Posts Tagged ‘symbols’

Sun & Moon

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

This week’s drawing is of a SUN & MOON using OIL PASTELS as the medium.

In this picture, your child explored:

 

  • Southwestern symbolism
  • Using oil pastels
  • Mixing mediums
  • Designing a balanced composition

THE DRAWING:

Sun & Moon

This week’s drawing is of a symbolically represented sun and moon. While the sun and moon are symbolically representative of many different things in different cultures, we created this picture using symbols of the southwest. (Elements your child may have used include feathers, cactuses, flowers and fish, as well as many other Native American and even Aztec symbols.)

Interesting Facts About Aztec & Native American Beliefs About the Sun & Moon:

  • The Aztecs believed the sun fought the darkness every night and rose in the morning to save mankind.
  • They also believed that if they fed the sun blood, it would rise again in the morning.
  • The sun god was the Aztecs’ most worshipped god; they believed that without him there would be no world.
  • The moon, conversely, was seen as “envious” of the sun, and the loser of the constant battle when the sun rose each morning.
  • Many Native Americans celebrated Sundance, a religious festival celebrating renewal, spiritual rebirth, and regeneration of the living Earth with all its components.
  • Native Americans saw the sun as the Life giver, creating warmth, growth, and all that is good & well.

THE MEDIUM:

Mixed Media

Mixing mediums (the materials used to create a picture) is a fun technique to create contrast in a picture. Encourage your child to try more multimedia projects at home. Mixing mediums encourages children to think carefully about the effect created by different mediums – the contrast between the texture created by markers and that created by chalk, for example, can be better understood by children when the elements are presented side-by-side.

Oil Pastels

The primary medium used in this project was oil pastels. Oil pastels look similar to crayons and are made from pigment mixed with oil and wax. The most high quality brands are quite soft, and can yield stunning results when used carefully.

Oil pastels can be a difficult medium; they require patience and perseverance. Oil pastels should be applied in layers and carefully blended with a finger tip or q-tip between each layer. If you are interested in experimenting with oil pastels with your child, there are many different brands available both online and in most art and craft supply stores. You can read more helpful tips for using oil pastels here and in last week’s post.

We also experimented with using texture plates to add dimension and interest to the picture.  

Ask Your Child:

·         To describe the composition he created; ask about creative choices such as color, balance and symbols included.

·         Talk to your child about Aztec and Native American symbolism in art.

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Chinese Opera Mask

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

This week’s picture is of a CHINESE OPERA MASK using PRISMACOLOR MARKERS as the medium.

In this picture, your child explored:

  • The visual arts in other cultures (China)
  • The visual arts in relation to other artistic disciplines (theater, opera)
  • Elements of design, pattern, and symmetry

THE DRAWING:

Chinese Opera Mask

This week’s drawing is of a Chinese Opera Mask. Chinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China, dating back as far as the third century. The art form is characterized by performers in brightly colored costumes moving to dramatic music. Chinese opera varies dramatically from our western version of opera; it is complicated performing art combining singing, music, dialogue, acrobatics, martial arts and pantomime.

Most prominent in Chinese opera are actors wearing masks, which are frequently changed throughout the performance. These masks can be either actual masks, often made from wood, or thick face paint applied directly to the performer’s face.

The faces on the masks were often dramatically exaggerated, and used color to describe different characters’ personalities. Through the use of color, the audience would be able to instantly interpret a character’s nature.

  • Red indicated devotion, courage & uprightness.
  • Yellow signifies fierceness, ambition & coolheadedness.
  • Blue represents staunchness, fierceness & astuteness.
  • White suggests treacherousness, suspiciousness & craftiness.
  • Black symbolizes roughness & fierceness.
  • Purple stands for uprightness, sophistication & coolheadedness.
  • Gold & silver are reserved for gods and spirits.

This site has further interesting explanations of different uses of color and design in Chinese opera masks.

THE MEDIUM:

Using Prismacolor Markers

 

Prismacolor Markers are fun and easy to use. These artist quality markers have two tips: a fine tip for coloring small spaces, and a broad, flat tip for coloring larger areas. These markers provide rich color saturation and smooth ink coverage.

Ask Your Child:

·         To describe their Chinese opera mask’s unique patterns and symbols and interpret their face’s character using the color meanings listed above.

·         To explain how this is an example of functional art.

·         To explain the relationship between visual art and other art forms such as theater and opera (older children).

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Tattooed Maori Face

Monday, February 8th, 2010

This week’s picture is of a TATTOOED MAORI FACE using SHARPIES on FOLIA RAINBOW PAPER as the medium.

 

In this picture, your child explored:

 

  • The history of Ta Moko – the sacred tattoos of the Maori people of New Zealand.
  • Symbols and motifs in art
  • Repetition, pattern, and symmetry

 

THE DRAWING:

Tattooed Maori Face

 

This week’s drawing is of a tattooed Maori face. Ta Moko is the sacred art of tattooing, often characterized by patterns on the face. This ancient tradition was practiced by the Maori peoples of New Zealand.

The Legend

Maori mythology tells the story of a love affair between a young man named Mataora (”Face of Vitality”) and a young underworld princess named Niwareka. One day Mataora beat Niwareka, and she ran away from him, back her father’s realm. Mataora was filled with guilt and heartbreak, and followed after his princess. When he finally arrived, his face paint was messed and dirty after his voyage. Her family taunted and mocked him for his bedraggled appearance. Humbled, Mataora begged Niwareka for forgiveness, which she eventually accepted. Niwareka’s father then offered to teach Mataora the art of tattooing. The lovers eventually returned together to the human world, bringing with them the art of ta moko.

