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Windows to art excitement - art project
Arts & Activities, June, 2003 by Shirley Laird, Cheryl Crumpecker
We have been teaching art together nearly 18 years at a private school comprising about 480 students, toddlers through eighth grade. We have built a successful art program and developed several exciting ways to let the parent and school community become aware of art as an important part of the total school environment. The following idea is an easy and extremely visual daily reminder that the art department is alive and well.
About four years ago, we decided that the art department needed to be more visible. Student artwork was always on display boards, articles were written for the newsletters and the spring art show was an established annual event, but we wanted a more dynamic statement to create excitement.
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The art room seemed like a logical place to attract more attention. After some brainstorming and looking around the art room, the idea of using our windows as a mural came into play. Four windows fill almost an entire wall of the room and are the very first things seen when entering or walking by.
With some trial and error, we discovered that our designs could first be drawn on brown Kraft paper cut to the size of the windows.
Using black felt-tip markers, the layout is easier to see on the paper than when drawn directly on the glass windows.
When the drawings are satisfactory, the brown paper is taped to the windows. We use the paper drawings as guides or templates to transfer the designs to the glass by cutting away sections of the design and tracing around the negative space with black permanent markers. (Yes, the permanent marker can be removed from the windows.)
Using these marker lines as a guide, the painting process has begun. We use a type of window paint that sign painters use called "Rich Art Window and Glass" that can be found in the Dick Blick camlog. This is a very durable, nontoxic, water-based paint that washes out of brushes and sponges with water if done before the paint is dry. This paint will stay on the windows for an entire school year without fading or chipping. (To remove the paint, it needs to be sprayed with ammonia water and scraped with a razor blade.)
Using a sponge is a great way to apply the paint. It gives a textured look that is similar to pointillism. A brush gives a different look to the paintings and a bit of experimentation determines the best approach for the chosen subjects. By going over colors a second time, they appear darker and give the appearance of shading.
The colors can be mixed and blended either by overlapping or mixing on a palette. The paint is sold in individual pint containers and is available in 15 pre-mixed colors. Our windows have a southern exposure and get very warm during July (the month we choose to paint our murals). The paint dries almost immediately when applied to the hot glass.
Most any design works with this technique. The first year our subject had a "Jungle" theme. All foliage was painted, but we left the sky area blank. Cutout foam-board animals and insects were added to this background. Although this was acceptable for our first try, painting the windows completely has been more successful. Students cannot be distracted by the weather outside, the blinds in the art room never have to be lowered due to heat or light, and the use of color is much more dynamic (not to mention the difficulties we had trying to keep the animals attached to the windows).
The second year, the windows became "The Ocean." The water was filled with different shades and tints of blue, seaweed and environment, and tropical fish of every shape and size. Since students draw fish for several different projects across the curriculum, this presented a huge visual from which they could "draw" additional ideas, as well as a soothing "aquarium" in the art room.
Last year the topic was "Masterpiece Paintings." The paintings were chosen based on diversity of style, ease of recognition, and use color. This was interesting for art-history awareness as well as a "museum" in the art room. Students were eager to share their knowledge in regard to these artists. This idea was so successful that we plan on repeating the masterpiece theme sometime in the future featuring four different artists.
This year our chosen theme was "Rainforest Tree Frogs." Our third-grade class does a large rainforest unit and the art department became a part of the tour!
Since this has turned into a school tradition, everyone is curious to find out what the next theme will be. We try to make each year as different as we can from the previous year. Many suggestions are offered and this creates enthusiasm school wide.
The scale and vibrancy of the windows always impresses visitors and parents. At night, when the art room lights are on and it's dark outside, the windows literally glow in the dark and can be seen for blocks.
The windows are a constant source of positive conversation. With a little work, some paint and a theme, the art department makes its mark and the public relations aspect is sensational.
