Tuesday, October 28, 2025

They did what....?

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!




Consider technique and combining more than one method in your artwork.



Get creative and brave! Use a technique you haven't tried out in your art yet.  




Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Cover It Up!

TAB artists use a lot of cardboard in the Sculpture Studio. Cardboard is a wonderful material to construct and build with. Let's look at how artists use art mediums to transform cardboard.

There are many ways to transform or change the appearance of cardboard, here are some ways you might try:





Try painting the cardboard in solid colors or patterns.  This can be done before or after you construct.



Before and After.  Notice the difference a little paint can make.   

Look at these painted animals.  They are painted. Which attachment technique did the artist use?



Here are a few more painted cardboard works.




What if you wrap cardboard in yarn?




What did this artist use to cover the cardboard? 

 If you guessed crayons or oil pastels, you got it.  Try coloring your cardboard art with crayons and oil pastels.


What if you transform the cardboard with BOTH crayons and paper?  






OR only paper.  Glue on paper! Make windows and doors.  Glue on scales and spines.


How about using marker!  Color the cardboard solid, fill it in completely or use Sharpie for details and pattern.



Mixed media means you used a variety of materials.  Look at how mixed media changed this cardboard.

Paper, paint, fabric, stickers, confetti, permanent marker, foil.


Not all cardboard is flat.  Can anyone guess what these colorful hearts started out as?  or this sea beast?  Both have been transformed. 



How will you transform cardboard?
Will you cover any writing or printing done at the factory that made the box?
Will the material you choose to cover the cardboard be part of your design?


Wet n' Stick Demonstration