Teaching Aboriginal Art: Free Lesson Plan

Aboriginal Dot Painting is a popular art lesson classic suitable for learners of all ages as it features an irresistible combination of music, art, culture and history.

The beauty of this subject is that the lesson engages learners on a number of different levels - practical painting technique, cultural understanding, linking art with music, dance and storytelling, and getting their fingers nice & dirty in the process!

Art

AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL DOT PAINTING

Teaching Aboriginal Art: Free Lesson Plan

For beginners through to advanced level learners

3~4 hours contact time in class, extra time for research/homework

Lesson Aims:

* Students will be able to select colours, mix paint, make a preliminary sketch, complete an authentic aboriginal artwork.

* Students will understand the origin of motifs, colours, storylines in aboriginal art.

* Students will be able to connect aboriginal art with its other cultural traditions of music, dance, and storytelling.

Materials:

* Aboriginal music or video.

* B/W photocopies of aboriginal symbols.

* B/W photocopies of a real aboriginal painting.

* Sketching paper or thin card for B/W draft - about 40cm x 25cm.

* Watercolour paper for final draft artwork - about 60cm x 40cm.

* Black marker pens, watercolour or acrylic paints, sponges for dab effects etc.

In Class Lesson Stages:

1. As a lead-in my students respond really well to closing their eyes as they listen to real aboriginal music and imagining they are an eagle flying over the Australian Outback. What did you see? How far did you go? What animals came into your mind? In the course of introducing the people, the country, and their traditions you can reveal how each sound from the didgeridoo depicts the sound of a distinct animal - a snake, a fish, a crocodile, an emu. This visualisation exercise will help when they come to start their first draft sketch.

2. A short video of aboriginal dancing features at the end of this lesson plan.

3. Students speculate in groups on the meaning of common symbols in aboriginal art as per 'Aboriginal Symbols' worksheet pictured below. Which symbolize a kangaroo, a boomerang, a waterhole, footprints, and the sun, rain, and moon?

4. At the end of the first session students annotate a B/W copy of a real aboriginal painting and identify which lines/dots/patterns symbolize what. Students should also understand the following elements of design - contrast, colour choice (how did the aborigines find paint? why are coours of nature prevalent?) Show other examples of aboriginal paintings.

5. The next session begins with a first draft in B/W. Students should select a unifying 'theme' for their artwork - the hunt, the dance, animals, nature, tools & weapons, food are all good subjects. Allow students to progress to their final larger colour draft when they have clearly demonstrated an understanding of colour, line, pattern, contrast, theme.

6. Two sessions should be devoted to the final draft. Show students how to use sponges, fingertips, brushes, and combs to create authentic painterly effects. Monitor students as they work - paying careful attention to the 'tightness' of their patterns and the relatively 'minimal' use of colour. I find that my students really get into it when there's some music blasting out - which in this case should be funky didgeridoo.

* Depending on the level of the students you could set a short essay on one of the following subjects: 1. The things I learned from creating an aboriginal artwork, 2. My critique of an aboriginal artwork, 3. How aboriginal art reflects the cultural and historical background of the aborigine people.

Evaluation and feedback should take place throughout each session in the form of peer evaluation (what do you think of each other's work?) and final evaluation in the form of a clear grading scale. For a project of this nature you could include such criteria as:

* Originality 1-2-3-4-5

* Authenticty 1-2-3-4-5

* Elements of design - colour/line/pattern 1-2-3-4-5

* Participation and level of completion 1-2-3-4-5

Total - /20

Teaching Aboriginal Art: Free Lesson Plan

Oliver Kinghorn is a painter, writer, and art teacher who runs a free web page - http://free-art-lesson-ideas-for-teachers.blogspot.com/

See his own artwork and inspiring articles for relaxation & feeling great at http://feelingsimplylovely.blogspot.com/

What is Art?

We can try answering the question "what is art?" by understanding the definition given in Britannica online which says that art is "the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others."

In this regard it will be apt to have a glance at what Leo Tolstoy had to say about art in his book called "What is art?" written some 200 years back. One of the important points that he said about art is that "in order to correctly define art, it is necessary, first of all, to cease to consider it as a means to pleasure and to consider it as one of the conditions of human life. Viewing it in this way we cannot fail to observe that art is one of the means of intercourse between man and man." There are many other interesting views on art that has been expressed by him in his book titled "what is art?"

