Handwritten Drawings
Hopes and fears. We all have them. Ninth grade students in the
Global Studies Visual Arts (GSVA) classes learned to use art as a
form of expressing them. e end result of the drawing project
is a photograph of the students' hands covered with hand-drawn
simple or elaborate patterns and words that reflect their hopes and
fears. In order to get to this final product, ninth graders studied a
series of artistic methods and artists to better understand identity
expression through art.
Early in the semester, the students examined lines as a means of
expression: Smooth lines are more calming, while jagged lines
can imply agitation or stress. ey connected this with early cave
painting, as early art was expressive mark-making with symbols
and simplified representations of everyday objects. Another
artistic method the students engaged with was Zentangle designs,
otherwise known as drawings of structured patterns. Zentangles
urge the mind to draw freely and let lines and shapes emerge
unintentionally. en students were inspired by the work of
African artist Laolu Senbanjo, who worked with patterns and
simple line drawings to make art on objects. He then connected
his work with tattoo art (as he had seen on his grandmother) by
painting on the arms and faces of people.
AROUND SCHOOL
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