Teaching the Elements of Art - Form
I’ve crafted a series of blog posts that zoom in on each art element, offering handy tips for elementary art teachers. Here, we dissect the definition of each element, its role in art, some ways I have incorporated the elements into art lessons, examples from various artists, and chat about weaving these elements into your art room escapades. Each post comes with a treasure trove of links at the bottom for those hungry for more. Today, we're rolling out the red carpet for form, so let’s plunge right in!
Early in my journey as an art teacher, I discovered how blending art with curriculum sparked learning. Picture this: a lively second-grade class, buzzing with excitement as they crafted three-dimensional insects. Each child was a mini entomologist, tasked with studying a specific insect in science, and voilà, that's the insect they brought to life with papier mâché! They weren't just making art; they were building creatures with a head, thorax, and abdomen, complete with whimsical additions such as tissue-paper wings and chenille-stick legs. I found it amazing how this hands-on adventure not only ignited their creativity but also deepened their understanding of the insects they studied. Such vibrant and active learning! I was hooked on using form as a way to increase engagement!
In the world of form, objects can seem to leap from the page into life! We’re not just talking about three-dimensional cubes and spheres or the whimsical insect sculptures my second graders crafted. Every year, in second grade (yes, them again!), we create Cézanne-inspired pear still life drawings. Can a simple pastel drawing capture the essence of a real pear? Absolutely! With a little shading and sparkling highlights, these pears practically pop off the page, turning a flat surface into a three-dimensional masterpiece.
We talk about combining spheres and pyramids to make our pears. Sounds pretty basic, but you know what? My second graders are thrilled with this project! In fact, their techniques are toned and ready for the pumpkins we do in third. Both the pears and pumpkin projects are held in high regard, and the students look forward to the opportunity to create them every year! These are structured lessons, sure, but finding that sweet spot between projects like these and more open-ended ones like the insects is my mission every year in the art room. Building their techniques and skills while also giving them the creative wings to soar and problem solve is the best of both worlds.
When seeking artistic inspiration for your form-based projects, Cézanne's stunning still life paintings are full of examples. Dubbed the father of modern art, Cézanne transformed everyday objects into geometric gems that captivate the viewer. He even propped up the back table legs to display more of the fruit and objects, creating ample space for shading and highlighting magic! As you gaze at his paintings, such as Still Life with Fruit Bowl, play a game of find and seek and challenge your students to spot ovals, cylinders, a triangle, and a sneaky heart hidden in the background. Then observe how shading and highlighting turns many of the shaped fruits into three-dimensional marvels. And for a mind-blowing moment, reveal the secret triangle: Cézanne's clever composition places the top fruit t he peak of the pile as the point of the triangle, with others spilling out wide on the table to form the triangle's base. Fascinating, isn't it? Let's look at other artists’ examples of form!
Paul Cézanne, Still Life with Fruit Bowl, 1879-82
Yayoi Kusama is widely known for her infinity rooms and pumpkins. Look for Dancing Pumpkin for something to get the kids really excited! But don’t overlook her other three-dimensional installations, such as Flowers that Bloom at Midnight or I Spend Each Day Embracing Flowers. Spectacular examples of organic form! Her glossy finish and bright colors resonate with kids. They will want to get right to work on some three-dimensional projects, so where to begin?
For the youngest learners in your art room, it’s truly as simple as cutting paper strips and putting out glue and a base paper or piece of cardboard. Challenge them to make rollercoasters by arching the strips of paper, intertwining them, and building upon them. Free play centers with chenille stems, popsicle sticks, and TP will let their imaginations run wild. A Model Magic center allows them time just to explore. After showing them some simple techniques such as pinching and coiling, I was fascinated to find a table group working collaboratively, all on their own, to make an entire tea set!
Modeling with clay is a great way to get the element of form into your art room for all ages. This could be kiln-fired clay, air-dried clay, or other modeling mediums such as Model Magic or Sculpey. Early in the year, we use clay in K and first in a very basic way, we make upside-down cone “mountains” and stick a dowel into the top. Then we collage onto the dowel. We made turkeys in kinder and llamas on top of mountains in first. In second we make landforms with clay and place them in what I call deconstructed dioramas to go along with their geology unit. And in third, we make model magic local fossils, in fourth, California bears with air-dried clay that we paint, and in fifth, we use air-dry terra cotta clay to make sun wall hangings.
Imagine all the incredible ways you can weave the magic of form into your art room! Kids absolutely adore the tactile adventure of working with clay, and the learning possibilities? They're as vast as the ocean! Why not dive into aligning these creative explorations with their curriculum? The rewards are double the fun! Check out these links for a splash of inspiration on form—get ready to transform your art room into a wonderland of creativity!
Element of Art Classroom Poster Set
Kusama I Spend Each Day Embracing Flowers