John James Audubon - Ferruginous Thrush
Edward Detmold - The Cock
Curriculum Connections: Fine Arts K-4: A.1.3, A.2.1, A.2.2, A.2.5, A.3.4, A.3.6; 5-8:A.2.10, A.2.11, A.2.12, A.3.13; 9-12: A.2.18, A.2.19, A.2.20, A.3.22
Lesson Objective: students will learn the basics of printmaking and understand how images are reversed through this process.
John James Audubon's Ferruginous Thrush appears at first glance to be a painting, but it was actually done by using an etching process, as was Edward Detmold's The Cock.
Etching is an involved process that uses several different chemicals, including acid, to prepare the plate for printing. One of the most intriguing and challenging qualities of printing is that the image has to be created in reverse of what the final product will look like.
Materials:
Styrofoam trays
Paper
Pencils, pens or other drawing materials
Butter knives
Paint and wide, flat trays to hold paint
Distribute Styrofoam plates to the students. Explain how printmaking works - that raised areas will print on the paper, and carved places will not. Demonstrate the process for the students with a pre-prepared plate. Allow students to draw an image they want to make into a print. Urge them to keep their images simple, with clear lines. Examine the drawings to decide what needs to be carved to create the print. Have students carve images into their plates. Prepare the paper by laying it out beside the paint tray. Pour enough paint to cover the bottom of the tray. Lay the carved Styrofoam plate into the paint tray carefully on the surface of the paint. DO NOT press the Styrofoam plate into the paint or paint will fill the carved lines. Lift the Styrofoam plate out and press firmly onto the paper. Separate the paper and Styrofoam plate. The process may take some practice to get clear prints. Display the prints and plates so students can see how images reversed during printing.
Further Reading
Detmold, Edward Julius. The Fantastic Creatures of Edward Julius Detmold. New York: Scribner, 1979. (available at CALS)
Cross-curricular study
Curriculum Connections: Science K-4: LS.1.2, LS.3.3, ES.2.3, ES.2.6, ES.3.3; 5-8:LS.2.11, ES.2.5, ES.2.7, ES.3.6; 9-12: LS.2.12, ES.2.3, ES.2.9, ES.3.2
Lesson Objective: students will learn the characteristics of and dangers to wetlands.
John James Audubon was one of America's first wildlife artists. His set of prints chronicling the birds of America was so popular and had such long lasting effects that an organization still exists that was inspired by him. Have students find out about the Audubon Society and what they do. (Visit http://www.audubon.org/). In July of 2004, the EPA awarded the Arkansas chapter of the Audubon Society a large grant to preserve wetlands.
Assign students to investigate wetlands. What is important about wetlands and what activities are destroying them? How is our ecosystem being altered due to destruction of wetlands? What animals and plants live in wetlands?
Have students identify which parts of Arkansas are wetlands using maps.
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