Low Relief Project

My Example made from cardboard.

The Assignment

1. Each student will create a 9x9 inch relief sculpture.
2. Use your two initials as the shapes and repeat them throughout your square.
3. Use two sizes of at least one letter.
4. Change the orientation of the shapes. (upside down, sideways etc.)
5. Cut your shapes with scissors or x-acto knife.
6. Organize and glue the shapes down with white glue.
7. Pick one area of your design to emphasize with color. Paint it in a primary color.
8. Your design must be at least 3 layers deep.

Some Considerations

• Use brown cardboard or white and black matte board.
• Think about the concept of “Gradation”. Change the size of your letters to add interest.
• Remove the top layer of corrugated cardboard to reveal the texture beneath.
• Cut away from your hand when using an x-acto knife. Scissors work well except when cutting out the negative space from a letter. (ie. The inside of a B)
• Use a cutting board.
• Use a very thin layer of glue. Apply it with your finger.
• Toss your scraps back in the box. Someone else could use it.
• Use your negative cutouts.
• How does your image look when lit from the side. What kind of shadows does it create.

American Flag Re-design

Our first flag was the "Grand Union Flag" which was used by our troops in the American War for Independence. It predates the "Betsy Ross" flag which many people associate with the Revolution. Since then the American Flag has gone through many transformations.

Grand Union Flag

At first any manipulation of the Flag was considered sacrilege. Over time peoples attitude about the Flag has changed and it is often used in advertising, satire and clothing. Our assignment is to redesign Old Glory to make a social or political statement about the United States today.

This is a mixed medial assignment. Most students will choose to use tempera paint, but colored pencils, magic markers and collage are all viable options.

• Use a 12x18 inch piece of White Oak Tag. You may cut the flag into a different shape if your desire.
• The flag must maintain some semblance of stripes. The repeated hot dogs create an "implied line" or stripe on the flag below.
• At least one star should adorn your flag. (The project below failed to place a star in their composition.)
• The flag must include red, white and blue, but other colors may be used as needed.

Obesity Flag American Flag

No Smoking American Flag

Unity American Flag

Lino-cut Playing Card

Create a fantasy version of a playing card.

• Cartoons work best for subject, remember that it’s a portrait.
• Trace your image and transfer it to the lino.
• The working area is 4x5 inches in size.
• Carve out the areas that you want to remain white.
• Be extremely careful when cutting your lino. Always cut away from your hand. Use a “benchhook” for for safety!
• Make an edition of 3 perfect black and white prints. (C grade)
• Improve your grade by printing on colored paper, making mult-colored prints and offsets.