Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you doing? Hope you're well today.

My name's Ms. Afzal.

I'll be your art teacher for today.

But I'm looking forward to this lesson, 'cause we're really getting into expressing ourselves.

Our lesson is called Resourcing ideas through personal reflections, narratives, and objects.

It comes from the unit of work First sustained project: working from a theme.

So I hope you're ready with some ideas, some enthusiasm, and if you are, let's begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can reflect on personal experiences and narratives, incorporating these into my creative practise.

Sounds pretty interesting, I hope you'll agree.

We have some keywords in our lesson.

Let's go through them.

We have reflect, narrative, incorporate, and mixed media.

Reflect means to think deeply about.

Narrative is the practise or art of telling stories.

Incorporate is include or add something into another thing.

And mixed media, where more than one medium or material has been used.

So these are our keywords, reflect, narrative, incorporate, and mixed media.

Our lesson is called Resourcing ideas through personal reflections, narratives, and objects.

It has three learning cycles.

First of all, Inspiration sourced from personal experiences.

Next, Resources derived from narratives.

And finally, Using resources to create mixed media artwork.

Ooh, I can't wait to get to that part! All right, so let's begin, Inspiration sourced from personal experiences.

How do artists find inspiration? Pause the video and share with someone nearby.

Thanks for sharing your answers.

Let's see what Izzy and Jun have to say.

"I think artists take inspiration from their own lives, from other art, their surroundings, passions, and interests." And here's Jun.

"The artist Tomoko Takahashi collects scraps and debris and turns them into installations on the site where she found it.

Who would've thought rubbish could be a source of inspiration!" Exploring sources of inspiration.

Andeep says, "Would this lesson help me source inspiration for my textiles work?" Yeah.

And Laura, "This lesson is useful across all of the endorsements, not just fine art.

It will help me find sources of inspiration to use in photography." And Sam, "I'm keen to find more ways of sourcing inspiration for my 3D work.

Izzy will find it helpful in graphic communications too." Absolutely.

Exploring sources of inspiration can help us whatever medium we are working in.

Artists might reflect upon life events as a source of inspiration, which could include: family, emotions, friendship, special occasions, disappointment, an achievement, holidays.

So many aspects of our personal experiences which can be sources of inspiration for us.

Inspiration taken from a personal experience might look like: wonder where Aisha has been.

She's been to Tokyo! Lucky Aisha! "On holiday, I visited Japan and saw ema wooden plaques.

They are left hanging at the Kinkaku-ji Temple in Tokyo with messages from the spirits to receive.

I am intrigued by this custom." and we can see images of these ema wooden plaques in Japan.

Inspiration from personal experiences might look like this.

Here's Jacob.

"I went to the countryside and was disappointed with the amount of rubbish left.

It was blowing across the fields and will impact the wildlife.

I could reflect on this image to make artwork about pollution." Yeah, thank you, Jacob.

We can take all kinds of experiences, positive or negative, to inspire our artwork.

Artists who have reflected on personal experiences include: Shamsia Hassani is an Afghan refugee living in Iran.

Through her street art, Shamsia portrays Afghan women in a male-dominant society.

Grayson Perry, who often incorporates autobiographical elements into his ceramics and tapestries.

Yinka Shonibare, who explores cultural identity and colonialism within his artwork.

In many of her street murals, Shamsia Hassani paints Afghan women with wings.

Dandelions also feature in the artwork, usually in the pockets of the women.

How intriguing.

What could the imagery within Hassani's artwork represent? Pause the video and share with someone.

Here's Alex.

"I think incorporating wings in the artwork could represent wanting to fly away and escape something." Really great idea.

And here's Laura.

"The dandelions might be a symbol of hope, like spreading seeds for new beginnings." That's a beautiful reflection, thank you.

Hmm, take a look at this image.

What experiences might this artwork reflect? Pause the video and share.

Thanks for sharing your reflections.

Artists often use their art to reflect upon and process personal experiences, including those that are challenging.

Here's Laura, "This artwork reflects the difficult experiences that some people experienced during the pandemic." And we can see a whole array of really difficult emotions expressed there in this artwork made during the pandemic.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of these comments is true? A, all artwork is inspired by personal trauma.

B, personal experiences can be expressed through artwork.

C, memories cannot be used as a source of inspiration.

Pause the video while you decide which of these comments is true.

Well done if you selected B.

Indeed, personal experiences can be expressed through artwork.

Artists might reflect upon their emotions and identity as a source of inspiration.

Emotions including love, envy, anger, and excitement can be expressed through the use of colour, brushstrokes, shapes, mark-making, or subject matter.

Here are some of Jun's thoughts.

"I could use bright colours and swirls in my art to reflect happiness." Yeah, that's a really lovely idea.

Artists who reflect mood or emotions in their art include: Sigmar Polke uses unconventional materials like bubble wrap and glitter, which often reveal a sense of unease and questioning.

Tarsila do Amaral, who made paintings which can be seen as a reflection of their own emotional state, with an exploration of her identity and connection to her Brazilian heritage.

