for the photography contest was Amanda A. (high school), and the second person to win first place was Brittish B. (K5) for her "found object" cross design last week. This week, the prize will be $5.00 - I can't wait to see your fabulous artwork, students! 

For my preschool, kindergarten, and first grade students, here is a wonderful story about a little girl who is an "Anywhere Artist" Ask your parents to help you with gathering materials and arranging them into a neat design. 

Anywhere Artist, by Nikki Slade Robinson

Leaf Collage Photography, by art teacher Rina Vinetz: this assignment for Distance Learning involves arranging leaves into animal shapes and then taking a picture! You don't need any glue, paper, or other art supplies.