Original Animation Cels

The past week we have been exploring the idea of creating multi-layer images the way they were created years ago in traditional cel animation (the last cel-animated Disney movie was The Little Mermaid).
Animation cels are named as such because the characters are designed and hand-drawn onto clear celluloid sheets. The characters can then be painted and placed in front of painted backgrounds. In animation, thousands of these cels would be taped with a camera and could create the illusion of depth of a character in front of a background.

Although we won't be creating thousands of cels for animated shorts, we are creating single cels by hand and, later in the year, we will create multi-layer images digitally. I think the students will see quite a difference!!

I showed them an example of how the layers work together to make one cohesive image:

(excuse the chipping paint... this guy has been through a LOT the past two weeks!)

To begin, the students were tasked with creating their own character. I gave them some drawing sheets and we looked at books for inspiration, but ultimately the characters were unique and the only rule was that the students had to love them. We have humans, animals, monsters, and even machines! The wide variety is making these classes really fun! 

Many students sketched out several ideas during our drawing brainstorm class before ultimately settling on "their" character. Once they had settled on a design they were able to trace it onto the cel sheets (a great use for leftover overhead transparency!).

Many students this week are ready to start working on painting their backgrounds. We are using a method of sketching out our ideas very lightly with pencil, then tracing the lines with crayons and using the wax of the crayons to add texture before painting with the watercolors. The students have liked the way that the crayon adds interest while helping them to control the watercolor (the wax acts as a bit of a barrier between sections. Although unfinished, they are coming out great so far!

I can't wait to see these characters come to life when the students paint them in!

Registration is now open for our NEW after-school art program! There are workshop offerings for all Oak Ridge students in grades 3-6. See the link below for workshop descriptions and dates!

www.oakridgeartclub.weebly.com

Fundraiser Update!

Our after-school program has been completely funded! We had donations from many personal friends, family members, parents of students, local community members, and even from donors as far as Delaware, Texas, and Arizona! The after-school art program is now able to be offered free of charge to all 4-6 grade students thanks to these generous donors. Stay tuned for workshop descriptions, schedules, and sign-up information.

From me and my wonderful art students:

Beautiful Color Wheels

Last week we completed our two-part color wheel project. I was quite surprised at how varied the students' color mixing knowledge was! The best way to learn how to mix secondary colors is by using paint to mix secondary colors, so that's just what we did. We began with a discussion of the color wheel.

We identified the primary colors and talked about what makes them unique and how we can use them to mix any other color we need (secondary, tertiary, and beyond). Then the fun began. I gave each student a paper plate palette with the three primary colors and a blank color wheel. The students mixed their own colors and it was fun to see all the variations that could be made with the same 3 primary colors of tempra paint. 

The color wheels were left to dry and the following week we used them to created beautiful kaleidoscopes of color. Most students had experience cutting out paper snowflakes, but not with circular paper. We folded the color wheels so that we were able to make cuts that would created a repeating pattern with each color. We discussed how folding the paper and cutting the shapes would create symmetrical figures and scrap paper was provided in case some wanted to practice shapes before cutting them into the color wheels. We also talked about scissors: how they work and how to use them with the best results. Sometimes its the smallest things that make a BIG difference!

The results were beautiful, creative, and unique. Just like snowflakes, no two color wheels are the same!

MYSTERY ARTIST OF THE MONTH!

Last month's Mystery Artist was The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh.

Here's the Mystery Artist for November:

Good Luck!

This week we will begin creating our own multi-layer cartoon cels!

(A beautiful gift from a 5th grade student- how lucky am I?!)