March 2014 – Rebekah McIntosh

Materials:

11×15 sheet of paper
Pencil (for light pencil marks)
Ruler
Compass
X-acto knife
Masking tape or artists tape (cut into .25 in. thick strips)
Ultra-fine point black Sharpie
Fine point black Sharpie

[Make sure that you create light pencil marks. This will allow you to completely erase the marks without damaging the paper.]

Step 1: Create a 10 in. x 10 in. square (in light pencil) on an 11 in. x 15 in. paper. Center the square so that there is a 1/2 inch border on the top and bottom of the paper, and a 2 1/2 in. border on the right and left sides.

Step 2: Using a straight edged ruler, draw two diagonal lines (in light pencil): one connecting the top left corner to the bottom right corner, and one connecting the top right corner to the bottom left corner. [These two lines should cross at the center of the square.]

Step 3: Create four arcs [in the shape of a pinwheel] (in light pencil) that reach from the center of the square to each corner. [Use a compass to do this.] Start by placing the compass tip at the middle of the edge line (5 inches). Place the pencil tip at the center of the square and drag the compass to the left until you reach the corner. [Repeat this step until you have created four arcs that resemble a pinwheel.]

Step 4: Create a series of 6 arcs (in light pencil) on the right and left sides of the pinwheel. [Use a compass to do this] Start by setting the compass measurement at 2.5cm. Place the tip of the compass at the center of the square. Make an arc that reaches from the straight edge to the curved edge on both the right and left sides of the pinwheel. Repeat this process with the compass set at the following measurements: 3cm, 4.5cm, 6.5cm, 8cm, 8.5cm, 10cm, 12cm, 13.5cm, 14cm, 15.5cm, and 16.5.

Step 5: Cover the pencil marks with small strips of masking tape or artist’s tape. Start by cutting strips of masking tape or artist’s tape into .25 in. wide strips. Place the cut strips of tape around the outer edge of the border of the square and over all of the diagonal lines and arc lines of the “pinwheel”(with the pencil marks in the middle of the tape). Also, place tape on the outer edge of the arcs connecting the straight edge to the curved edge on both the right and left sides of the pinwheel at the following measurements: 4.5cm, 10cm, and 15.5cm. [This will keep everything clean and create clean lines and negative space.]

Step 6: Trace the arcs [that connect the straight edge to the curved edge on both the right and left sides of the pinwheel] at the following measurements: 2.5cm, 3cm, 8cm, 8.5cm, 13.5cm, and 14cm.

Step 7: Inside the arcs of the pinwheel use stippling to create positive space without creating a solid shape. Start by creating denser stippling (in fine point Sharpie) on the straight edge and fade to less dense stippling towards the arc of the pinwheel “blades”. Add faint squares (in ultra-fine Sharpie) in the background of the less dense areas of the stippling.

Step 8: On the outside edges of the taped arcs [that connect the straight edge to the curved edge on both the right and left sides of the pinwheel] create stippling that becomes less dense as you move away from the center.

Step 9: Fill in the remaining top and bottom blank areas by making “fake cursive” doodles in fine point sharpie at the edge and fading to ultra-fine sharpie towards the center of the square.

Step 10: Carefully remove all of the tape

Step 11: Use a straight edged ruler to go over the edge lines of the square with an ultra-fine Sharpie.

Step 12: Erase all of the remaining pencil lines.

I think our group worked fairly well together. We were able to collaboratively come up with an interesting and unique composition. Even though we mostly worked as a group, each individual was able to contribute personal suggestions in order to create our group project. Overall, I learned important insights from project 2. I learned how to see and create direction and movement in art. I also learned how to combine positive and negative shapes in order to make a complete and cohesive work of art. I also learned about how detailed instructions must be given in order to explain the process of re-creating a piece of art. I also learned the importance of time management in completing an art project before the required deadline. What I’ve learned from this project will help improve what I create in the future. I really enjoyed this project. I can’t wait to see what project 3 will bring!

My mission is to be the best art teacher I can be. I have always had a passion for working with children. I want to be a teacher that is a positive influence for my students. I want to teach my students the importance of art, and how to positively impact the lives of others through it. I think art is an important subject for all students. I believe that every child is capable of unleashing their inner creativity. They just need the proper instruction and encouragement to utilize their talents. I want to be able to impact the lives of my students and inspire them to think critically and creatively through art education. I want to teach my students how to capture their emotions on paper, and how they can express themselves through art. I think that it is important for children to learn to see the beauty that’s all around them. I want to teach my students how to do that. I am currently working towards getting a degree in art education at Kent State University. All of my professors at Kent have encouraged me to “think outside the box”. The subject matter in their classes has challenged me on both a personal and professional level. I’ve learned that trying new and different teaching techniques is a great way to get students to learn and retain new information.