Lesson 1: Finding Your Idea
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A Concentration is like a wagon wheel. The topic is the middle. 12 spokes poke out from it, 12 artworks connected to the topic. Students make an artwork and then return back to the topic to make the next one. They all match.
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A Sustained Investigation is like a tree branch. Student asks a question that he/she then investigates via the artwork. From one piece to the next the inquiry (line of questioning) evolves. He/She does not know where the line of inquiry may lead.
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Synthesis of Idea + Material+ Process
Answer these three questions to determine your concentration.
1. What Idea are you going to investigate/what is your concentration expressing or studying?
2. What style/ elements/ principles of art will you use to investigate/express/study that?
3. What materials will best allow you to do that?
2. What style/ elements/ principles of art will you use to investigate/express/study that?
3. What materials will best allow you to do that?
*It is best if you try to do something that you think about all of the time or something you are interested in. I would download pinterest and start searching topics and styles that you like. A lot of students happen to choose something that involves human faces but you can consider subjects like objects, animals, landscapes, figure drawing, and etc. You cannot study just realism. It needs to be more than that. Some of the examples below use realism but it is not about realism...
The donuts and lipsticks are beyond realism because this is a study of luxury or desire through the use of repetition and realism. In other words, this is a study of desire and the realism/repetition is the means to express that.
This is the study of wealth through the use of gold specks, landscapes, and mark making
This is the study of active environments through the focal point of color and abundance of objects and line
This is the study of merging fashion with the elegance of nature through the combination of figure drawing and natural elements.
This is the study of the charm of farm life through the use of color and mark making
This is the study of the charm of farm life through the use of a focal point of color
This is the study of the charm of farm life through the combination of animals and plants
This is the study of the charm of farm life through the use of odd compositions on old wood
This is the study of the charm of farm life through the use of saturated color, and combining animals with childlike clothing/activities.
Study of merging animals with human activities through the use of a surreal combination of objects and animals
Three main areas you can investigate:
A Concept:
When the idea is most important to you
Example: My concentration investigates a variety of approaches to express anger.
Example: My concentration investigates a variety of approaches to express anger.
Traditional Ideas:
When you are most concerned with building traditional skill:
Example: Focus is on still lifes and how lighting can affect the mood.
Example: Focus is on still lifes and how lighting can affect the mood.
Unique Application of Materials:
When you investigate a unique and interesting way to apply materials. Example below by Callen Schaub :
Examples of a sustained investigation:
When looking at the examples below try to figure out if they were investigating a concept, a material, or a more traditional study. Also look at how well they formed a synthesis between process, materials, and ideas.
concentration_sample.pdf | |
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selected_works_sample.pdf | |
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How does the Idea, Material, and Process all relate in your sustained investigation?
After the classroom critiques complete the following:
GUIDING QUESTIONS
FOR YOUR SUSTAINED INVESTIGATION
FOR YOUR SUSTAINED INVESTIGATION
- Brainstorm: List thoughts, ideas, personal issues you are drawn to. If it’s an emotion, try to focus on one.
- Brainstorm: List materials or styles that you are drawn to. Choose your favorite material, process (technique or way of gathering ideas), and idea. They should all relate or work together.
- Is your inspiration driven by the material, process, or idea?
- What idea or topic do you want to investigate? - Ex: Environmental issues, on the inside, etc.
- What subject could I use? - Ex: Metaphors, people, places, things, animals, and etc.
- What style/process/elements/principles are you going to use that relates to that idea? Describe how it relates to you. - Ex. Neg. space, abstract, dripping paint, and etc.
- What materials will you use to help convey that idea? How do the materials relate to your idea? - Ex. Charcoal because it fades away which relates to….
- Guiding questions: What questions do you have that you need to figure out? - Ex. What environmental issues can I investigate? How can I visually show the feeling of loss through the elements and principles of art?
- What is your concentration about and what are you going to do artistically to express that?
- Draw Thumbnails of the future artwork starting on page 20: What consistent changes are you making from work to work? What stays the same?
Things to consider:
Should the artwork be similar or show variety?
- Your artwork can look similar with small shifts in experimentation under the same concept or
- Your artwork can branch out as long as it falls under the same idea
- Your artwork can look similar with small shifts in experimentation under the same concept or
- Your artwork can branch out as long as it falls under the same idea