Coming up is International Dot Day. September 15th -ish
Many of you are familiar with Peter Reynolds' book, The Dot. Think about the message in The Dot, why would a Dot have its own day?
International Dot Day takes place to Celebrate Creativity,
Courage & Collaboration!
Imagine the power and potential of millions of people around the world connecting, collaborating, creating and celebrating all that creativity inspires and invites. Today you will be using your talents, gifts and energy to move the world to a better place, you will MAKE YOUR MARK!
Before we get started, Let's look at some artists that used Dots to "make their mark".
Yayoi Kusama is one of the world’s most influential artists with endless energy for creation with colors, patterns, art installation and love for fashion.Since the age of ten, she has been obsessed with polka dots, at first covering her drawings, then later canvases, walls, household objects and even her assistants in them.Known for her iconic dots, pumpkins and infinity rooms, her art has captivated millions all over the world
Yayoi Kusama "Love Is Calling"
Some artists use large dots and some go small....like George Seurat and other artists that use the technique we call Pointillism. When an artist paints with dots of paint rather than long brushstrokes of paint we call this Pointillism. Dots of color side by side visually mix as you view the art
Parade de cirque
Detail from Seurat's Parade de cirque, 1889, showing the contrasting dots of paint which define Pointillism
Vassily Kandinsky filled his art with shapes. Vassily has many paintings filled with circles. A circle is really just a big dot!
wassily kandinsky circles in a circle 1923
Vassily Kandinsky, 1926 - Several Circles
Let's look at a few more...
Almas Thomas painted colorful circles filled with bold colors inspired by the hues in her garden. I see a dot. Do you?
Alma Thomas, The Eclipse, 1970
Alma Thomas, Springtime in Washington, 1971
Lunar Rendezvous—Circle of Flowers Alma Thomas1969
Roy Lichtenstein created works in the style of comic books. His images are filled with dots of color like the ink of printed comics
Roy Lichtenstein, Crying Girl
Roy Lichtenstein was famous for his bright and bold paintings of comic strip cartoons as well as his paintings of everyday objects. He was one of a group of artists making art in the 1960s who were called pop artists because they made art about 'popular' things such as TV, celebrities, fast food, pop music and cartoons.
Explosion 1965–6
Roy wanted his paintings to look like they were printed rather than hand-painted and he used a newspaper process invented by Benjamin Day, an American illustrator, of printing shades of color with tiny dots, Ben-Day dots.
Howardena Pindell (April 14, 1943) is an abstract artist from Philadelphia, PA. After studying painting in college, she worked at the Museum of Modern Art, and currently teaches at the State University of New York.
Howardena Pindell, Untitled 6F, 2008-9, mixed media on paper collage
Howardena is best known for her abstract collages made of layered paper dots. To create her collages she uses a process known as destruction/reconstruction. What do you think this means?
Caption Howardena Pindell, Untitled #4D, 2009
Untitled #88 (Dragon)’ (2007)
Your Turn:
Kindergarten
Linear oil pastel resist
First Grade
Monochromatic Collage
Second Grade
3D folded paper circles
Third Grade
Concentric circles
Fourth Grade
Zentangle Dots on colorful paper
Fifth Grade
Analogous Color mixing
We will put all our dots together to create a collaborative mural inspired by Art with Mrs. E and her talented students.
This year I hope you discover the power and potential of creativity in all you do!
Raise your hand if you have seen these books before?
These books are in our Meramec library! You may have even checked one out or have them on your bookshelf at home. One of the reasons you might recognize them is by their colorful COLLAGED illustrations by Award Winning (2016 Caldecott Honoree, Newbery Medal winner) Illustrator Christian Robinson.
Let's find out more about this artist and his creative process.
What first made you excited about art?
As a child, I loved making things: drawings, paintings, sculpture, anything I could get my hands on. Creativity allowed me to be in charge, to make my own rules, and create my own little world on paper.Where do you find inspiration for your illustrations?
Epic question! So many things inspire me: children’s book illustration and graphic art from the ‘50s and ‘60s, nature, simplicity, cities, children’s art, animation, fine art, music … I could keep going.
What does your workspace look like?
I work in an old warehouse that’s been converted into a shared artist studio.What materials do you most like to use?
I love working in collage. Last Stop on Market Street was produced using a mix of paint and collage. Other books I’ve illustrated like The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade, written by Justin Roberts, were created in colored pencil. I have the most fun by experimenting and trying all sorts of different mediums and techniques.What design resources would you recommend to young artists?
Not sure if this is a design resource, but I’m obsessed with Pinterest and collecting images that inspire me. The best design resource would have to be a museum or library though. That’s where I go when I need to recharge and find a spark of inspiration.
Think about how what Christian Robinson just said connects with the idea of the creativity bank account we talked about at the beginning of the year. Look how Christian Robinson surrounds himself with inspiration. Do you keep an inspiration board in your current studio space?
Yes!
What’s the best name for a color that you’ve ever heard?
Pleased as Punch; it’s a very happy red.
Artists have many reasons for creating art. Listen for some of the reasons Christian creates? Listen for how he get started with his drawings?
Does his start remind you of our skill-builder thumbnails. As you think about yourself as an ARTIST.... How might you tell a story with your pictures? Is collage a way for you to express an idea?
Since the age of ten, she has been obsessed with polka dots, at first covering her drawings, then later canvases, walls, household objects and even her assistants in them.
Known for her iconic dots, pumpkins and infinity rooms, her art has captivated millions all over the world
