yes. I have my high school Art II students make an Elements book. Here's how
we do it: After an introduction, definitions and examples by me--my students
create a handmade book to illustrate the Elements.
Using a viewfinder(made from paper) they select a section from a "famous
painting" found in one of the art books in the room or from my postcard
collection. This becomes their illustration format, the design they will use
throughout the book. Then they sketch this view (isolated composition) onto
6"x6" square using line only. They then trace this identical line composition
onto 6 other squares. Using as many media as desired they now "fill in" one
composition to exemplify each Element of Design. We use Line, Shape, Texture,
Color, Form/Space. Each page(Element) should exhibit only the Element being
illustrated or at least emphasize that specific element so that the viewer
"reads" that particular Element before the others while looking at the page.
The 6th composition is a reproduction of the actual artwork (copy) using
whichever media suits it. This becomes the title page illustartion where the
student identifies the artwork and the artist as the source for the rest of
the book's illustrations.
From here we make pages (which face each illustration) that have the
Element's definition lettered onto it. We then make accordian books out of
all the 6" squares.
I have done various treatments for the covers from handmade paper to stamping
to reduction linocuts- just depends on class ability and attention span.
They are BEAUTIFUL ! The kids seem to get tired before we are finished but I
believe it's worth every minute of the effort, and there never seem to be any
left in the room at the end of the year.
Marcia in IL
