creative process:
Zoom in and scroll through a step by step guide in facilitating the creative workshop or download the file below
alternative option 1: pulled string art
Pulled String Art is another way to get abstract, symmetrical shapes but doesn't require the use of any brushes and can be a more embodied practice as students are engaging senses by touching the string and paint as they create. Students are still invited to connect with their art and pay attention to what they might perceive from the lines moving across the page.
MATERIALS
Paint in a small bowl (We used BioColor paint, but tempera paint would work, too)
String or yarn
Paper
Book or boards to sandwich paper and string in between
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Cut a piece of string (ours were between 12 and 18 inches) and add it to the bowl of paint.
2. Use a spoon or your finger to stir it around, covering the string in paint.
3. Lift the string out of the paint, running your thumb and forefinger along the length of the string to remove excess paint (make sure to do this part; it makes a big difference).
4. Fold the paper in half and place in the middle of the book
5. Place the string however you like along the crease of the paper and close the book- sandwiching the paint and string inside, leaving a long tail out of the book
6. Pull the string out of the book (students with low muscle strength can be assisted with this), moving it around as it slithers out. Experiment with how gestural movements impact the shapes created.
(Images sourced from Artful Parent blog,2016)
alternative option 2:
straw blowing
This option requires less hand-eye coordination and still gets some amazing results which students can interpretive into imaginative figures!
It doesn't address the concept of duality or symmetry but can still be used in a way to teach about diversity and perceptions as every piece will look different. Students can experiment with dripping paint tilting the paper in different directions , as well as blowing through the straw to create different types of lines.
Instructions:
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Use your paint brush to drop some water into each color of paint you plan to use.
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Choose a color to start with and load your brush with paint.
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Drip a dot of paint on your paper.
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Put your paintbrush in the water cup.
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Now take your straw in your mouth and position it above the paint dot.
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Blow a quick burst of breath through the straw.
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This will “explode” the paint dot.
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Rinse your brush and choose a new color of paint.
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Repeat steps 2–5. Fill your paper with these paint “explosions.”
Supplies:
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thick paper
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watercolor paints
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paintbrush
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water cup
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straw
Another technique to experiment with is attaching a number of straws together to create 'bubble' marks- these amorphous forms will differ per student and can then be interpreted into whatever objects or stories they can see.
