MATERIALS FOR THE ARTS: LEARNS ONLINE

CRAZY COLLAGE CHARACTERS

01.

WHAT IS MATERIALS FOR THE ARTS?

INTRO VIDEO

02.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

TODAY’S ACTIVITY

WHAT IS A CHARACTER? 

THE WORD CHARACTER HAS MANY DEFINITIONS. WE’LL USE THE FIRST ONE: “CHARACTER, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE A PERSON, PLACE, OR THING DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS.”

IN ART AND LITERATURE, WE OFTEN FOCUS ON CHARACTERS THAT ACT LIKE PEOPLE: THEY WILL HAVE PERSONALITIES THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS. THIS KIND OF CHARACTER CAN BE FOUND IN BOOKS, PLAYS, MOVIES, CARTOONS, OR IN REAL LIFE.

TODAY, WE’LL USE OUR IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY TO TURN THE COMMON MATERIALS, MAGAZINES, AND PHOTOS AROUND US INTO CREATIVE CHARACTERS THROUGH CUTTING AND GLUING.

(FOR EXAMPLE, A MAGAZINE PHOTO OF A SPONGE ISN’T A CHARACTER. IT DOESN’T SHOW A PERSONALITY AND ITS COMMON. HOWEVER, A SPONGE THAT HAS A PINEAPPLE HOUSE AND WEARS CLOTHES AND SHOES, UNDER THE SEA IS A WONDERFUL CHARACTER.)

LASTLY, ITS IMPORTANT THAT WE DON’T COPY THE CHARACTERS THAT ALREADY EXIST OR WE’VE ALREADY SEEN. WE WANT TO CREATE OUR OWN NEW AND UNIQUE CHARACTERS, INSPIRED BY THE MATERIALS WE’VE FOUND. 

TODAY WE WILL CREATE A CHARACTER OF YOUR CHOICE.

 

WE WILL  REUSE MAGAZINES AND SCRAP PAPER.

INSTEAD OF BUYING NEW MATERIALS, YOU WILL FIND YOUR MATERIALS AROUND THE HOUSE. 

EACH CHARACTER WILL BE AS UNIQUE AS YOU CAN MAKE IT.

USE YOUR IMAGINATION AND THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

03.

WHAT WILL WE NEED?

MATERIALS

  • Scissors
  • Glue  (or you can make your own glue!) 
  • Paper
  • Color Magazines
  • Thick Paper or Cardboard

And here are some great places to look:

  • Recycling Bin
  • Clean Trash 
  • Junk Drawer
  • Old School Folders  
  • Kitchen
Click on the examples below to see pictures of what you can find! 

Glue - Bottle, stick, DIY Glue etc.

Click on the photo to watch a youtube video on “How to Make DIY Glue”.

Remember to check in with an adult about the materials you are using! You don’t want to accidentally use an object that someone wants or needs. 

04.

LETS THINK ABOUT OUR CHARACTERS!

PLANNING + VISUALIZING

BRAINSTORM FOR A BIT AND THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO CREATE.

  • WILL YOUR CHARACTER HAVE A HUMANLIKE FACE?
  • WILL IT BE VEGETABLE INSPIRED?
  • WILL IT HAVE LEGS? TAIL?
CHARACTERS_5

05.

LETS BEGIN MAKING ART!

INSTRUCTIONS

Download Instructions:
LESSON_INSTRUCTIONS.PDF

1. 
LOOK THROUGH MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS AND PICK OBJECTS, BODY PARTS, FACES, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, OR ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU FIND INTERESTING.
CHARACTERS_4
2.
CUT THEM OUT AND LAY IN FRONT OF YOU, MOVE THEM AROUND
HAVE FUN AND KEEP LOOKING MORE.
CHARACTERS_5
3.
GLUE SOME ELEMENTS TOGETHER. ADD MORE DETAIL LIKE EYES, HAIR, PERHAPS CLOTHING ACCESSORIES.
YOU CAN CREATE THE NAME BY CUTTING OUT LETTERS AND PASTING THE LETTERS ON THE CHARACTERS PIECE OF CLOTHING.
CHARACTERS_7
4.
IF YOUR CHARACTER WON’T STAND UP STRAIGHT, GLUE THICK PAPER OR A PIECE OF CARDBOARD TO THE BACK. 
CHARACTERS_8
5.
AS YOU WORK , THINK ABOUT A SHORT STORY OF YOUR CHARACTER. 
6.
NEXT, MAKE A FRIEND OR A FAMILY FOR YOUR CHARACTER USING YOUR MAGAZINE, NEWSPAPER, AND OTHER FOUND MATERIALS.
     

06.

HERES SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!

TRICKS + TIPS

Using your found materials, begin making your CHARACTER. Here’s a few hints on how to get started:

  • PREPARE AT LEAST 10 CUT OUT ELEMENTS OF ALL SORTS AND PLAY AROUND WITH THEM
  • IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH HE OUTCOME, LOOK FOR SOME MORE DETAILS
  • YOU CAN CREATE AS MANY CHARACTERS AS YOU’D LIKE, MAYBE EVEN RESEMBLING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

07.

ITS TIME TO REFLECT!

STORYTIME

ITS TIME TO REFLECT ON THE CHARACTERS WE’VE MADE!

08.

TEXT – EMAIL – TWITTER – INSTAGRAM

SHARE

If you have a camera or if an adult near you has a picture taking device, ask them to take photos of your work! It’s a great way to take a break and SHARE what you’re doing with your Teacher, Family, or your Online Community.

  • ASK SOMEONE TO TAKE A PHOTO OF YOUR CREATION , EITHER BY HOLDING IT, WHEREVER YOU DECIDE YOUR CHARACTER  WILL LIVE FROM NOW ON
  • SHARE IT WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
  • POST YOUR PHOTOS ONLINE WITH THE HASHTAG #MFTAOnline

So What’s Next?

Congratulations! You’ve completed your Materials for the Arts Online Course.

Check out more amazing lessons at our Online Education Center!

 

If you have any questions or concerns about this online class, please email vhoffman@mfta.nyc.gov.