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THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD LIES IN THE DIVERSITY OF ITS PEOPLE.
IN PICTURES - SUPERHEROES (AND PATTERNED PANTS!)
Traction Man is a superhero who likes to dress well. He even travels in a jet-powered trainer! Below are some questions for you to think about with your teacher.
- Which words help to describe Traction Man's outfits, pictured above?
- Should a superhero always look neat and tidy, or bright and colourful? Why or why not?
- What colours, marks, lines or shapes would you wear if you were a superhero? How might these represent you, your life, your family or your interests?
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WHAT IS A PATTERN?A pattern is a design in which lines, shapes, forms or colours are repeated. Patterns can be regular or irregular. A regular pattern is equally repeated, ordered, balanced and predictable. An irregular pattern is not always repeated, ordered or predictable. It might appear unbalanced or more random in its design.
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Look at the doodled examples of patterns, above. Have you seen these patterns before, in the natural or man made world? What do they remind you of? What names might you give them, accurately or imaginatively?
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POTENTIAL ACTIVITY - THE SUPERHEROES' WASHING LINE
To begin, this activity can work better using only black and white. This will help to focus on the lines, marks and shapes made, and also consider tones, textures and contrasts. Once students have become familiar with using different tools and techniques, coloured surfaces and media might then be introduced.
- Using large black and/or white clothes-shaped paper (pants, trousers, onesies, socks ...), experiment with creating your own Superhero costume patterns!
- To begin, think about basic marks (e.g. dashes, dabs, dots ...), lines (e.g. straight, diagonal, wavy, scribbles, zig-zags ...) and shapes (e.g. circles, ovals, triangles, squares, or even your own shape designs ...) that you could create patterns with. You might think about how these may represent you, your life, your family members and/or your interests.
- Importantly, pay close attention to the tools and media you choose and use. You might use 'traditional' art tools and media, such as brushes, pencils, chalk, charcoal or pens. Alternatively, you might use paint or ink and more unusual 'tools'. You could even take inspiration from Traction Man here and experiment with mark making with ... a scrubbing brush, a shoe print, a dishcloth, a spoon ... your toes!
- Hang your responses on washing lines across the art room. How might different shapes or marks be organised and re-arranged in patterns when hanging on a line?
- To extend further on this, you might start to use colour (e.g. oil pastels, coloured pens, pencils, paint, ink or collaged paper shapes). These could also be cut-up and collaged together. Full life-size outfits might even be constructed! These could have different faces and features added and be placed in different positions, or even animated on the floor or wall via photography and stop-motion techniques.
PATTERNS (AND SUPERHEROES) IN NATURE
The following examples show patterns within nature. These patterned beauties do not only look good, they make the world a better place! Read below to find out more.
- Butterflies are 'pollinators'. They carry pollen to plants and flowers and this helps them to create new seeds. How very kind!
- Sunflowers are kind to everyone and everything! Their seeds are very healthy to eat; they provide pollen for bees; their roots fill the soil with 'good' bacteria and nutrients.
- Cheetahs are speedy superheroes! They are the fastest animal on land and have been known to reach speeds of 130km an hour.
- Bees are very important superheroes. They pollinate the majority of our wildflowers and crops - for free!
- Zebras eat rough vegetation - all the plants that are not so good for other animals. This allows new and healthier vegetation to grow which other animals then benefit from. What kind and patterned superheroes!
- Broccoli is a superhero superfood! It is full of vitamins and goodness which help people stay healthy. The picture above is a close-up photo of a head of broccoli.
POTENTIAL ACTIVITY
- Design your own Superhero pet or plant! This should take inspiration from the natural world (e.g. combining different animal and/or plant features and shapes together - and patterns, of course!).
- How might this superhero pet or plant be a force for good in the world? What superpowers might it have to help others, or to help the environment?
- How might you show this through its design and patterns, or its name, actions, even speech bubbles...?
PATTERNS (AND SUPERHEROES) IN ART
This section looks at 2 different artists who love pattern. They have used their interests in pattern to change art history, to express themselves, to celebrate their own and other cultures, and to inspire others. Click on the images to see larger versions.
Anni Albers
Artwork by Anni Albers, from left: Woven rug, 1959; Illustration of Anni Albers by Emily Fromhage; Knot, 1947; Design for wall hanging, 1926
Anni Albers was a German artist, born in Berlin in 1899. She studied at the Bauhaus, an exciting school of art and design in Germany. Anni decided to study weaving and became one of the greatest textile artists of our time. She was very inspired by weaving from South America. At that time, textiles was not considered as important as painting or sculpture. Anni Albers changed this and inspired many artists and designers. She liked to make artworks that tickle our sense of touch and make us want to feel them. Source
Anni Albers was a German artist, born in Berlin in 1899. She studied at the Bauhaus, an exciting school of art and design in Germany. Anni decided to study weaving and became one of the greatest textile artists of our time. She was very inspired by weaving from South America. At that time, textiles was not considered as important as painting or sculpture. Anni Albers changed this and inspired many artists and designers. She liked to make artworks that tickle our sense of touch and make us want to feel them. Source
POTENTIAL ACTIVITIES
Look carefully at the work of Anni Albers, above. Albers uses different colours and lines to weave both irregular and regular patterns.
- Use strips of coloured paper to create your own Anni Albers inspired designs or weavings. These might be woven - layered in and out/above and below each other - in irregular or irregular patterns.
- Use coloured wool to create your own Albers inspired patterns. These might be stuck onto coloured paper or arranged temporarily on a table top or floor and photographed in different designs. Alternatively, you could use string to create a cardboard relief tile - a raised surface with which you could create a repeat pattern print.
YAYOI KUSAMA
Yayoi Kusama was born in Japan in 1929. She loved drawing and painting and although her parents didn't want her to be an artist, she was determined. When her mum tore up her drawings, she made more. When she could not afford to buy art materials, she used mud and old sacks to make art. (Source).
Kusama uses her art to take away her worries and stresses. She hopes that her art does this for others too. She is obsessed with dots! Kusama makes lots of different artworks, including installations. An installation is an artwork that you can step inside and feel with all of your senses.
Kusama uses her art to take away her worries and stresses. She hopes that her art does this for others too. She is obsessed with dots! Kusama makes lots of different artworks, including installations. An installation is an artwork that you can step inside and feel with all of your senses.
POTENTIAL ACTIVITIES
What would it be like to cover something completely in dots? How might this change how an object or space looks? For example, a chair, a table, or even a whole room! How might this brighten up an everyday object or space? And in doing this, how might it raise a smile or surprise a viewer and brighten up their day?
- Working as a group using coloured paper, and blue tac or masking tape, cover an unsuspecting object or location with dots! Alternatively, you might paint dots (or other shapes of your choice) on an everyday object such as a bottle, a plant pot or a box. If the object is painted first then this can create even stronger contrasts. Once complete, a group of painted objects could be arranged together as a Still life display.
- What size and coloured dots would be best to use, depending on your choice of surface or space? How might these contrast or blend in with their surroundings?
- What if other shapes were used? Would squares or triangles, for example, be more or less appealing or joyful than dots? Why do you think this?
ADDITIONAL READING
- The Science behind Patterns in Nature Smithsonian Resource
- Who is Anni Albers? Tate Resource
- Threads of History: A comic about Anni Albers Smithsonian Museum article
- Who is Yayoi Kusama? Tate Resource