We know there are so many ways to make art and artists use a wide range of materials (art mediums). How artists use their skills (-your ability to do something) with the materials is called technique. Let's look at some art techniques in each studio.

Look at the many techniques this artist used. Can you name a few? Maybe you have used some of these methods in your art.

Do you see paper weaving?

Sgraffito in the sky.

And overlapping collage.

Starting in the Drawing Studio, what techniques can you identify in the art works below?

DRAWING STUDIO

This technique uses many tiny dots to color in a work of art. This technique can be done in drawing or painting.

Stippling or Pointillism.

Cross Hatching
intersecting lines shade the object. The lines criss cross to create dark, medium and light values.

*(4th and 5th)

Perspective--with a vanishing point on the horizon line, the artist uses a ruler to create vanishing lines that make the artwork appear to go back into the space.

PAINTING STUDIO

Can you name two watercolor techniques in this landscape?

Dry Brush and Wet on Wet watercolor.
A dry brush with paint creates textured lines and wet paint on wet paint fuses into the wet paper creating a soft flowing effect.

Oil pastel resist
What do you know about oil and water? The oil pastel repels the watercolor paint. The oil pastel line drawing shows through the paint. This works with watercolor paint.

Salt and Watercolor
a small sprinkle of salt on watercolor --this primarily works on watercolor. The salt absorbs the moisture creating a speckled effect.

What is the technique called that involves scratching through
one layer of paint to reveal another underneath?

Sgrafitto.

COLLAGE STUDIO

Torn Paper Collage

Notice the texture the torn paper creates in the sky and mountains. The soft torn paper texture helps create which part of the owl?

Cut Paper Collage

Scissors create a straight smooth edge to a collage. Quite different than the texture of torn paper. Cutting or tearing will give your art a different look or feel.

Mixed Media Collage

Add Something besides paper.

Use fabric, ribbon, yarn, corrugated cardboard, plastic and foam shapes. These materials will give your art texture and interest.

PRINTMAKING STUDIO

Paint on the bubble wrap and press it where you want dots to appear on your paper.

Bubble Wrap Print

Styrofoam Printmaking

a design is made by indenting a foam sheet and then transferred to paper using ink.

SCULPTURE STUDIO

SLIT is a great technique to join cardboard. And look what a little paint can do for a sculpture. Try using kwik sticks or tempera paint in the egg carton.

CLAY STUDIO

In the clay studio we learn 3 basic techniques.

Which technique was used to create the owl plant holder and the snowman dish?

Pinch Pot.

Rolling clay into long round cylinder pieces will give you this ceramic technique. It would be a great method to make a handle on a mug. Which technique did the artist use?

Coil!