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Twomey 1
Mini-Activity I

Title: What is around and round? Grade Level: 2

Theme Concepts:
Perception. Learning to see is integral to the ability to draw. When we use something differently,
we change how it is perceived by others. All of the things in the world around us, organic and
manmade, can be distilled to the basic shapes of the square, triangle, and circle. Our inspection
begins with a focus on the circle and cylinder. Students are developing observational skills as we
search for the occurrence of these shapes in our environment. Where does the circle and cylinder
occur naturally? What other parts of the world around us have the circle and cylinder as their basic
structure.

Aesthetics, Art Criticism, Art History
Introduce American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein who used the comic strip as his main inspiration.
Lichtenstein manipulated the 4-color Ben-Day dots printing process used to produce pulp comic
books of the 1950s and 1960s. This printing process, named after illustrator and printer Benjamin
Henry Day, Jr., is a technique dating from 1879. Ben-Day dots are always of equal size and
distribution in a specific area. Depending on the effect, color, and optical illusion needed, small
colored dots are closely spaced, widely spaced or overlapping. By blowing the dots up to a
proportion that makes it extremely noticeable Lichtenstein changed the look of the image and the
way it is seen.

Lichtenstein's works based on enlarged panels from comic books engendered a widespread debate
about their merits as art. Lichtenstein himself admitted, "I am nominally copying, but I am really
restating the copied thing in other terms. In doing that, the original acquires a totally different
texture. It isn't thick or thin brushstrokes, it's dots and flat colors and unyielding lines.

Eric Bellefeuille, a user interface designer from Quebec, remembered his favorite albums and
decided to honor them by re-illustrating their covers. Rather than just painting or drawing them, he
choose to recreate them by only using dots, rings and circles.
Read more at http://www.visualnews.com/2013/01/28/art-with-rings-dots-and-
circles/#A8hUfKlfxctQebuW.99

Art Production Concept(s):
Analysis of our surroundings to identify the basic shapes, circle, square, and triangle found within
forms as their foundation. This is a precursor to structure and drawing concepts and giving form
and dimension to basic shapes of square, triangle, and circle. Construction is centered on finding the
basic shapes and the appearance of the cylinder and circle to create two and three-dimensional
works using a cylindrical material. The material, MNs, are made of cornstarch, which would
dissolve if placed in water, by just dampening them we can create a sticky surface allowing the
MNs to adhere to one another and to other surfaces.


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Teaching Strategies
Introduction
Demonstration
Questioning
Brainstorming

Creative and Critical Behaviors Students will Enhance
Students will develop cognitive thinking skills; such as attention (which allows them to stay on
task for a period of time), visual processing as students perceive, analyze, and think in visual
images, and use visualization as students create mental images.
Student will develop observation skills as they pay attention to detail and use analytical thinking to
reduce objects to the simplification of basic shapes (circle, cylinder, etc.). Eye-hand coordination
skills are practiced as the students manipulate and construct with the MNs.
Students will develops social skills and teamwork as they brainstorm in small groups what things
in their world can be simplified to the basic shapes of the circle and cylinder, prior to seeing
landscape/still life examples and art making. Students will use their experience and previous
knowledge of objects and imagine them in their minds eye to guide the results.

NJCCCS (Standards and Indicators/One Visual Arts & One Non-Art)
Visual Arts
Visual awareness stems from acute observational skills and interest in visual objects, spaces, and
the relationship of objects to the world.
1.3.2.D.5: Create works of art that are based on observations of the physical world and that
illustrate how art is part of everyday life, using a variety of art mediums and art media.
Science
Science has unique norms for participation. These include adopting a critical stance, demonstrating
a willingness to ask questions and seek help, and developing a sense of trust and skepticism.
5.1.4.D.1: Actively participate in discussions about student data, questions, and understandings.

Materials and Supplies
Activity 1
Paper Towels
Water
Styrofoam plates or wax paper
Magic Nuddles
Bowls (to hold Magic Nuddles [MN])
Cardboard/Mat Board

Activity 2
Tracing paper
Pencils
Color reproductions of landscapes and still life setups

Art Making Steps

Part A: Place a sheet of tracing paper over a color reproduction, find and trace the shapes.


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Part B: Place a damp paper towel on a plate, put MNs in bowls, each setup can be shared by 2
students. The basic shape of MN is the cylinder. Students can use as is or manipulate to create
longer or shorter parts. Students will dampen a MN on the damp paper towel, which dissolves the
area slightly leaving a tacky surface then press the MN to the area he/she wishes it to adhere.
Use the tops as dots to create a picture or put together 3-dimensionally to create an object out of
dots and cylinders.

Aesthetics Steps/Questions
Are comics art?
Is copying something, like Lichtenstein did with comics, art?
Is copying something using a different medium that makes it look different art?
Is copying something but making it much larger art?
Is recreating something like Bellefeuille did using only circles art?
Why do you think Lichtenstein and Bellefeuille did this?
With regard to Lichtenstein, it was said "There's high art and there's low art. And then there's high
art that can take low art, bring it into a high art context, appropriate it and elevate it into something
else. What do you think this means? Do you agree?




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Teachers Sample A




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Teachers Sample C



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Teachers Sample B


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Benday Dots



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I Can See the Whole Room...and There's Nobody in It!
Roy Lichtenstein, 1961


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The source of I Can See the Whole Room...and There's Nobody in It!
August 6, 1961 Steve Roper cartoon


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Ohhh...Alright...
Roy Lichtenstein, 1964


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Ohhh...Alright...'s source was Secret Hearts #88, June 1963
by Arleigh Publishing Corp. (now part of D. C. Comics)


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Sleeping Girl
Roy Lichtenstein, 1964


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The source panel of Sleeping Girl by Tony Abruzzo Detail Lichtenstein

Detail Lichtenstein

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Eric Bellefeuille
Recreated Jimi Hendrix Poster Art

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Revolution
Original Poster Art


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Eric Bellefeuille
Recreated Jimi Hendrix Poster Art


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Original Foo Fighters CD Art



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