A Literary Artist is an artist who can both create beautiful art work AND write words that are beautiful. Learning about these artists is a way the kids are able to integrate the arts with language arts. The Artists we talked about this year are FAITH RINGGOLD and
ERIC CARLE. Below are examples of the projects we worked on that celebrated the contributions of these two artists.
FAITH RINGGOLD is famous for her technique of "story quilting". Story Quilts look like the quilts you put on your bed, but it's actually a painting done with fabric scraps sewn around the edges. Alongside the fabric scraps, Ringgold writes a story that tells about the painting in the center of the quilt. These quilts hang in museums all over the world. One of Ringgold's most famous story quilts is called "TAR BEACH" (pictured to the left). A book publisher admired Ringgold's "TAR BEACH" story quilt so much, she asked her to make it into a children's book.....and Ringgold did! With the use of a document camera, I read the book TAR BEACH to students in grade levels K-3. Students were then given a chance to create their own story quilts.
Once the story quilts were finished, students wrote about the drawing on their quilt.....the same as Faith Ringgold.......an artist AND a writer!
Once the story quilts were finished, students wrote about the drawing on their quilt.....the same as Faith Ringgold.......an artist AND a writer!
The other Literary Artist we studied was ERIC CARLE. Eric Carle is most known for his incredible children's books: THE VERY HUNGRY CATEPILLAR, THE GROUCHY LADYBUG, and BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR.
Eric Carle illustrates his books with a technique that involves colorful patterned paper. Each object in his pictures reflects a different background of patterns and colors. The collage of patterns makes a wonderfully BEAUTIFUL work of Art.
Eric Carle is in his 80's and he is retired from writing. He no longer makes public appearances......but I can always hope for the opportunity to meet him someday.
Third graders created "JUNGLE ANIMAL" collages using Eric Carle's patterned paper technique. First students painted colored paper with whatever shapes/patterns they wanted to. When they returned to art the next week, they cut up their patterned paper to create their Jungle Animal and a Jungle environment.
Eric Carle illustrates his books with a technique that involves colorful patterned paper. Each object in his pictures reflects a different background of patterns and colors. The collage of patterns makes a wonderfully BEAUTIFUL work of Art.
Eric Carle is in his 80's and he is retired from writing. He no longer makes public appearances......but I can always hope for the opportunity to meet him someday.
Third graders created "JUNGLE ANIMAL" collages using Eric Carle's patterned paper technique. First students painted colored paper with whatever shapes/patterns they wanted to. When they returned to art the next week, they cut up their patterned paper to create their Jungle Animal and a Jungle environment.