Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Layering and Learning through Light






Experimenting with color in different ways can allow an artist to gain new perspectives, both when viewing others' creations and when making a piece on one's own.  Using projectors, these young artists were able to layer different shapes to see how resulting hues looked more or less vivid.







This artist chose to carefully outline the designs and patterns that he saw.  He viewed the projected images as a whole and wanted to emphasize certain features of a face.  Completing the drawing and then taking away the colored shapes, the artist realized even more objects and scenes were hidden in his drawing.






Similar to the layers of plastic discs and molds that were portrayed brightly onto the wall, so too were layers of imagery showing up on the paper itself.  Seeing how these layers existed even after the light was turned off enabled the children to learn the different ways that an artwork can be produced and the different ways it can be subsequently viewed, in various lights or environments.  







Continuing to arrange different patterns, the artists designed their drawing and followed through with their plan to depict what was shown.  Others included some ideas of their own to create a story, adding specific animals or characters that to came mind in with the shapes and colors that were being offered visually, right in front of their eyes.  Incorporating both the concrete and the abstract in this way, the young artists' brains start to function more complexly.  Building layers of color and imagery in real life leads to building layers of thought and emotion within one's inner being.  








This then facilitates problem-solving and deeper understanding, as one learns to more easily sort through those layers.  Learning through light in this way also promotes a meaningful experience with others, encouraging both independent work and social interaction.  These young artists are continuing to show us how they are progressing in all of these areas of positive growth and development.  

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