Editor's note

Arts & Activities, June, 2005 by Maryellen Bridge

Many things can inspire artists. But, when it comes to youngsters, few subjects have the appeal of animals. This month, we have gathered together a group of art projects that feature animals and fish as the subject--and prove that they are an artist's best friends.

We begin with our Cover Story, "Mixed-Media Environments with Animals" (page 20). The lesson starts with a discussion of habitat, then includes learning about watercolor techniques, and how to show depth and how to combine media into a single concept. What's Your Pet's Story?" (page 22) is more personal, in that it asks students to imagine and then paint stories from their pets' perspectives.

"Learning from Exhibitions: It's a Dog's Life ... Photographs by William Wegman from the Polaroid Collection" (page 37) is a great way to show your students the work of a professional artist that is very successful in using animals--his pet weimaraners--in his art.

With summer on the way, we suggest that you make the most of the sun and water. "Underwater Wonders" (page 24) is a papier-mache project that will turn your art room into an impressive watery world populated with variety of flamboyant fish sculptures. Color theory and painting are emphasized in "Color Under the Sea" (page 26), as students are asked to imagine how color might be affected by the amount of sunlight shining through ocean water at different times of the day.

Whether it's the waning school days of June or summer camp or summer school, "Sand Casting" (page 28) will be a hit with your students, as they dig in the sand to create their own decorative plaster art. Sunlight or artificial light works in, "Casting Shadows" (page 30). Here, high-schoolers create drawings that emphasize the use of light and shade.

It's also a good time to explore "Photographic Expression."A collaboration between two art teachers resulted in "Through Each Other's Eyes" (page 40). This community-wide student project gave kids from different parts of the community an opportunity to meet and work together on subjects of common interest-diversity and the art of loading film into a camera, taking pictures, developing film, printing and mounting the finished photos. This project culminated in an exhibition of the children's work at the local art museum. This article should start you thinking of how something similar could happen in your community. And, in "Brush Up on Art by Painting with Light" (page 42), students learn that composing a photograph is much like composing a painting. The qualities of making light work for you, repetition and rhythm, and line and point of view all come into play here, much like they do in other forms of artwork.

When looking for artistic inspiration, we easily find it in the animal world and the season of summer. Your students will quickly see that these things can be an artist's best friends.