Francesca Alaimo, who makes expressive artworks about her gender and identity, exploring shame, vulnerability, and courage.

Check for understanding, true or false? Shapes can affect the mood of an artwork.

Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected true, and now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

The way an artist uses shapes can represent a range of emotions.

Angular shapes can evoke feelings of alertness or negativity, whereas rounded shapes are often associated with positive feelings and calmness.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to create a mini paper form to reflect your current mood.

First of all, gather the following art materials: a piece of paper, masking tape, and scissors.

Tear or cut the paper into shapes.

Assemble the paper shapes into a form.

Pause the video while you do this.

All right, great to be back with you.

So how did you get on with that task of creating a mini paper form to express your current mood? So perhaps when you tore or cut the paper into shapes, it looked something like this.

Really interesting, rounded, flowing shapes, some jagged shapes.

And then you assembled your paper shapes into a form, and maybe it looked something like this.

Here's Sofia.

"I felt stressed, so I cut the paper into sharp-edged shapes to reflect this.

I felt the stress leaving during the task." That's interesting.

"So I made the top of my form with more spaced-out shapes to show this.

I then photographed my piece from different angles." Love that, Sofia.

Here's Andeep.

"I was feeling tired and tried to reflect this by ripping curved, floaty shapes.

I entwined the shapes with each other to create a rounded form.

I then photographed my piece using a neutral background." It's really expressing something, Andeep.

Thanks for sharing that.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle, Resources derived from narratives.

What is a narrative? Take a look at this narrative and share with someone nearby, what is a narrative? Pause the video while you do this.

A narrative is a story or description, which could be historical, cultural, or based on everyday life.

It can be found in various art forms, including: comics and graphic novels, film, sculpture, textiles, photography, paintings, ceramics.

And I hope you enjoyed taking in this narrative of Izzy travelling to a festival, packing, travelling to the festival, getting in, setting up her tent, enjoying the performance, getting some food, queuing for the toilets, not so much fun, meeting friends, and then packing up and returning back home, taking her rubbish with her, crucially.

Great narrative there.

A narrative can look different depending on the discipline.

In graphics, it may resemble a storyboard, whereas in fine art, the narrative is often included within the artwork itself.

Artists who incorporate narratives in their artwork include: Kehinde Wiley, who reflects on power structures through reimagining classical European portraiture through the inclusion of Black subjects.

Christian Boltanski, who creates haunting installations using photographs, clothing, lights, and archives.

And Tjimpayi Presley, who tells stories of the Pitjantjatjara people through her paintings.

Check for understanding.

Which of the following is not a common source of inspiration for a narrative, everyday life, historical events, or abstract thought processes? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected C.

We don't usually see abstract thought processes as a source of an inspiration for a narrative, whereas we could say that a narrative is a story or description, which could be historical, cultural, or based on everyday life.

Historical artwork with a narrative might look like this image from 15th-century Islamic medical practise.

Oh my, that looks intense.

And here's Sam.

"The illustrated medical procedure helps me to appreciate how modern medicine has improved." Yes, I agree with you, Sam.

Art plays a crucial role in shaping and expressing cultural identity.

Cultural artwork where a narrative is incorporated include: hieroglyphics from ancient Egypt were used to record historical events and religious stories.

Greek vase paintings depict critical moments from mythological tales.

Australian First Nation peoples' art is centred on narrative.

It is a powerful means of passing on knowledge and history through song, dance, storytelling, ceremony, and language.

Discuss with a partner.

How could the narrative of your everyday life be depicted through art? Pause the video while you do this.

Here's Laura.

"I could make a comic strip to tell the story of a typical day in my life.

I could choose a Saturday, as I play football for my team and usually meet up with friends later." Sounds like a fun day.

Here's Alex.

"I love photography and could take a series of photos to narrate my journey from home to school.

I catch a bus and walk part of the way through a park." Great ideas.

Check for understanding, true or false? In art, a narrative can only be depicted through painting.

Pause the video and share if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false, and now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Artists use a wide range of media and techniques to depict a narrative, including photography, textiles, comic strips, sculpture, ceramics, and film.

It's now time for the next part of your task.

Imagine you are inside the paper form you created for Task A.

Create a narrative to describe your experience.

You might want to use these prompts as a guide.

What can you see? How do you feel? What can you hear? What time of day is it? And how does the story end? I'm super curious to find out how you get on with this task, and I'll leave you to it.

Pause the video while you have a go at imagining yourself inside the paper form and creating a narrative to describe your experience.

So how did you get on imagining yourself inside the paper form that you created for Task A and then creating a narrative to describe your experience? There are many ways to interpret this task.

You may have done something like this.

Here's Sofia.

"I made an audio recording to narrate my experience inside the paper form.

I used repetition of certain words to enhance the mood." And here's Jacob.

"I created an ideas shower to record the key points of my adventure inside the paper form." Love that.

So again, there are many ways to interpret this task.

You might have written response, through poetry.

Here's a poem.

"Inside this fragile world of white, where torn edges catch the light, I walk through lots of curvy lines, a maze of creases, soft, divine.

