Term 3 Art. Simple Block

You will hopefully have seen the DP1 artwork I've knocked out. To get there we need to learn a couple of skills and ideas. This first one involves just simply transferring our image onto a cardboard block (We'll extend on this in the next piece of work). Since we have an image on this block we may as well use it like a printmaking block. I've used ink, but you could simply do this with crayon-rubbing as well.

WALT: create a simple single-layered block

Drawn image and print block-with indentations just visible

First we drew a 15 x 15 cm square onto a piece of paper (this is because we got 15 of these out of a sheet of cardboard). Then  we drew over our image with the cardboard underneath so that we could see the indentations on the card. This is almost like a linocut/wood block so thats why we might as well use it to make a print.

Various prints. I had a few goes. 

I didn't go over my image again with pen, but I would recommend it. That's because in the photos you can see that the image isn't very clear in my blue ones towards the end. Going over it again as it would make your image deeper, therefore clearer.

Once the image is ready, we inked up the block and then used a CLEAN, DRY roller to go over the back of it. Sometimes I didn't ink up the image again, as there was enough ink. 

Note the words around the right way now

Print block inked up. Note the indentations

So..? What are you reading?

What are we reading? Is it any good?

Two questions. Easy. 28 posts coming up surely! (As you post, I'll put it into this blog.)

Me? I'm reading 'Tamar', by Mal Peet. Is it any good? Yes, yes it is, thank you for asking!

Tamar: A Novel of Espionage, Passion, and Betrayal 

When her grandfather dies, Tamar inherits a box containing a series of clues and coded messages. Out of the past, another Tamar emerges, a man involved in the terrifying world of resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied Holland half a century before. His story is one of passionate love, jealousy, and tragedy set against the daily fear and casual horror of the Second World War -- and unraveling it is about to transform Tamar’s life forever. 

Quinn is reading...

'We Will Not Cease', by Archibald Baxter

We Will Not Cease is the record of New Zealander Archibald Baxter's brutal treatment as a conscientious objector. In 1915, when he was 33, Baxter was arrested, sent to prison, then shipped under guard to Europe, where he was forced to the front line against his will. Punished to the limits of his physical and mental endurance, Baxter was stripped of all dignity, beaten, starved, and left for dead. In a final attempt to discredit him, authorities consigned him to a mental institution, an experience that would haunt him for the rest of his life. This is a true story of extreme bravery and ultimate resolve.


Here's Aidan's graph that shows our current reading habits.

Some guy called Andy

Look what I stumbled on this morning. Its the new Andy Griffiths book called 'Andypedia'. Interstingly though as it is only going to be sold as a e-book. Reason is, is that it won't work in the normal format. Click on the sample below and see why

Andy's new book

I don't have an e-reader, so if anyone buys it can I have a read? Can I? Huh? Please! PPPPllllllleeeeeeaaaaasssseee! I'll be good I promise!

Shortened Lunchtimes

Here is a piece of writing that Alex completed last term very early on when we were beginning to write strong arguements. Read it and tell us what you think.

SHORTENED LUNCH TIMES by Alex Stenhouse

I am certain that the lunch times at Grey Main School are too long. We spend ¼ of a weekday at school and an amazing ¼ of that time at lunch. With shortened lunch times we will have more learning times and less bad things therefore receiving greater academic results throughout the year.

Do you believe that we already spend enough time in class? Well I am here to assure you that we don’t. At Grey Main our academic level is not great and I believe it could improve. Shorter lunch times will result in more time in class and games will definitely be more of a reward.

I strongly believe that Grey Main’s academic level is low. With less time playing we will spend more time in class learning and improving our end of year test results. More time in class will not only boost your child’s learning level but will also help them gain better manners and better people skills like being polite, respectful and caring which will turn them into better men.

With more time in class kids won’t have enough time to be bad. If a child is indoors they are under constant supervision but outdoors we have just 2 duty teachers on at a time, trying to control nearly 400 kids which is quite a struggle. You may believe that because these teachers are walking around we don’t have enough time to swear and fight but let me guarantee you that we keep an eye out for teachers we know when they are near and when they are out of sight.

That is why I believe that lunch times at school need to be shortened. This is an urgently needed change.

Sarah Ulmer

Sarah Ulmer at GMS

Woohoo! We get to meet Sarah Ulmer tomorrow. How cool is that? So that we don't look like a bunch of dorks (well not all of us anyway!) prepare some questions in advance.

Make sure they are intelligent questions please fellas! Click on the link below to go to Sarah's page on wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Ulmer

DP1

Here is one of the types of art works we are creating this term. This is a 2D(ish) version of DP1. Its been tricky and you have to think forward and backwards in layers. It takes a bit of practice and I've found that not glueing it together has allowed me to play around a bit, fixing up any mistakes as I go.

A simpler way to do this would be just to build up layers as you go and that would be acceptable for most people, but if you are in Arts Talented or just have the drive to try something a bit harder I recommend going for it this way. It looks real cool to have the windows recessed (sunken in) like in real life.

I've gotten up to the painting stage today and I'm really glad I didn't stick it all together because painting it would have been a nightmare, however, keeping track of the parts is going to be tricky for some. I'm thinking that it may have been pretty cool not to paint/colour it in at all, or just paint it all white.

Fig 1.

Fig 2.

Anyway...on with the show...Figure 1 shows the drawn image I like. I used the data projector to enlarge it.

Fig 3.

Figure 2 shows the drawing all straightened up. I'm going to use this as my master copy. All of my layers will come off this. I'll do this by 'tracing' onto the cardboard underneath, then drawing over the indentations  again. See figure 3.

Once the indentations were made, it was just a matter of going over it again in pen. I used the ruler again. 

Fig 4.

Figure 4 shows the building beginning to be cut out. I have one of those 'self healing' mats underneath. Its A2, can't remember the price, however I did see some down at the Warehouse. Only A4 size, but would be very handy. $6 or thereabouts

Fig 5

Fig 6.

Fig 7.

Fig 8.