Submitted
by: Lotte Petricone, –
Clarkstown Central School District, New York
Activity/Unit:
Notan Collages - "Expanding the Square"
Grade:
6 (adaptable elementary through high school)
See
Elementary below Notan Name
Design (below)
Lesson Extension: Notan Masks
Examples are from Madison
Middle School - Larry Prescott Teacher. Designs can be
symmetrical, asymmetrical - simple to complex. All are pleasing.
Also good lesson for
organic shape/biomorphic shape - geometric shape.
Click images to see larger views
|
Rationale
for Teaching Lesson:
Introduction
to Notan, the Japanese word for the interaction between dark
and light. Creating
a black and white collage out of a simple square, and
learning about positive and negative space.
|
Lesson
Objectives:
|
|
1.
To learn about Notan.
|
|
2.
To learn about positive and negative space.
|
|
3.
To use a simple square and all the negative cuttings to
create a collage, which will inspire a mask.
|
|
4.
To understand about symmetry and asymmetry, and the
Principle of Design, Balance.
|
|
5.
To understand the Elements of Art: Space and Shape (Positive
and Negative).
|
Essential
Understanding:
-
Good design has a
balance of light and dark.
-
Using the Notan
concept of light and dark enhances design.
-
Craftsmanship is
essential to good design.
|
New
York State Learning Standards:
Standard
1:
Students will actively engage in the processes that
constitute creation and performance in the arts and
participate in various roles in the arts.
Standard
2:
Students will be knowledgeable about and make use of the
materials and resources available for participation in the
arts in various roles.
Standard
3:
Students will respond critically to a variety of works in
the arts, connecting the individual to other works and to
respond to other aspects of human endeavor and thought.
Standard
4:
Students will develop and understanding of the personal and
cultural force that shape artistic communication and how the
arts in turn shape the diverse cultures of past and present
society.
|
How
the Standards are addressed in this lesson:
|
|
1.
Creation of a Notan collage.
|
|
2.
Exhibit
craftsmanship in cutting and gluing - awareness of Japanese
culture (ideal of perfection and neatness)
|
|
3. Looking at and discussing Notan collages.
|
|
4.
Understanding of Japanese Notan a guiding principle of
Eastern art and design.
|
|
|
|
Lesson
Procedures:
Lesson
Segments:
|
Resources
below
Materials:
|
|
1.
Discussion of PP of Notan examples.
|
1.
PP presentation, Notan note sheet
|
|
2.
Demo of collage creation, creation of rubric.
|
2.
White paper, 12 x 18, Black squares cut to size 5” x5”,
Elmer’s Glue, xeroxes of rubric.
|
|
3.
Independent work on collages – students make 2.
|
3.
Artist Statement xeroxes
|
|
4.
Artist Statement & grading of art.
|
|
|
Segment
1: Discussion
of PP of Notan examples.
Teaching
Style:
Guided
Practice Use
PP presentation to introduce the principle of Notan and the
collage project.
Independent
Practice
Assessment
Method: Verbal
Modifications:
|
Segment
2: Demo of collage creation, creation of rubric.
Teaching
Style:
Guided
Practice
Demo
collage cutting:
o
Fold paper in half once (either diagonal or
rectangular).
o
Cut pieces out and arrange on a larger piece of white
paper – ALL PIECES MUST BE USED.
Discuss ways to cut smoothly and easily.
o
Discuss Balance and Symmetry throughout demo.
o
Give out paper clips and envelopes to save pieces –
no pieces are to be glued until everything is cut and
arranged.
o
Next class, demo gluing, emphasis on NEAT.
After
students have worked for a class period, develop rubric with
students.
Independent
Practice
Cut collages.
Assessment
Method: Rubric
Modifications:
|
|
Segment
3: Independent work on collages – students make at least
two.
Teaching
Style:
Independent
Practice
After rubric is made, class critique, then finish collage.
Students make 2 collages, choose one to grade.
