High School Drawing and Painting
Surrealistic Pen and Ink Montage
Rebecca A. Shampine, Indian
River High School, Philadelphia, New York
Grade Level: Middle School thru High School
Surreal Still Life - below
Edward Gorey Images - lesson below by Judi
Morgan
Surrealism Collage and Painting for Middle School
I have found the
surrealist experiment to be a hit with the boys (aged 12-13). They are at
the awkward stage when most will give up art any day if given the choice, so
I tend to think of projects that do not require much in terms of drawing
skills. I limit the technicalities to a few skills at a time, without
placing much emphasis on it. I try to make the boys see that are is more
than just being able to draw, that there are big ideas behind art,
especially modern art. I present it to them in as simple a way as possible
and most enjoy it and get something out of it. I also do cubism and abstract
expressionism with the same year group. It is very much a matter of balance
(like everything else we do!). I want them to develop formal art skills but
I want the kids to enjoy it as much as possible. From Charlot Cassar, Malta
Materials:Assorted magazines, Scissors
, X-acto Knives,
Rubber Cement
(or other non toxic adhesive),
Tag Board
(or Posterboard for collage -
choice of size), Quality
Drawing Paper (12 x 18 (30.5 x 46 cm) or size of choice),
Drawing Pencils,
India Ink, quill tip Pens,
Crow Quill Pens.
Resources: Surrealism, Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte and others.
This lesson is designed for my Drawing and Painting Class, grades 10
- 12. Student create a work in two media. The first is a surreal collage from magazine
sources, the second is a drawing from the collage.
- Students took part in a discussion about Surrealism. Artists
such as Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte were discussed.
- Students
were allowed to look through magazines and newspapers for interesting objects
and images to help them create a surrealistic collage. Theme was important.
Elements and principles of design were reviewed. (9" x 12" would
be a good size -- or 12" x 18").
- Students were also involved in a discussion about pen and ink
techniques, such as pointillism/stippling, scumbling, hatching, and cross-hatching.
-
Students experimented with the techniques
- Using pencil, students enlarged all - or a portion- of their collage on Strathmore drawing paper.
- Students then began to create their Surrealistic montage in various
pen and ink techniques.
- Students were also required to mat their
drawings when finished.
- A critique of the pen and ink drawings
took place when they were finished. Students discussed how successful
they felt the Surrealism was achieved and what they could do to enhance
their work.
One of the drawings you see here won a first place and the other
won a second place at our local art show this year.
Books
Salvador Dali 2v
- Painter, sculptor, writer, and filmmaker, Salvador Dali was one of the century's greatest exhibitionists and eccentrics and was rewarded with fierce controversy wherever he went.
The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Salvador Dali (Adventures in Art)
- This lively and fun introduction to Dali’s life and art focuses on eleven masterpieces, inviting readers to explore their imagination as they discover the works of the great artist.
Rene Magritte 1898-1967: Thoughts Rendered Visible (Basic Art)
- The illustrations in this work constitute a comprehensive catalogue of the visible thought of the artist.
Magritte
- The late David Sylvester was the curator of several exhibitions of the work of René Magritte, including the widely acclaimed retrospective at the Tate Gallery in 1969, and he earned a reputation as the foremost expert of Magritte's work.
Surreal Still Life
View "Still Life - Fast
Moving" by Salvador Dali
Here is info on the work:
http://salvadordalimuseum.org/
http://www.salvador-dali.org/
You can order a high quality
print of this image.
Also see "Personal Values" by Rene Magritte
Here is the lesson idea.... Students can create their own kind of surreal still
life from magazine collage - then render the collage as realistically as they
can (try grid enlargement if needed - or even tracing paper overlay to get
shapes in right place) - adding in shadows/highlights to enhance illusion -
using pencil - or colored pencils (or whatever medium they choose).
More Dali Still life to locate:
Still Life by the Light of the Moon
Some early Dali still life:
http://salvadordalimuseum.org/
Enter Dali still life in Google images for more.
Submitted by: Judi Morgan
UNIT:
DRAWING
- Surrealism
Lesson:
“Edward Gorey” Images - Edward Gorey Meets Rene Magritte
Time: 15- 45 minute class sessions
Click to see larger images
Content
Standard:
- Understanding
and applying media, techniques, and processes
- Choosing
and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols,
and ideas
- Understanding
the visual arts in relation to history and
cultures
- Reflecting
upon and assessing the characteristics and merits
of their work and the work of others.
Student
Objectives:
- Compare
two methods of creating story or theme within an
image
- Introduction
to surrealism and illustration
- Combine
multiple unrelated images into single composition
with subtle message or theme
- Experiment
with pen and ink techniques inspired by
illustrator, Edward Gorey
- Create
a visual language for texture and value
Related
Learning Component:
- Historical:
Surrealism by other artists
- Studio
Production: Surreal composition from magazine
images using micro pens
- Subject
Matter Integration: Math
skills (measurement – using ruler)/ Language
arts skills (writing)/ Social studies
(world events of the time)
Motivational/Anticipatory
Set:
- What
do the images by Rene Magritte and Edward Gorey
have in common?
