Lesson video

Hi, I'm Miss Mia.

Thank you so much for joining me in this lesson.

This lesson is called "Set the Scene: Collage, Figure, and Symbol." Let's get started.

In this lesson today, you will build a layered visual scene that includes a figure and objects using drawing and collage to express yourself and tell a story.

Your keywords are on the screen now.

I'd like you to repeat them after me.

You can also jot them down as well.

Mise-en-scene.

Figure.

Posture.

Carbon paper or transfer.

Great.

Let's find out what these words mean.

Mise-en-scene: a French term meaning "setting the scene," how objects, figures, and spaces are arranged to create meaning.

Figure: a person or human shape shown in an artwork.

Posture: the way a figure stands, sits, or holds their body, showing feelings or attitudes.

Carbon paper or transfer: a way of copying a drawing by pressing through onto another surface.

Super.

Let's move on.

"Set the Scene: Collage, Figure, and Symbol." We've got three lesson cycles in this lesson.

In our first lesson cycle, you'll be making your own space, and you'll be doing this by creating a scene with collage.

You'll then draw and position a figure into your scene.

And lastly, you'll add color and symbolic meaning to your figure.

Let's begin with lesson cycle one: making our own space.

If you could create a collage of a scene that tells a story of who you are and where you live, what would you include? You might include objects from home, colors you love, or patterns and shapes that feel important.

Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga's work is primarily painting, not collage, but it often appears layered and collage-like because of how he combines imagery, patterns, and symbolic elements.

He creates powerful scenes that tell stories using images of his home and history in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

His scenes include objects and interiors that tell stories about his country, its people, and what is happening there.

Over to you.

Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga mainly makes collages.

Is this true or is this false? And can you think why? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So how did you do? If you got false, you're correct.

Why do you think this is? Well, Ilunga mainly makes paintings, but they look collage-like because of how he layers images and patterns.

Well done if you got that correct.

Let's move on.

Mise-en-scene means setting a scene.

It's about how different parts that are in the scene work together to convey or share a meaning.

Over to you.

A mise-en-scene is when an artist ______ objects and figures to create meaning.

You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So how did you do? Well, mise-en-scene is when an artist arranges objects and figures to create meaning.

Can you see on this image here how all the objects have been arranged? The artist would've thought about where he or she placed each object to create meaning.

So, to create a scene with collage, you will need: A3 paper, glue stick, scissors, magazines, newspapers, printouts.

You'll begin by cutting shapes, objects, and textures that represent you and things that matter to you.

You'll then place your cutouts onto your A3 paper to create your collage of an imagined scene.

You could include floors, walls, or open space to make it appear like it is a real place or space.

Look at how your collage fills the space.

Look at what kinds of objects, colors, or textures feel personal and powerful.

Onto the main task for this lesson cycle.

1.

You're going to think about and discuss the following questions.

What place will you choose that matters to you? Does your scene feel calm, busy, bright, or dark? Would someone feel welcome or nervous in this space? What might someone learn about you by looking at your scene? You can pause the video here now and click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So, how was your discussion? Here's an example.

Izzy says, "I want my scene to feel calm, like a quiet corner of my house.

I'll spread out my collage pieces and make a balanced composition." Lucas says, "Mine will feel a bit busier, with bright shapes and lots of movement.

I could use overlapping and different angles to create this feeling." 2.

Create a collage of a scene that tells a story about who you are and where you live.

You'll do this by arranging the objects, textures, and images on your A3 paper, thinking about how you want your scene to feel.

Think about how you can show something that you care about and tell a story through your choice of objects, textures, and images.

Include walls, floors, or open space to make the scene feel realistic or imagined.

Once happy with the composition, glue them to fill your A3 paper.

You can pause the video here and start this task.

Click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So how did you do? Well, there are many possible outcomes.

Here's one of them.

You might have created a collage that feels like a real or imagined place using layers of paper, objects, texture, and color.

Your scene should show how objects and spaces connect, maybe a wall, floor, or doorway that helps set the story.

Well done if you managed to create your collage.

Let's move on.

Lesson cycle two: draw and position a figure into your scene.

A figure in art means a person or human shape.

Throughout history, figures have featured in artworks across different cultures and times.

Artists use posture, the way a figure stands, sits, or holds their body, to show feelings or attitudes.

For example, someone standing tall might look confident, while someone curled up might look thoughtful or shy.

How does this figure's posture tell us about their feelings or attitudes? Have a think.

So, in this image, I can see that the figure has their hand close to their chin.

This might signal that the figure is anxious or tired.

Over to you.