Yet paper wears, and paper tears, a breath too strong and it's no longer there." Another way you might have interpreted this task is through a written response as an ideas shower.

Swirls, perhaps leading to confusion, maybe dreamlike, Surrealism.

Curves, natural forms. Shadows, Fan Ho, photography.

Ripped edges, spirals.

DNA, double helix.

Love this ideas shower.

And now we're onto our final learning cycle, Using resources to create mixed media artwork.

Mixed media art is created by incorporating different materials and techniques.

Which materials and techniques do you think this artist has incorporated into their work? Pause the video and share with someone nearby.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Maybe you noticed there were maps being incorporated, painting, drawing.

A whole mix, mixed media art.

Mixed media artwork might include: drawings or paintings which have been collaged or stitched into.

Digital art combined with traditional art materials.

Sculptures made with a combination of materials.

Textiles combined with painting and digital techniques.

Film with animation or photography incorporated.

Check for understanding, true or false? Mixed media art refers to artworks created using only one type of material or medium.

Pause the video and decide if this true or false.

Well done if you selected false, and I would like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Mixed media art is a form of visual art that combines more than one artistic medium.

Jacob is considering which materials have been used to create this mixed media sample.

He says, "Pierced maps are in the background and have also been collaged onto the building.

The building is painted and has Biro cross-hatching incorporated to add texture." Oh my, there is such a lot going on in this image.

I love it.

What materials do you think have been used to create this mixed media piece? Pause the video and share with someone.

Here's Sofia.

"This is a digital edit of a feather cyanotype.

It looks as though a photo of duck footprints in the snow have been layered over the feather cyanotype." And a cyanotype is a very early photographic technique which produces blueprints.

It's a really fun thing to try if you get the chance.

Artists who make mixed media art include: Marcus Cadman, a painter and mixed media artist whose work is inspired by elements from both the modern world, Navajo, and Kickapoo heritage.

Cathy Wilkes makes sculptures, paintings, and installations.

Her works often feature baking equipment.

And Zhang Huan incorporates common objects and unusual organic materials, including incense ash with which he paints and sculpts.

Zhang Huan incorporates ash from incense in his paintings and sculptures.

Why do you think he uses ash? Pause the video and share with someone.

Here's Sam.

"It could represent all the spiritual people who visit places of worship.

It could be mixed with paint to create texture." Interesting.

And Jacob.

"It might be that he likes the powdery quality of the ash, and also it is a way of recycling." We're always up for recycling, so that's a great idea.

Check for understanding, true or false? Any type of object can be used to create artwork.

Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected true, and now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Artists might use a wide range of objects within their artwork, including everyday items, natural objects, and manufactured objects.

Artists who incorporate objects within their mixed media artwork include: David Mach makes large-scale sculptures from matchsticks, coat hangers, and magazines.

Ruby Silvious experiments with printing and stitching on used tea bags.

Love that.

And Ana Mendieta incorporates natural elements such as earth, water, fire, and objects like stones and flowers into her art.

And now it's time for the final part of your task.

Develop the paper form from Task A into a mixed media piece, taking inspiration from resources and found objects.

There are many possibilities, but you might: deconstruct the form and collage, stitch, or paint the shapes before reconstructing.

Use the shapes as templates to create a clay form.

Use found objects to make impressions and textures in the clay.

Incorporate found objects into the form.

Digitally edit the form.

Use the shapes as templates to create prints.

There is really so much you can do, so go for it.

Take any of these ideas or anything else that you would like to try and have a go at developing your paper form from Task A into a mixed media piece, taking inspiration from resources and found objects.

Pause the video while you do this.

All right, so how did you get on with that task? Perhaps you added some colour and then added some found objects.

Here's Andeep.

"I used the line from my poem 'a maze of creases' to inspire my mixed media piece.

I painted the shapes and stitched found maps and tickets onto the form.

The curvy structure reminds me of rollercoasters, so the tickets are a perfect addition." Love that, Andeep.

Alex says, "I wonder how the mixed media piece could be a starting point for other endorsements?" Izzy, "The curvy shapes would make an interesting kinetic sculpture." And Andeep's response, "I could make more shapes and weave them together to create a garment.

The forms would look great as sleeves." Oh, wow.

I love where you're taking this, Andeep! And we can see some more progression here from this paper form from Task A.

Sofia, "I made my angular shapes into a clay structure.

This could be developed further by incorporating found objects into the clay.

I could make impressions with angled objects to add texture." I love that.

In our lesson, Resourcing ideas through personal reflections, narratives, and objects, we've covered the following.

Sourcing inspiration and reflecting on a range of personal experiences and narratives can lead to the development of more authentic and relatable work.

Inspiration can be sourced from both positive and negative experiences, emotions, memories, everyday life, cultural and historical events.

Incorporating found objects and combining resources can inspire creativity, resulting in rich, layered, mixed media projects.

Well done, everybody! I think you've gone on such a journey during this lesson and I love where you've ended up.

I hope you've enjoyed this whole process and creative journey, and I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

In the meantime, stay creative.