Assessment
Method: Rubric and written Artist Statement
Modifications:
|
Segment
4: Artist Statement & grading of art.
Teaching
Style:
Guided
Practice Go
over Artist Statement, it’s uses, format, organizer and
rubric.
Independent
Practice Students
begin work on Statement in class, finish for hw, 2 days
time.
Assessment
Method: Rubric
Modifications:
|
|
Lesson Extension:
Find examples of "Notan"
(balance of light and dark in fine art). Read the article by
Sharon Himes, "Notan:
Design in Light and Dark".
Find examples of art you admire and change them to high
contrast photos for illustrative purposes to show how the
artist has balanced light and dark. Examples in the article
may not be suitable for your student population.
Have
students look at and discuss the examples you present.
Challenge them to find more examples (on line or in their
text books). This extension will address National Standards
4 and 5 more in-depth.
"Notan was a term lifted from the
study of Japanese design by Arthur Dow. A book written for
art educators using Notan as a major concept was popular in
the early 1900's and influenced artists and teachers like
Georgia O'Keeffe." ~ Woody Duncan. Look for evidence of
Notan in Georgia O'Keeffe's work.
|
Assessment: (simple
rubric - this is not the rubric Lotte used)
|
NAME:
|
grade:
|
PROJECT:
Notan
Masks
|
|
CRITERIA
(What
was expected)
|
Excellent
|
Good
|
Average
|
Needs
Improvement
|
Failed
|
|
Showed
skill with media-craftsmanship
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
Was
organized / creative
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
Understands
pos/neg space - design concepts
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
Effort:
Took time to complete project, good use of class time.
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
Participation:
Attitude
and Behavior (in class)
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
Total: 25 Points
|
Your
score:
|
Point
Average:
|
Grade:
|
Web links for
Notan
(more links below)
The
Artist's Toolkit - Positive and Negative Space
The
Artist's Toolkit AGAIN - this time, Shape
The
Romare Bearden Foundation - and excellent source!
WebMuseum
on Matisse
Submitted by: Lin
Altman, Cedar Creek Elementary Texas
Unit: Design - Positive/Negative Space
Lesson: Notan -
Expanding the Square
Grade level: Elementary thru High school
Click for larger image
"Notan" is the ancient Japanese art form that uses positive
and negative space. Cedar Creek art students studied these techniques
before creating these amazing designs.
Art Cloth Studios- Expansion of the Square:
http://www.artclothstudios.com/Tips-Techniques/Expanded/expanded.html
See Notan, by Dorr Bothwell and Marlys Mayfield.
ISBN 0-486-26856-X
Sharp scissors are needed. Bunki Kramer suggests that you have some
tweezers handy for the kids as it's very tedious to glue small pieces (Bunki's
student work was more intricate that the work above).
Helpful Links:
Book - Notan: The Dark-Light Principle of Design
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/048626856X/102-0287640-8075300?v=glance
Some examples -Santa Rosa Junior College:
http://www.santarosa.edu/art/art3/notan-web/
http://www.santarosa.edu/art/art3/notan-sp03-web/FrameSet.htm
See
the Cardboard masks from Santa Rosa!
Project 4 3D NOTAN MASK by John Watrous:
1. Cut a perfect square of cardboard, about 12-14" square (turn the
square like a diamond)
2. Score and fold this square from corner to corner
3. Using ideas, simplified from your work with Notan activities done
earlier, but without such tight limits, make an ATHROPOMORPHIC MASK with
some movable parts.
Notan mask designs (slide changes every 10 seconds):
http://www.santarosa.edu/art/art3/notan-masks-f02/
Here they created corrugated cardboard masks from their designs:
http://www.santarosa.edu/art/art3/notan-masks-sp03-web/FrameSet.htm
pdf file - student handout:
http://www.santarosa.edu/art/art3/notan.pdf
Bunki Kramer's student work:
http://www.lcms.srvusd.k12.ca.us/NEWKramer/Notanfolder/NOTAN.htm
Larry
Prescott's student work:
http://mms.d321.k12.id.us/webart/html/student%20work/notan.html
You can find more examples by entering Notan in a Google image search.
