My Silhouette Lesson Plan

Grade Level: 6-8

Title: Silhouettes/Chinese Paper Cutting

Brief History and Background:

A silhouette is defined as an outline of a solid object that is filled with some uniform color. This color is most often black and is projected against a white background. However, other cultures use a variety of colors when creating their artwork.

Silhouettes can date back as far back as the Stone Age when they were found in cave paintings: http://www.jimhopper.com/paleo.html

Throughout the years, the art of making silhouettes has been created in many cultures and has taken on more complex forms. In the Chinese culture, silhouette paper cutting is a traditional form of art. Paper cutting came after the invention of paper in the Han Dynasty. It once became one of the main forms of art, and was popular to the people of the time; even in royal families ladies were also judged by the ability at paper cutting.

Pennsylvania Standards:
• 9.1.4.A Know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities
• 9.1.4.B Recognize, know, use and demonstrate a variety of appropriate arts elements and principles to produce, review and revise original works in the arts
• 9.1.4.C Recognize and use fundamental vocabulary within each of the art forms

NJ Core Curriculum Standards:
• Standard1.1 D The Creative Process: All students will demonstrate an understanding of the elements and principles that govern the creation of works of art in dance, music, theatre, and visual art.
• Standard 1.2 History of the Arts and Culture: All students will understand the role, development, and influence of the arts throughout history and across cultures.
• Standard 1.3 D Performing: All students will synthesize skills, media, methods, and technologies that are appropriate to creating, performing, and/or presenting works of art in dance, music, theatre, and visual art.

NETS
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
• c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.


Goal: To create an original paper cut design inspired by the work of traditional Chinese paper cutting.

Objectives:

• Students will enhance their perceptual skills.
• Students will refine their fine motor skills through the act of cutting
and carving paper.
• Students will increase their knowledge of symmetry and positive/negative
space in a work of art.

Resource Materials/Visual Aides:

• http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa020900b.htm
• http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa020900g.htm
• http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa020900c.htm
• http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa020900d.htm
• http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa020900h.htm
• http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa020900e.htm
• http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/s/silhouette.html



Supplies/Materials:

• 9x12 construction paper in various colors and white
• scissors/exacto knives
• glue sticks
• visual aides (images and video of Chinese paper cuts)

Teacher Preparation:
Ahead of time, teacher will prepare a sample of the project creating his/her own design. Project design should be prepared in at least two different colors so that students can see an example of a silhouette in black and also another color variation of the project design. Teacher should also make sure that the blades in the exacto knives are securely fastened in the holder so as to avoid blades falling out when students begin to use them.
When students enter the art room, images of various Chinese paper cuts could be playing on a projector to stimulate the interest of the students. Once students are settled, all questions could be answered about the project they will be working on that day.

Introduction:
Teacher will begin lesson by asking students what they think they are seeing on the projector. Teacher will then tell students that they are looking at samples of a Chinese folk art called Paper Cutting. Teacher will then give students a brief history of the folk art as the students view the various images on the screen. She will point out to students to subject matter of everyday life. Next, she will talk to students about positive and negative space, commenting to students that the space between the lines is just as interesting to look at as the lines themselves.
Teacher will then view vocabulary to students, pointing to the vocabulary words on the board. Teacher will first discuss the word silhouette, symmetry, and positive/negative space. Next, teacher will tell students that they are going to create their own Chinese paper cut silhouettes with a subject matter of something from nature: birds, flowers, trees, fish, etc.

Teach:
Teacher will demonstrate to students how to create a symmetrical design by folding a piece of paper in half and creating a small design. She will then cut out the design and open to paper to show students that what you cut will show up on both sides of the paper. Next, she will show students how to create a design that is connected to another part of a shape so that the shape doesn’t completely fall out.
As teacher works, she will demonstrate to students how to properly use an exacto knife remembering to keep their free hand back while they are cutting. Teacher will then cut a shape out completely to show students that if they want to put the cut out shape into part of the negative space of the design, they can. Finally teacher will take the positive cut out shape and carefully glue it to a piece of white paper to show students the contrast of colors.

Directions:
• Hand out black/colored construction paper to students. Tell student to fold the 9x12 paper in half like a book
• Have students draw a border on the half paper.
• Next, have students draw their designs on the paper remembering to make sure that all lines are connected to each other. Also, encourage students to create small shapes within larger shapes for detail.
• When student are ready to cut, make sure to keep paper folded to ensure a symmetrical design.
• Follow the lines to cut out the shapes using scissors for larger shapes and exacto knives for smaller shapes.
• Once the design has been completely cut out, place the colored cut out paper onto a white paper for a beautiful contrast of color.


Critique/Evaluation/Assessment:
Those students who demonstrate a clear understanding of the lesson will:
-Follow teacher instruction and use tool properly/carefully.
-Use creativity to create an original paper cut.
-Use colored paper to enhance design.
-Create a symmetrical design.
-Utilize positive and negative space in creating an interesting design.

Time Budget:
-Lesson is to be completed in two 40 minute class periods.
-All supplies come from the art classroom. (Exacto knives are optional)
Pointed scissors are sufficient for simple designs.

Vocabulary:
• Silhouette-an outline of a solid object that is filled with some uniform color.
• Positive space- Space in an artwork that is filled with something, such as lines, designs, colour, or shapes.
• Negative space- Empty space, surrounded and shaped so that it acquires a sense of form or volume.
• Symmetrical-the same on both sides.

Safety Concerns:
-Careful attention should be paid to students as they use exacto knives. Teacher should remind students to cut slowly and carefully at all times.

Bibliography/References:
• http://en.mimi.hu/finearts/positive_space.html
• http://www.jimhopper.com/paleo.html
• http://www.state.nj.us/education/cccs/2009/final.htm
• http://www.education-world.com/standards/state/nj/index.shtml#fine

Here are some resources that can be used to view silhouette artists:

The art of Kara Walker-contemporary silhouette artist
• http://learn.walkerart.org/karawalker

The art of Kathryn-silhouette artist who does instant portraits using paper and scissors
• http://www.bubbygram.com/silhouettes.htm

The art of Peter Callesen-amazing paper cutting artist
• http://www.petercallesen.com/index/index2.html