In Foundations of Art, students study the elements of art including: line, shape, form, color, texture, pattern. A zentangle is a design that can be repeated or transformed into repetitive patterns. Students began by learning how to draw organic shapes which are the animals. We worked on space by cropping the images tight to zoom in on what the student deemed as the most important area. Students worked on contour line drawings to focus on the shapes they were working with. From here, students began to sketch zentangle designs. The back dry erase board became a "never bored board" for students to add to the designs that we began with in the preliminary stages of a project.

Students then chose a color scheme to add to areas of their animal. The materials available were Sharpies, markers, crayons, colored pencils and watercolor paint. By allowing students to add color at their discretion we could discuss how the color has added to the design and how it adds visual interest in the work! Students worked on a large square piece of paper that was 24x24 inches with a focus on positive and negative space!

Arty on! 

Students chose animals for this project that somehow represented themselves. They went through a sketching process to choose the layout they would be using. If their animal was simplified, the students broke the shapes and spaces down similar to a kaleidoscope or stained glass. Students could choose a horizontal or vertical format also. Once students began to think of color, they needed to choose two color schemes: one for the foreground and dominant object (animal) and another for the background and subordinate objects. Students could choose between watercolor, tempera and acrylic paints for the project. Along with the choice of paint, students could use tints and shades of the colors included in the color scheme as well. 

Arty on!