Art

Many other definitions emphasize that

What is Art?

1. Art is subjective and art is more subjective than objective.
2. Art is form and content.
3. Art has an artistic process.
4. There is a connection between beauty and art and beauty is the measure of quality of art.

Then there are debatable questions to the basic question "what is art?", like

1. Can anything be art?
2. Is there any objective crieteria for art?

Perception of Art and the identity of the artist have always changed through history and contemporary society and therefore the question of "what is art?" looks like a bottom less pit.

Art & Artists in the Ancient World and Middle Ages, Art & Artists in the Renaissance are very different from Art & Artists of the modern world. What is the affect of modernism on art & artist is a highly debatable topic. It throws up issues like whether modernism has led to the end of art. It is an interesting study to see how modernism and politics and postmodernism have affected the art and artists of today.

Discussion of art and the question "what is art?" needs a detailed understanding of the usage, theories and utility of art. It should address the classification disputes, touch upon the controversial art scene and it should weigh the class and value of the art.

There are different forms, genres, mediums and styles for expression of artistic abilities and all these have their own characteristic skills & craft, value judgment models and communication styles.

The various types of commonly accepted artistic expressions are Architecture, Cinematography, Drawing, Erotic art, Music, dance, writing, Painting, Poetry, Sculpture and Photography. There are many more valid types of artistic expression apart from the one mentioned above.

Further the question "what is art?" will not be fully answered and the study of art and artists will remain incomplete if we do not touch in some measure the History of Art, Basic Art concepts & famous artists.

There cannot be a complete definition or answer ever to the question "what is art?" but still we can try to muster up some logical structure based on the following below mentioned points.

Art is-

1. the product of conscious intention with a mix of the unconscious expression,
2. a self rewarding activity but with a mix of larger view of love, empathy and compassion also,
3. a tendency to unite dissimilar things and break down similar things,
4. concerned with change and variety and bringing a stability in change and variety,
5. the aesthetic exploitation of familiarity vs. surprise and the journey into the known vs. unknown,
6. the aesthetic exploitation of tension vs. release and it is a balance between the creative tension vs. the destructive tension.
7. the imposition of order on disorder and a mix of creating disorder from order,
8. the creation of illusions as well as clearing the clouds of illusions,
9. an indulgence in sensuousness or at the other extreme it is a bucket of moral outpourings,
10. the exhibition of skill and craft,
11. a desire to convey meanings as well the desire to hide deeper symbols and expressions,
12. an indulgence in fantasy and also an attempt at bringing the fantasy into reality,
13. the aggrandizement of self or others,
14. illustration,
15. the heightening of existence through the knowledge of eventual destruction
16. revelation and hiding,
17. personal adornment or embellishment,
18. therapy, love, compassion, empathy and healing,
19. the giving of meaning to life knowing the meaninglessness of life,
20. the generation of self conscious experience and superconscious connection,
21. the provision of paradigms of order and/or disorder,
22. and training in the perception of reality by traveling the path of the surreal.

The list can be as long as we can imagine as it has to be said that defining art is just like defining life itself. I think now we can appreciate the depth of the question "what is art?"

What is Art?

For free information and advice on topics and issues related to women, visit http://www.rise-of-womanhood.org

http://www.rise-of-womanhood.org

This site envisions the rise of womanhood in true sense that is the rise of the "essence" of womanhood in the physical, mental, intellectual and the spiritual planes. It calls for the beginning of a campaign for the true rise of women in all spheres of life for the restoration of the balance in nature.

Somewhere we have to make a beginning and it's always better if we make the initiation at our own self. We can strengthen this mass movement for the "rise of womanhood" by bringing about the necessary changes in our own life as felt by our inner self. Further we can transmit the new thinking to others who care to listen. A small step today will definitely lead to a giant leap tomorrow.

Discover Tuscan Metal Wall Art Decorating Ideas

Tuscan metal wall art is an easy and popular way to add a touch
of personality to your home decor. If you are into rustic, country,
French country, Mediterranean, Western, Victorian, Italian or Tuscan; metal wall
art is available to enhance any of these styles of home decor. Read on to discover
how to incorporate metal art accents into your home.

