Sixth Grade
Keith Haring Actions
Keith Haring (1958-1990) was the first professionally-trained artist to use graffiti-inspired style in his art. He started painting his trademark images on New York's subway walls in 1978, and the people who rode the subway soon came to recognize and appreciate his work. His signature images included dancing figures, a "radiant baby" (a crawling infant emitting rays of light), a barking dog, a flying saucer, large hearts, and figures with televisions for heads. These graffiti drawings attracted the attention of New York commuters, as well as the city authorities: Haring was arrested for vandalism on numerous occasions, but Haring didn't care because he was very happy to have his art accepted by the people.
Soon Haring started transferring his images to stand-alone drawings and paintings. His art had a lot of energy and bright, happy colors and bold outlines which was very popular with a wide range of people, so Haring became a success. Haring always wanted his art to be accessible, so he used his popularity to open a shop to sell his designs on posters, T-shirts and other affordable designs.
The Project
p - 45 min (includes making sample)
Materials
7 x 7 white construction paper, 2 per student
black Sharpie markers (check out in office)
bright colored tempera paint
action figure drawing steps (in folder in 6th grade file cabinet)
flat tip paint brushes
paint palettes (small ones)
water containers
scratch paper for practicing drawing figures
Lesson
1. Talk about Keith Haring and his important contributions to art (above in art history portion). Ask the students if they have seen Keith Haring figures before? Where have they seen them?
2. Talk about how to draw a moving action figure. Show students the different drawing steps to create an action figure out of a stick figure.
3. Ask for some students (2-3) to come up and strike an action pose in front of the class (remind them to be appropriate). Have the students hold their pose while the rest of the class draws one of the poses.
4. Now ask for another couple of students to come up and pose so that the class can draw another figure.
5. Show the students your sample. Explain how you drew your figure out of pencil, traced the pencil lines with black Sharpie, and then painted the figure a bright color and the outside space a different bright color.
6. Show the students the flat tip brush. Explain that using a flat tip brush will help them make straight lines and stay within their black lines when painting. There is more control of the paint with a flat tip brush.
Materials
7 x 7 white construction paper, 2 per student
black Sharpie markers (check out in office)
bright colored tempera paint
action figure drawing steps (in folder in 6th grade file cabinet)
flat tip paint brushes
paint palettes (small ones)
water containers
scratch paper for practicing drawing figures
Lesson
1. Talk about Keith Haring and his important contributions to art (above in art history portion). Ask the students if they have seen Keith Haring figures before? Where have they seen them?
2. Talk about how to draw a moving action figure. Show students the different drawing steps to create an action figure out of a stick figure.
3. Ask for some students (2-3) to come up and strike an action pose in front of the class (remind them to be appropriate). Have the students hold their pose while the rest of the class draws one of the poses.
4. Now ask for another couple of students to come up and pose so that the class can draw another figure.
5. Show the students your sample. Explain how you drew your figure out of pencil, traced the pencil lines with black Sharpie, and then painted the figure a bright color and the outside space a different bright color.
6. Show the students the flat tip brush. Explain that using a flat tip brush will help them make straight lines and stay within their black lines when painting. There is more control of the paint with a flat tip brush.
Art Project
-pass out paper and have students draw their action figures on both pieces of paper (they will get to take home one of their action figures)
-when students are done drawing have the raise their hands so a students or parent can pass out black Sharpies
-when students are done drawing with Sharpies, have them turn them in and collect a paint palette with paint and a brush
-have parent helpers pass out water containers to each table
-pass out some paper towels
-remind students to take their time and stay within the lines, they don't want to cover the black Sharpie lines
-have a couple students wash out brushes and paint palettes when they are done
-have parents collect art supplies, wash out brushes in art room and leave on counter to dry, and put away all other supplies
*this project can go up around the conference room in the office. Please contact one of your parent helpers to put them up, it shouldn't take more than 20 minutes.
-pass out paper and have students draw their action figures on both pieces of paper (they will get to take home one of their action figures)
-when students are done drawing have the raise their hands so a students or parent can pass out black Sharpies
-when students are done drawing with Sharpies, have them turn them in and collect a paint palette with paint and a brush
-have parent helpers pass out water containers to each table
-pass out some paper towels
-remind students to take their time and stay within the lines, they don't want to cover the black Sharpie lines
-have a couple students wash out brushes and paint palettes when they are done
-have parents collect art supplies, wash out brushes in art room and leave on counter to dry, and put away all other supplies
*this project can go up around the conference room in the office. Please contact one of your parent helpers to put them up, it shouldn't take more than 20 minutes.
Credit for stick figure diagrams: http://www.theartannex.com/2011/08/keith-haring-inspired-night-light.html#!/2011/08/keith-haring-inspired-night-light.html