The Art of Ta Moko

Traditionally, the Maori used tattooing as a means of personal identification. Moko – carving –was used to create a genealogy through the patterns on the skin. It was also a history of a person’s achievements, representing tribal status like a resume. It served to remind the bearer of their responsibilities in life.

 

A chisel, or a sharp bladed tool, was carved from the bird’s bone, and then was used to cut the skin. The chisel was then dipped into dark pigment made from the local Kauri tree or soot made from burnt caterpillars or leaves. This dark pigment was then tapped into the skin. It was a very painful and long process, but was a great honor; those without tattoos were considered to have no social status.

 

Tattoo Meanings

Moko is similar to an identity card or passport. For men, Moko showed rank, status and ferocity, instantly demonstrating the bearer’s power and authority. Certain outward signs, combined with tattoos, could instantly define someone’s identity. For example, a chief with Moko wearing a dog cloak could be identified as a person in charge of warriors. It would be a great insult if the chief was not appropriately recognized, and this insult could lead to utu - vengeance.

The male facial tattoo is generally divided into eight sections:*

  1. Ngakaipikirau (rank) – center forehead
  2. Ngunga (position) – eyebrows
  3. Uirere (hapu rank) – eye/ nose area
  4. Uma (first or second marriage) – temples
  5. Raurau (signature) – under-nose area
  6. Taiohou (work) – cheeks
  7. Wairua (mana) – chin
  8. Taitoto (birth status) – jaw

*Source: Maori Face Tattoo

Ancestry is indicated on each side of the face; typically the father’s side is depicted on the left and the mother’s on the right. Descent was a foremost requirement before a Moko could be undertaken. If one side of a person’s ancestry was not of rank, that side would have no design. Similarly, no tattoo in the forehead center means the wearer has no rank.

THE MEDIUM:

Sharpies on Folia Paper

 

At KidzArt we use sharpies for almost all our drawings. In this picture, instead of adding color through other mediums once the drawing is completed, we drew the picture (using sharpies) on colored paper.

 

This rainbow colored paper we used is called Folia Paper. This paper adds an intense punch of color to any project. Often used for origami projects, this paper is lightweight, with a high-gloss surface. These rainbow packs can be purchased in a variety of color variations. 

Ask Your Child:

·         To describe the unique patterns and symbols on her Maori face mask.

·         To talk about the history behind the Maori face tattoos and the Maori people of New Zealand.

·         To explain possible meanings for his unique tattoo design.

·         To describe unique elements in her drawing, such as borders and other embellishments.

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Thunderbird

Monday, February 8th, 2010

This week’s picture is of an NATIVE AMERICAN THUNDERBIRD using CHALK PASTELS as the medium.

In this picture, your child explored:

 

  • Designs and history of the Native American Thunderbird symbol
  • Symbols and motifs in art
  • Repetition, pattern, and symmetry

THE DRAWING:

Native American Thunderbird

This week’s drawing is of the Native American Thunderbird. Some fun facts about the thunderbird symbol:

  • The Thunderbird’s name comes from the idea that its enormous wings create thunder. The Lakota name for the Thunderbird is Wakį́ya, a word formed from two words meaning “sacred” and “winged.”
  • According to Indian legend in the Pacific Northwest Coast, the Thunderbird is powerful enough to hurt and even carry off the giant Killer Whale. This is the basis for the legend “The Thunderbird and the Whale.”
  • Some tribes saw the Thunderbird as an individual entity, some as plural.
  • The singular Thunderbird was said to be the servant of the Great Spirit, residing on the top of a mountain. It only flew about to carry messages from one spirit to another.
  • The plural form of the thunderbirds were believed to be able to shape shift into human form by tilting back their beaks like a mask, and removing their feathers like feather-covered blankets. There are even stories of thunderbirds in human form marrying into pure human families; some Native American families trace their lineage to such an event.
  • Some legends saw the Thunderbird as protective, keeping Indian tribes safe from harm. Others saw it as a fearful creature, carrying off any who dared cross its sacred mountain.

The Air Force Thunderbirds adopted the name, influenced by the strong Indian culture and folklore of the southwestern U.S. where the team was activated. Indian legends regarded the Thunderbird with fear and respect; when it took to the skies, the earth trembled with the thunder of its great wings. Nothing in nature could challenge the Thunderbird. This was just the commanding presence the Air Force Thunderbirds wished to inspire.

THE MEDIUM:

Using NuPastel Chalk Pastels

At KidzArt we use Prismacolor NuPastel color sticks. This form of chalk has a slightly varnished surface, which keeps it harder and cleaner than other varieties. They come in thin sticks which can be easily broken to be more manageable for small hands. 

We show the kids how to use their fingers or a tissue to blend the chalk pastels; q-tips blend well in smaller areas. Because of the medium’s texture, the pictures can smear easily; you may want to spray the finished artwork with hairspray to help the chalk adhere to the page.

 

Ask Your Child:

·         To describe their Thunderbird’s unique patterns and symbols.

·         To talk about the history behind the Thunderbird symbol.

·         To explain the chalk pastel techniques she used in her picture.

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