The wrought iron wall crown is in high demand, as it quickly and easily
classes up other wall art. This long, narrow piece of metal wall decor
can accent a framed wall art piece or add a new dimension to a large
wall tapestry. Another application that is very attractive, is to place it above
a wall grouping, to tie it all together. For example, you may have a
small tapestry with a wall clock and add the Tuscan metal wall decor over the pair. Or a metal
wall art crown can add a upscale flair to a grouping of family pictures.
Consider hanging metal wall art above your television, a large
doorway or above a picture window. The unique shape of the metal wall art crown
lends itself to some unique applications in your home decorating arrangements.

\"wall Art\"

Square, metal wall art pieces can be used in with a wall group or in
accent groups with 2 or more like metal decor pieces. Smaller, square
metal wall art pieces can be used on a small wall area just to add some dimension. Or
you may take 2, 3, or 4 coordinating pieces to create a wall grouping. Some-
thing fun and interesting to consider, is to hang some of the metal wall
art pieces at the corner in a diamond shape. If you have a nice size wall,
use a focus piece, such as a wall tapestry, large wall clock or framed art
and place 2 pieces of metal wall art on one side of the focus piece,
hanging one wrought iron piece square and stagger the 2nd wrought iron piece
and hang from the corner, in a diamond shape style. On the other side of
your focus piece, hang just one piece of wrought iron. This piece may be
of the same size as the 2 on the other side or larger, preferably a
rectangular shape metal wall art design. What a stunning, interesting
wall group. And it was all very easy and creates a homey but designer look.

Discover Tuscan Metal Wall Art Decorating Ideas

You just discovered one way to use a rectangular shaped metal wall art piece.
Obviously, this wall art shape can vary in size greatly. An average size Tuscan metal art piece
can hang alone on a wall. You may also make a metal grouping, using rectangular and square
shapes. Rectangular metal wall art is also attractive with floral arrangements,
as the floral wreath or swag will add some color and softness to the metal.
The popular wall pockets would be a great addition to accent a nice rectangular wall art piece.

Again, the wall pockets may be filled with floral for a splash of color and additional texture.
Another trendy look with the wrought iron would be wall sconces. A candle
sconce will add color and new shapes to the wall. One very interesting
idea with the rectangular metal wall art piece you might want to consider is
to hang at an angle. Hang at a pleasing angle over your tv console and
then place a vase on the tabletop. This adds a lot of interest and creativity.
Add one more splash, by scrunching up a table runner under the vase and
let the ends of the runner fall over the edges of the tv cabinet top. I like the idea of using
an interesting vase--maybe with nothing in it,--but also fun would
be a unique canister and tray set, an artsy bowl or a chunky candlestick or
2 or 3--in various heights. Let your imagination go. Just watch your proportions, so one accessory does
not overshadow the other pieces and all items should be of a size to compliment
the tv console.

Large Tuscan metal wall decor has found some great places in today's homes. Whether,
square, round or rectangular, oversized metal wall art pieces, are
great when used as the headboard for your bed, in a room with cathedral
ceilings and on the large wall along your open stairway. The large metal
wall art piece can easily be used alone. But you may want to add a little
something more for added texture, dimension and color. Plus, if your wall is
huge, you can expand the look with a few choice accessory pieces. The 3
accessories that could compliment your large metal art would be candle
wall sconces, wall mirrors or wall pockets. Just remember, that your large
metal wall art will require large accessories. Large, unique wall sconces or
plushly filled wall pockets would be fabulous to add additional texture, color and
dimension. Another thought, if you employ either of these enhancements,
keep the designer look going, by hanging at staggered levels on either side
of your metal wall art. Or you may hang a long, slender mirror and a sconce or
wall pocket along just one side of your metal wall art. One of the keys here,
is that odd number of items are much easier and more pleasing to the eye
in an arrangement.

The style of metal wall art will determine what style of decor it will work best with.
Tuscan, Italian and French style home decor are really enhanced with an aged patina, with
a chunkier, rough look. Some of the most popular, trendy metal wall art is accented with leaf motifs,
and twiggy branch looks--these pieces are great with the Italian, and Country looks.

Some of the Country French decor may demand a lighter color metal
with more intricate design. Country or Nautical decor begs for a simple, antiqued look.
You may want to find some design details that emphasis these looks, such as a rope look,
nautical shapes, seashell motifs or a rivet bolt accent on the metal wall art. The right
metal wall decor piece may be a great accent in a softer, Victorian style room if you
look for more detail, such as curls, scrolls and a lighter weight feel. Keep the piece from
being too chunky.

