Nature Creatures inspired by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

I teach a collage lesson every year with my 6th graders. It introduces them to the artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527-1593) . I like how he was from the 16th century, but so ahead of his time. He was whimsical when every other artist was stiff. He was a Picasso before they were ready, willing to have fun and adventure with his art. He used painted natural objects in portraits of people (like using strawberries for eyes and pea pods for teeth on a pumpkin head). 

My kids took magazines and hunted for natural items they could arrange to organize a creature. The fun part about my job (SSSShhhhh! don't tell...) is that I sit right along with them and do the same assignment. Since this is one of my favorites, i did a few. 

Click the link below to see the students examples as well. 

Go ahead and grab some magazines and make your own too.

But I must warn you, don't do it on an empty stomach.

another of mine...

another...

another of mine...

ONe of my 6th graders this year did the above one...

http://classroom.mineolaisd.net/webs/seatont/nature_creatures.htm

Photo Shoot Japan Girls

My wonderful husband got his new camera for Christmas and is having a ball taking pics of us all. We have spent the last 2 Sundays scouting locations for photo shoots. He has a blast and we do too. He makes us feel like top models. I think he is a natural at this...
We dressed the girls in Vintage Oriental tops that were thrifted. I am wearing a thrifted corduroy jacket ($3.99). and oldnavy floral blouse ($9.99), with my new MInnetonka Christmas boots.

Paper Plate Art

There's just something about a circle... when you have been drawing on a rectangle for so long. It is refreshing and inspiring to create on something round. I have been creating some Paper Plate art. I have been having fun and cannot stop! That scalloped edge is like a pre-designed border, just waiting to be emphasized with more lines and colors...

I hope I inspire you to design your own plate too! Have fun...

The next few were done as instructor examples by me, Tabitha Seaton...

 

Fashionista Fox

PaperPlate Snail line drawing

 

Shelly the Snail

 

Oliver the Owl

STUDENT EXAMPLES

Grades 6-8

(click on individually to enlarge)

 

I Love this Line Landscape idea...

I was in the passenger's seat while me and my family were traveling on a long 6 hour drive over the Christmas Break... As a space cadet does, I looked out my window and observed the landscape. I started mentally wandering off to my planet art. I started thinking about lines in nature. I thought about how a landscape used mostly horizontal lines and how in a drawing you can communicate those lines very easily. For example, a horizontal zig-zag line on a page could be mountain tops, a bumpy line could be hills, and a bubbly line could be clouds...
So, I wanted started this mental challenge to create a drawing of a landscape using only horizontal lines going from the left to the right of the page to communicate things in nature. I wanted it to be more challenging by not letting any one line share, overlap, or split into another line. If I broke this rule, it would possibly create a shape... and that would ruin the whole "line" idea. So, I excitedly grabbed my Sharpie and took of to the land of creativity.... Here is what I came up with...

First Simple Attempt (free hand without pencil first)

Second attempt (with pencil first, then thin Sharpie)

Third Attempt (with more strategy and planning out)

Final result of Previous Picture (3rd attempt) Colored...

On my 4th and Final attempt, I got a new idea of using an "umbilical" line to connect (without making a shape) to a different line to make the butterflies. I also got more creative with my coloring by outlining with crayon and then filling in with marker to use a crayon resist method. I like the electric glowing look to it.
I had a lot of fun, you should try it too!

Similar and Simpler lesson here...
http://tabithaannthelostsock.blogspot.com/2014/08/line-landscapes.html