Abstract Lettering a la Robert Curry

I discovered this artist's work on Pinterest one day while browsing the Art pins.  I thought the 6th graders would appreciate his use of bright, bold colors and his technique of overlapping. 

Untitled painting by Robert Curry

I explained that he probably used digital media to create this effect, while we would be using the ever-popular (and cheap) tempera paint.  I wish I had access to large-scale color printers at my school to create digital prints, but we have to settle sometimes, don't we?

I told the students that they could use words such as their name, their school, their sports team, etc.  I tried to emphasize overlapping the letters, altering the size of the letters and making some go off the page so the audience cannot read the actual words they used. 

Here are a few finished paintings:

Sophia's Painting

Untitled Painting

 Jada's Painting

 

Teshekia's Painting

Rotational Symmetry

I am pulling out an old lesson this week for my 4th graders who happen to be working on Rotational Symmetry.  I love teaching this lesson because the results are stunning, the kids feel confident about their work, and they want to work hard for the final product (which is sometimes a challenge).  I have the students create a simple drawing on 1/8 of their circle, then teach them how to "transfer" their drawing into all 8 parts of their circle by putting pencil led on the back of the piece of paper and tracing over the original drawing 8 times.  We also discuss some techniques of using colored pencils, like graduated coloring, shading, and blending colors together.

 

Step 1: Divide circle, Draw design onto separate 1/8th

  

Step 2: Fill backside of design piece with pencil lead

Step 3: Trace over design into each piece on the circle, 

pressing hard to transfer the lead from the back onto the paper.

Step 4: Trace over all pencil lines with a Sharpie & add color!