Discover Tuscan Metal Wall Art Decorating Ideas

This article is provided to you by Belinda Crouse, owner of [http://www.homedecoratingstudio.com] and Cotton Seed Studio. I have a BS degree from South Dakota State University in Textiles and Clothing- Retail. I have been the owner of a gift, craft and home decor business since 1983. I opened Cotton Seed Studio, a home decor, personal product, gift and coffee bar shop, in January 2006. I also do custom design projects, specialty boutiques and have started doing home staging for local realtors. Early in 2007, we introduced our online home decor catalog: [http://www.homedecoratingstudio.com]

Is Graffiti Art?

You can travel almost anywhere in the world, and you will probably see graffiti. Although graffiti art is usually more common in big cities, the reality is that it can occur in almost any community, big or small.

The problem with graffiti art is the question of whether it's really art, or just plain vandalism. This isn't always an easy question to answer, simply because there are so many different types of graffiti. Some is simply a monochrome collection of letters, known as a tag, with little artistic merit. Because it's quick to produce and small, it is one of the most widespread and prevalent forms of graffiti.

Art

Although tagging is the most common type of graffiti, there are bigger, more accomplished examples that appear on larger spaces, such as walls. These are often multicolored and complex in design, and so start to push the boundary of whether they should really be defined as graffiti art.

Is Graffiti Art?

If it wasn't for the fact that most graffiti is placed on private property without the owner's permission, then it might be more recognized as a legitimate form of art. Most graffiti art, however, is only an annoyance to the property owner, who is more likely to paint over it or remove it than applaud its artistic merit.

Many solutions have been put into practice around the world, with varying degrees of success. Paints have been developed that basically cause graffiti paint to dissolve when applied, or else make it quick and easy to remove. Community groups and government departments coordinate graffiti removal teams.

In some places you can't buy spray paint unless you're over 18. Cans of spray paint are locked away in display cases. In a nearby area the local council employs someone to go around and repaint any fences defaced by graffiti. A friend of mine has had his fence repainted 7 times at least, and it took him a while to find out why it was happening! Certainly the amount of graffiti in my local area has dropped substantially in the last year or two, so it appears these methods are working to a great extent.

But is removing the graffiti doing a disservice to the artistic community? Maybe if some of the people behind the graffiti art were taken in hand and trained, they could use their artistic skills in more productive ways. It hardly makes sense to encourage these artists to deface public property, and so commit a crime. But perhaps there are other ways to cooperate with the graffiti artists rather than just opposing them. Graffiti artists can create sanctioned murals for private property owners and get paid for it.

Maybe we need to start at a very basic level, and find a way to encourage the creation of graffiti art on paper or canvas, rather than walls. After all, who would remember Monet or Picasso if they'd created their masterpieces on walls, only to have them painted over the next day? Finding a solution to such a complex situation is never going to be easy, but as more graffiti art is being recognized in galleries around the world, we do need to try.

Is Graffiti Art?

Steve Dolan loves art in various forms and mediums. Find out more about graffiti as an art form at Graffiti and Urban Art [http://www.graffitithis.com] and if you have art that needs framing visit Picture Frames.

Ways To Embellish Your Living Space With Abstract Wall Art

Abstract wall art certainly give you many ways to decorate and express yourself. A large number of those items are unique and express approaches that can be left to opinion. When decorating, you may desire to examine few of different kinds of abstract wall art that are currently accessible all over the internet. This particular article provide you helpful tips that may help you.

The Use Of Metal art - When you choose to use metal as art decor you, will certainly achieve a totally different appearance. For instance, wrought iron can help achieving a rustic appearance to a room. On the other hand, a metal that is smoother and shinier can have soothing effect on the room.

\"Abstract Wall Art\"

Canvas wall art decor - The right canvas can also make the room look large or small. This will depend on the colors, shape and size of the canvas. If you have a small room, it may appropriate to hang a large painting art. This may cause the rest of the room look tiny in comparison. But, a smaller painting picture can add a spacious look to a medium size room. Few people like to hang a mirror opposite of the painting. This can certainly create more than one view of the artwork piece and can certainly make the room appear way larger.