- They
are both using image to communicate a theme or
story
- What
is different about them?
- Rene
Magritte
- utilized symbolism and surrealism
- color
- paint/painting…
- Edward
Gorey
- utilized
illustration and humor
- black
and white
- ink/drawing…
- How
might we use elements from each of these artists
to create an image?
- ink
drawing that includes textural feel of Gorey
illustrations and Surrealism
Activity:
Day
1:
Introduction to project
Examples and evaluation through discussion of
the work of each artist
Go over handout that explains the project
Question and clarification
Day
2: Students begin searching for images of interest
Day
3-5 Students combine/manipulate/arrange chosen images
into final composition and glue to mat board
Day
6: Students
border final paper and begin to create contour drawing
of image
Day
7-13: Students work toward completion of drawing
Day
14: Students mat their work, complete their
evaluations and responses
Day
15: Class
critique. Image,
evaluations and responses turned in.
Instructional
Strategies:
- Initial-
Creating value/textures with
micro pens
- Extending-
Adding color to image, either through colored pen or
watercolor wash.
Materials:
Procedure:
- Find
6 images in magazines/on Internet that you find
interesting.
- They
MUST have a variety of textures
(smooth/grainy/rough/sharp/glassy/wet,etc)
- They
must have variety in size.
- Choose some that can be used vertically and some
that can be used horizontally in your
composition
- The
must have variety in value
- Choose three to
create a surrealistic image
- Rank
the images in order of preference.
- What
image is the most important to you?
- How
important do you want it to be to the
composition?
- Realize
that we can re-size and manipulate images on
Photoshop
- Consider
what and where your focal point is placed
- Make
visually interesting and effective use of
positive and negative space
- Glue
composition down to mat board
- Sketch
the composition on 9 x 12 paper that has a 1”
border drawn onto it.
- Contour
lines only – NO value
- Using
the techniques for creating texture and for
filling space that Edward Gorey uses, plan how you
will complete a “Gorey” image.
- You
MUST fill all areas of the shapes (white areas
must represent brightest light only)
- It
MUST make sense (that is the texture chosen must
work with the specific object)
- There
MUST be definite space/value distinction
- Complete
image and mat according to class requirements.
Self-evaluation/response.
Assessment:
Assessment
Rubric |
Student Name:
|
Class Period: B |
Assignment:
“Edward Gorey Meets Rene Magritte” |
Date Completed: |
Circle
the number in
pencil that best shows how well you
feel that you completed that criterion
for the assignment. |
Excellent |
Good |
Average |
Needs
Improvement |
Rate
Yourself |
Teacher’s
Rating |
Criteria 1 – Preparation-
Collection
of 6 images (minimum)- variety of
textures/values/scale
3
(minimum) final images arranged in
visually interesting composition
(Photoshop if necessary) that creates a
subtle message or theme.
Sketchbook
page filled with a wide variety of
textures and values created with pen and
ink (exploration of Gorey styles)
|
10-8 |
7-5 |
4-3 |
2-1 |
|
|
Criteria 2 – Process-
One
inch border created on final paper
Accurate
CONTOUR drawing of final combined images
Thoughtful
choices for textural language
|
10-8 |
7-5 |
4-3 |
2-1 |
|
|
Criteria 3- Presentation-
Matting
completed correctly (3-3-3 31/2, bevel
showing and consistent, cuts clean,
outside edges bevel-free) and neat
Image
and mat are neat and clean
Unnecessary
pencil lines are removed
|
10-8 |
7-5 |
4-3 |
2-1 |
|
|
Criteria 4– Effort-
Took
time to develop idea & complete
project? (Didn’t rush.) Good use of
class time
Willingness
to work through difficult areas
Proper
clean up/storage of materials
Energy
and focus went toward project
|
10-8 |
7-5 |
4-3 |
2-1 |
|
|
Criteria 5– Craftsmanship –
Neat,
clean & complete. Skillful use of
the art tools & media.
Effective
use of positive and negative space
Wide
variety of textural language
Wide
variety of values
Combined
images work together well
|
10-8 |
7-5 |
4-3 |
2-1 |
|
|
Criteria 6 – Assessment-
Active
participation in discussion/critique
Self
evaluation and response thoughtfully and
honestly completed
Response
is typed
|
10-8 |
7-5 |
4-3 |
2-1 |
|
|
Total
Possible: 60 |
|
|
|
|
YOUR TOTAL |
Grade |
EVALUATION
– RESPONSE
1.
What was the most difficult aspect of this project?
2.
What problems did you encounter while working on this
project?
3.
How did you resolve these problems?
4.
What area of your image do you feel is most successful?
Explain.
5.
What area of your image do you feel is least successful?
Explain.
6.
Is there anything you learned from this project?
If so, what?
7.
If you did this project again, what would you do
differently or what would you like to explore as an extension of
the project?
8.
Describe the message/theme that you are expressing within
your image.
9.
How did you arrive at this solution for your image?
10.
On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being highest, please rate this
project on the following:
- Interesting
challenge
- Adequate
instruction
- Adequate
time to complete
- Proper
tools/materials
- Skill
building
- Creative
possibilities