What can a figure's posture show us? Is it A, their favorite color; B, their mood or emotion; or C, the type of paper used? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got B, you are correct.

A figure's posture can show us their mood or emotion.

Well done if you got that.

Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga was trained in the Beaux-Arts tradition, learning to arrange and draw figures with precision to create a sense of balance and to communicate emotion and story.

Once a figure drawing is made on paper, you can use carbon paper to transfer your figure drawing into your collage scene.

For the next part of the lesson, you will need: paper, carbon paper, a pencil, and your collage scene from part one of this lesson.

Look at your collage scene and imagine that you are inside of it.

What pose and position would you want to be in, and how might that add to the story your work is telling? Pose using different postures.

Think about the questions.

How would someone feel in your scene? What story can you tell through their posture? After that, you will select the pose that best reflects the feeling that you want for your scene.

Sketch out the pose and then transfer the figure into your collage using carbon paper.

To transfer your figure: place carbon paper under your drawing.

Secure the papers using masking tape.

Sketch over the lines to transfer.

Over to you.

What is the first step when transferring your figure? Is it A, sketch over the lines to transfer; B, coloring your drawing; or C, place carbon paper under your drawing? What do you think? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got C, you are correct.

Placing the carbon paper under your drawing is the first step when transferring your figure.

Super.

Let's move on.

Think about where you will arrange your figure in the scene before transferring.

So we've got Izzy here.

She says, "We looked closely at how artists arrange figures in paintings from the Musee des Beaux-Arts and in Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga's work.

We noticed how posture, objects, and space all work together to tell a story." Lucas says, "In the old paintings, the people are standing really still, but they still look powerful.

Their bodies tell the story without words.

In Ilunga's art, the figures feel more alive." Over to you.

What does this pose help you say without using words? You can pause the video here and click play when you've had your discussions.

So what did you get? Well, you may have said, "The slouched pose in my drawing makes it look like the person is deep in thought.

It tells a story just through the body language." Fantastic.

Let's move on.

Task B for this lesson cycle.

You will now draw and position a figure into your scene.

Take turns posing, thinking about the story that your figure is telling.

Sketch the figure on paper.

Transfer it into your collage using carbon paper.

Ask yourself: "Is my figure hiding, showing, strong, calm, or curious? You can pause the video here.

Off you go.

Start the task and then click play when you're finished.

So how did you do? There are many possible outcomes.

You might have created a figure that feels part of your scene, with a clear posture showing emotion or movement.

Your transfer should be visible and confident, and the figure's position should make sense within the space around it.

Lesson cycle three: adding color and symbolic meaning to our figure.

Let's get started.

You can bring your figure to life with color and pattern.

Ilunga fills the skin of his figures with circuit board patterns.

These show how technology and mining affect people's lives in his country.

You can use color, texture, or symbols on your figure to show identity, memory, or emotion.

Over to you.

Match each word to its meaning.

So we've got "figure," "posture," "carbon paper" on the left, and on the right we have "the way your body stands or sits," "a person or human shape in art," and lastly, "used to copy a drawing by pressing through." You can pause the video here.

Off you go.

Have fun matching, and click play when you've got the answers.

So how did you do? If you got this, you're correct.

A figure is a person or human shape in art.

Posture: the way a body stands or sits.

And lastly, carbon paper is used to copy a drawing by pressing through.

Well done if you got those correct.

For the next part of the lesson, you will need: colored pencils, felt tips or collage scraps, your transferred figure scene.

You can repeat the figure or borrow one from another friend to add more characters to your scene.

Over to you.

Would someone know your figure's message without seeing the words? What do you think? You can pause the video here and click when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? Well, you may have said, "Yes.

You can use clues, such as looking at the posture.

It really shows how the figure is feeling.

The slouch and hand under the chin make it look thoughtful or sad." Onto the last task for this lesson.

You will use color, lines, or collage to fill your figure.

Choose patterns or textures that show something about you, your memories, feelings, or story.

Repeat your figure or add more characters to make your scene full of life.

You can pause the video here and get started with the task.

Click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So how did you find that? So there are many possible outcomes.

You might have created a figure filled with color, pattern, or texture that helps tell a story or express a feeling.

Your scene should now feel balanced, with a figure and background working together to share meaning.

Let's summarize our learning.

Arranging objects in art, mise en scene, can build settings that carry memory and meaning.

Figures in art express emotion, power, and symbolism through posture and placement.

Collage, line, color, and techniques like carbon paper transfer can be combined to create scenes and stories.

Thank you so much for joining me in this lesson.

I hope you really enjoyed it.

Bye!.