Up Into the Heavens: An Installation

High School Drawing/Painting III students:

Our high school art room was BLAH!  A new semester meant that all of the artwork that previously adorned our walls had been taken home with the first semester students.   The fluorescent lights cast a yellow pall on the dingy white drop ceiling.

We needed a project to spruce up the joint as well as teach drawing & painting skills to a diverse group.  Drawing from numerous historical references, here's what I came up with:

Students were repeatedly instructed that their contribution to the project must use all of the tricks involved in linear and atmospheric/aerial perspective. We did an in-depth review of 1 point linear perspective and the ways to achieve deep space on a 2-D surface (Size, foreshortening, value, overlap, placement).  Because some students in class were accomplished painters, but others had not painted since middle school, we also did some atmospheric perspective  using acrylic paint.

I decided to join in the fun, so as a preliminary step in composing my example ceiling tile, I photographed my own kids from below (Remember: I want my drawing to look like it reaches into the skies above!):

(If I am able to finish my tile, I'll post it later)

STEP 1: Complete as many thumbnail sketches as needed to work through your ideas.  Remember that there has be a profound sense that your image reaches far above.  What can be done to achieve the greatest illusion possible?

STEP 2: Select a tile: Installation artists carefully study the site where the art will be placed.  Does your image belong closer to a light, the windows, the door, or doesn't it make a difference?

STEP 3: Prime your tile!  Luckily, I have leftover primer and donated paint, so this did not deplete my painting supplies.

STEP 4: Use vine charcoal to sketch out a contour drawing.  Blot excess charcoal dust with a damp paper towel to avoid muddying colors later.

 STEP 5: Paint!  Start in the background, working your way into the middle ground and then the foreground.  At this point, I demonstrated keeping a cool base color to mix with all other colors to provide unity and increase the sense of atmosphere.  both unify the painting

 LOOK at the engagement of these kids in their work!  I have never seen anything like it!

 This will be our last week where class time is devoted to the project.  Once completed, I will post pictures of the installation as well as a complete lesson plan with rubric.  Keep looking up!!!