Ways To Embellish Your Living Space With Abstract Wall Art

Considering wall Paintings - Fine art paintings can be a good way to transform the appearance of the room. The perfect shape, size and colors can certainly provide a different look. The truth is If you have a painting picture that is large in a small room, you may cause the entire room look quite crowded and small. For instance, if your goal is to make the room look bigger, you may have to make use of smaller canvas. Consider placing a mirror on the opposite wall as the canvas. This will serve two purposes. It will give your guests an additional angle to look at and the room may look larger.

Sculpture - Sculptures that can be hung on walls can be a focal point of the room. There are so many different shapes and sizes, and it may take some time to finally get the right piece of artwork. When you get a wonderful piece of artwork, you may desire to highlight it with lighting. If you are decorating with a modern or contemporary design, you may choose to use a hanging, ceiling light fixture. It can be put over the sculpture to focus attention on it.

A beautiful sculpture can lend an air of mystery to a room. It may also create a brand-new and clean look. Sometimes, they become excellent conversation pieces. You may have a gathering that is not doing too well. A discussion on your sculpture may help to keep the interest of your guests.

Realism - You may decide to go with a "real world" look. Realism is about depicting things as they actually are, as usual in the third person. An example would be things in a regular basis with no embellishments.

Surrealism - Surrealism can let you use your imagination. You can depict fantasy and unworldly type of scenes. Just anything that is an exaggeration or fantasy can be considered to be surrealistic.

Summary - What type of decorating are you going to choose to do? Abstract wall art can be a key part of several different designs. There are so many different types and mediums that you can choose. Almost any look that you desire can be achieved. You may try to use fine art paintings or hanging sculptures. You can certainly use all types of materials, too. Make your setting look real or surreal. Your imagination may be your only limitation.

Ways To Embellish Your Living Space With Abstract Wall Art

To find out everything about Oil painting art, visit Arold Augustin's website at http://www.great-artworks.com.

Great Abstract Wall Art

Have you ever tried to remember the first time when you found yourself looking at an abstract wall art or an abstract painting? This article is a reflection of some of our own personal and subjective viewpoints and realities as an artist about abstract art with certain references to facts that are in agreement with what we believe our self as to the nature, birth, growth and the evolution of the abstract art outside the boundaries of the esoteric terms of the art academia. As we evolved through our own representational art and became more acquainted with the history of art, we learned that abstract art had its roots in the very early dawn of human history when man began to draw on the walls of his cave. These early abstract wall arts, abstract drawings and abstract paintings - sometimes embellished with organic dies - often attempted to capture the essential nature and the quality of the objects rather than the actual appearance of them.

As the art historians and art critics formulated their opinions and ideas into prints, more esoteric terms spun off the subject under "non-objective art," "non-representational art," and "non-figurative art." In the Western culture, abstract designs are found in many forms. But abstract arts are uniquely distinguished in composition form in relation to decorative art and fine art, where in abstract art, the results of creation, are spontaneous snapshots of the artist's thoughts, emotions, and the introspection by which he creates his artwork.

\"Abstract Wall Art\"

Now, for the sake of simplicity, we could categorize it into only representational art and abstract art. The evolution of art from representational to abstract expressionism required a tremendous level of liberalism and acceptance by those whose help and economic support were instrumental in the survival level of the abstract expressionist painters. In the world of art, where art is traded as a luxury and not a necessity and dependent upon the discretionary money of a few, the arrival of the abstract art in general and in particular abstract expressionism threatened the axles on which the art market was pivoted.

Great Abstract Wall Art

Every good painter paints what he is. Such great artist and contemporary painter from the abstract expressionists group is Robert Rauschenberg. Canvas wall art is an exceptional art that can add beauty and elegance to the most lifeless of wall spaces. When it comes to canvas wall art there is a great deal choice, one of which being the opportunity to pick and use your very own digital photo's and have them transformed into your own special canvas wall art. There is the choice between Landscape and abstract. Abstract wall art is a type of art which can conjure up different ideas and thoughts to individuals, making it open to interpretation. Another guideline that will be helpful to you is have a visit to another write up concerning Paintings Landscape

Great Abstract Wall Art

I am a full-time regarding online marketer, professional on the internet researcher. I really like arts. All sorts of artworks, I really like all of them! Therefore...I created this blog being a guide absolutely help find best wishes artwork.