Skill Level: 1 and up

Time Frame: 30 min and up

Goals

• To learn how to use collage to create an altered image.
• To use creativity and humor in creating an image that might take someone by surprise.

Materials

· Magazines with landscapes, comic books, nature magazines, etc

· Scissors

· White drawing paper

· Glue

Teacher Prep – option:

It will go much faster and lead to less distraction if the teacher has created piles of images organized into landscapes, animals, people, etc – or just simply a pile of images.

Directions:

• Look through magazines for a background – this should be the largest image you will use. All other images will fit on top or with this image. Choose one that “speaks” to you and leaves room for additions or changes.
• Continue to look through magazines for additional images that can be added to the background. It can be just one image – like the octopus in the third example, or it can be several images. Think about things that can be funny, or shocking, or something the viewer may not even notice until they have inspected the image for a while.
• Cut out your images and glue them together on a new piece of drawing paper, creating your new altered composition.
• In addition, you can use your own cut pieces of construction paper to create your unique alteration –for example - make your own UFO for a foggy landscape, or a broken umbrella for a beach scene…

Tweak It:

• Pre-paint a canvas and add your images to the canvas.
• Add words, your own photos, etc.!

©2012 Arts For Life

Example by Sarah Alexander

Skill Level: 1 and up

Time Frame: 30 min and up

Definition: Mandala

Maṇḍala is Sanskrit for “circle”, and is used in various ways by peoples in many parts of the world—especially Asia—as a representation of sacred wholeness or significance. … a maṇḍala can be a kind of labyrinth through which the initiate or pilgrim must pass in order to achieve union with the “center,” which is the supreme deity. Maṇḍalas do not have to be circles. … Maṇḍalas are, in a sense, dwelling places of the Absolute, and they are always sources of or containers of spiritual or divine power in a given ritual…
http://www.answers.com/topic/mandala#ixzz1toiURskq

Goals

• To learn about Mandalas and to create a unique Mandala design.
• To use fine motor skills while cutting pieces of paper that will fit like a puzzle in a Mandala design.
• To use problem solving while collaging pieces of paper to fit together like a puzzle.

Materials

· Mandala examples from “The Mandala Coloring Book”

· Colored construction paper and patterned paper

· Pencil

· White drawing paper

· Scissors

· Glue stick

· Hole punches – variety of sizes

· Metallic or Gel FX pencils or markers (for Tweak It)

Directions:

• Look through “The Mandala Coloring Book” to see examples of Mandalas. Point out the different shapes, sizes and repetition of Mandalas. But, also point out that no Mandala is the same.
• The patient can use one Mandala design as inspiration or create their own. They should pick out a variety of colors and patterns of paper that work well together. (at least 5 different papers)
• Start to plan out and draw the basic elements of the Mandala. Will there be hearts that go around in the circle, or stars, or petal-like shapes?
• There are two ways to do this: You can A: either cut several of the same shape and fit them together like a puzzle – or you B: start with one main shape that is cut similarly to a snowflake and use that as your base.
• Option A: You will want several pieces of the same shape, so it is best to draw each shape out with a pencil and then either accordion fold the same paper (if you want that shape to be the same color) or stack the other colors of paper together and then cut out the shape.
• ** To save paper, start with the largest shape first, then I cut the smaller shapes out from the inside of the large shape so they fit back together like a puzzle. But, I was using different colors and alternating. This may not work if you want the largest pieces all the same color and the next largest another color, etc.**
• Cut out at least 3-5 different shapes that will all fit together in the Mandala.
• Option B: Choose a piece of paper for the base image. Fold the piece of paper in half length-wise, then in half again width-wise, and then in half again so it makes a triangle shape. Then cut out a basic design leaving the single folded edge and corner in tact.
• Once cut, glue the main piece down on white paper. Then add additional shapes to the Mandala design. – You can follow the steps for Option A to get multiple of the same shape.
• Glue the pieces down – largest first – in a radiating shape.
• Continue adding pieces as desired.

Tweak It:

• Some Mandalas are quite intricate, so if they want to they can come back with Gel FX pencils or markers to add more details.

©2012 Arts For Life

“Happiness!” by Mary Katelyn, age 19

Level: 1

Time Frame: .75-1hr

Goals:

• To use everyday materials in creating art as a means of expression

Materials:

• Matte board or recycled board (that is consistent with AFL policies)
• Magazines
• Modge Podge
• Glue
• Paint pens
• Sharpies
• Gel Pens
• Patterned paper
• Paper scraps

Directions:

1. Have students look through magazines for one word (or multiple if they choose) that describes how they are feeling at that very moment.
2. Cut out the word and set aside.
3. Choose patterns and colors for your background that are consistent with your word (talk about how certain colors/lines evoke certain feelings).
4. Cut your patterned papers into smaller pieces, and layer them on top of one another to create your background.
5. Glue the pieces down onto the board using either a glue stick or Modge Podge.
6. Put your word somewhere on your collage. Glue down with Modge Podge.
7. Using paint pens or any other bold, permanent marker—add designs and doodles to your collage.

Tweak it!

• Instead of words, students may choose to use pictures or objects to describe their mood.

©2012 Arts For Life

Artwork by Mary Margaret Fulk

Level: 1

Time Frame: .75-1hr

Goals:

• To teach students about patterns and repetition

Materials:

• Watercolor paper
• Pencil
• Black Sharpie
• Watercolor paint
• Painters tape

Directions:

1. Have students trace one or both of their hands onto a piece of scratch paper. Outline their hand with a black marker.
2. On a printer, decrease the size of the student’s hand until it is about 1/3 the size of the original hand!
3. Cut out the new hand.
4. On your piece of watercolor paper, trace the hand 3-4 different times. Turn and place the hand in different directions.
5. Trace around each hand a few times (creating concentric shapes) leaving ¼’ or smaller between each line. Once you have traced around the hand a few times, switch and start tracing another hand. Continue to do this until you have filled your entire paper with the hand shapes.
6. Trace over all your lines with a black Sharpie marker.
7. Choose a color scheme for your picture. (3-4 colors work best) I used primary colors for my picture. With watercolor paints, paint each hand a different color, but repeat the same color pattern throughout the entire sheet. Continue until you have filled your entire sheet.
8. Once the paint has dried, go over the black lines once again.

©2012 Arts For Life

“Sleeping Birds with Leggings” Example by Sarah Alexander

Skill Level: 1 and up

Time Frame: 30 min

Goals

• To learn how to use collage to create images, texture and unique designs.
• To use creativity and imagination in deciding whose legs they belong to.

Materials

• Drawing paper or colored cardstock
• Scissors
• Colored paper, origami paper, patterned paper
• Glue
• Black Sharpie or Washable Markers
• Colored pencils, crayons, oil pastels…

Directions:

• Cut colored and patterned paper into small pieces no bigger than ½” squares.
• Use the glue stick to draw two lines near the bottom of a piece of drawing paper or colored cardstock. The glue lines will become their legs. Fill the line with your colored squares.
• Use markers or sharpies to create the animal, person, or thing that belongs to the legs.
• Optional – fill in the creature with colored pencils, crayons, oil pastels, paints…

Tweak It:

• Pre-paint a canvas, add legs and body then fill in the body with acrylic paints.
• Make more than one creature on a page.

©2012 Arts For Life