Figure Drawing with Maps

Submitted by: Joani Share,
Arcadia High School, Phoenix, Arizona
UNIT: Mixed Media -Painting - Figure Drawing
Lesson: "Take a Road Trip" - Mixed Media with Map (student handout)
Grade Level: Advanced High School (adaptable to lower grades)

 

"Take A Road Trip"

What do you think about when you hear "Road Trip?" This assignment is meant for you to explore this phrase. It does not have to be a literal translation or an actual destination. To begin ­­– get out your sketchbook and make a list of words that inspires you from the phrase "road trip," brainstorm on paper!

 

ASSIGNMENT:

The goal of this assignment is to create a composition that incorporates the use of a map as your paper surface. The map MUST be included in some capacity.

 

MEDIA

Any dry media such as Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Drawing Pencils, Crow Quill Pens & India ink, torn paper- – mixed media. You can use Watercolor Paint or Gouache on this composition. Some Acrylic Paint can be used if it fits the composition. The Media is not the message - the Message or image should say it all!

The map does not have to stay intact. Be inventive!

 

            

 

THEME "Take a Road Trip"

       • Does this make you think family togetherness?

       • Have you thought about the inside of a car?

       • How about a traveling through time?

       • Something that is friendly or scary?

       • Maybe it is a series of thoughts

       • Use the map as a support- just a surface to work on

 

Alternate Idea - Mixed Media Abstract from Ken Schwab

From Ken Schwab: I did a unit on relief painting using toilet tissue, paper towels, white glue, water, acrylic and Oil Paint to produce designs from maps.  The idea was to get out street maps and look for the composition with circular finders.  Redraw the lines of the roads and then build them up with rolled paper towels and white glue.  We also used string for lesser roads and then covered it all with toilet tissue and white glue/water to create a textured surface.  Painting with acrylic using color schemes we painted them very bright and then antiqued it with oil paint for a darker duller appearance.  Spaying with Crystal Clear to make it sparkle and "Voila"!  The kids sold more of these to faculty members than any other project in those years (Ken did this in the 1970s). See his Mixed Media Road map Relief lesson.