Notan:
Design in Light and Dark by Sharon Himes
Here is another design project to consider - Type Collage:
http://www.santarosa.edu/art/art3/type-web/
good for middle school through
high school.
Note from Woody Duncan:
If I remember my
"History of Art Education" correctly, Notan was featured in Art
Education
text books written by Wesley Dow which were studied and used by Georgia
O'Keeffe in her days as an art teacher in Texas. History does repeat
itself. I would also suggest that teachers interested in Notan check out
Chinese paper cutting and the Polish art of Wycinanki.
http://acweb.colum.edu/users/agunkel/homepage/polxmasw.html
Notan from Robert Genn's Twice Weekly Letter - The
Painter's Key
Notan is a Japanese word that means
"lightness-darkness." It represents one of the basic
principles that help compositions stick to the wall. Notan has
nothing to do with local or chosen colour. It's the ability to see
things in terms of black and white, and to consequently build strength in
imagery. When compositions work in black and white--they work.
Whether they put a name to it or not, artists in all cultures have long
recognized the value of notan. Devices have been invented to look
for and find it. The "Claude glass" is a convex, black
glass used to reflect a landscape in a reduced size with muted colours and
less detail. The French painter Claude Lorraine (1600-1683) is
thought to have invented it. While the odd one is still seen among
"plein air" painters, the more common approach is to view work
with half-closed eyes--or to get way back. Another system is to view
art and subjects through generally blue or green camera filters or gels.
But more than anything notan is a learned skill. For those of us who
struggle daily at the painting game--the enemy is "wishy-washy,"
and the desired object is to yin and yang with the viewer's sensibilities.
In the words of Junichiro Tanizaki: "Find beauty not only in the
thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which
that thing provides."
There are two types of notan--planned notan and developmental notan.
Planned notan is often figured out in a preparatory sketch, or is
"ready made" in the subject matter. Developmental notan is
where you find notan--indeed you make notan--as you go along. Notan
is also a matter of degree--it can be a strong, interactive pattern with
negative and positive, even an eye-fooling optical illusion. In
abstract work the job of finding notan can be the main joy and source of
magic. In more realistic work it can be a skittish but nevertheless
satisfying pattern discovered and built during the process. Tuned-in
artists find themselves saying: "This is good notan." An
exercise that never hurt anybody is to simply plan and calculate good
notan into a work--then make sure it stays put.
Best regards,
Robert Genn
PS: "Notan is a synthetic arrangement of dark and light that creates
an impression of beauty, regardless of either the colors used or of the
subject matter. A strong notan design is therefore the key to a
strong painting. Without it, both color and line fail to reach their
full impact. Many of the most powerful paintings have the simplest value
structures. That is to say, they only use two, three, or four major
values." (Barry John Raybould)
Esoterica: Very often the quality of a work can slip because artists
simply fail to work things out in the best order. A carefully drawn
and even beautifully prepared work may, for example, have poor notan.
Never forget that drawing and line can be the enemies of pattern.
"Think pattern first, then drawing, then color. The character
of your painting is resolved in the pattern." (Edgar A. Whitney)
(c) Copyright 2004 Robert Genn. (reprinted here with permission).
Submitted
by Michael Gerrish
UNIT: Notan - Positive/negative shape
Lesson: Notan Name Design- expanding the square
 |
Use any
color of construction paper - square or rectangle.
This lesson begins much the
same way as "expanding the square". Student use
stylized letters for the name. Break up letters with more
lines.
Cut letters with scissors
or X-acto knives. Mount background square on contrasting
paper. Fold some shapes back and secure with glue. Bend
some shapes up and secure with glue to create a 3-D
effect. |
|
