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Visual Art for the Classroom

A selection of work produced during my time in NCAD through completion of a series of VAC modules. This work forms the basis of a variety of Units of Learning within the classroom, and allowed me to create a bank of visual aids as seen below. Work produced in these modules covers each of the Art, Craft and Design strands outlined in the curriculum, and the content relates directly to the methodologies essential to the post-primary art classroom/environment.

Linocut in progress examining letter & logo design

Biodiversity Logotype

Brief:

 

To create a design solution for a local biodiversity problem/issue, exploring a variety of design methods that will depict how biodiversity affects your community.

Process & Rationale:

 

I chose to tackle the issue of Clondalkin's rose garden, as I was preparing to work in a school within that local area - I wanted to explore the issue of a lack of public engagement & care for this area, and create a logotype & slogan to promote community involvement within the rose garden to aid its upkeep

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I examined a series of design ideas within my notebook, modelling the process students would go through before producing a final outcome. From here, I experimented with a variety of lettering to create my final logotype

Visual Aids produced for use in the Classroom

'The Cardboard Cobbler'

To reconstruct a 3D model of our source object (old shoe) using cardboard, supplemented by research & investigative drawing, exploring 3D form, scale, proportion, surface texture, movement (where relevant) and stability.

Brief:

 

Beginning with investigative drawing, we were challenged to select an old shoe with areas of visual interest, and replicate this through the medium of cardboard.

 

Using a variety of construction techniques such as scoring, bending & using flanges, we were tasked with deconstructing our own shoe, and using our problem solving abilities to create a master template of each piece, and then use this as a guide to piece together our cardboard shoe.

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Process & Rationale:

 

Visual Aids produced for use in the Classroom

Clay - Coil Building

Brief:

 

To design and make either (i) a lidded vessel or (ii) sculpture in clay. This piece of work will be coil built, and the final form will be based on drawing and design research under a chosen theme

Process & Rationale:

 

Beginning with mind mapping my chosen theme 'Milestones", I identified a series of objects that represent different milestones within my family life. I explored these objects through a series of drawings in my notebook, and then began to piece elements of them together to form a final design.

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Once this final design was created, I began to experiment with a variety of building and joining techniques before beginning my clay sculpture. I then spent two days crafting my final sculpture to prepare it for bisque firing 

Visual Aids produced for use in the Classroom

Printmaking & Mark Making

Brief:

 

To experiment with a variety of print & mark making techniques to produce a body of work exploring man made vs organic elements of the world around us, supported by personal photography

Process & Rationale:

 

The aim of this VAC was to gain a brief overview of a variety of printmaking techniques achievable in the classroom - focusing on mono printing & tetra pack intaglio printing. 

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I began by researching a range of artists who work with these methods to gain an insight into the possibilities of these mediums. I then produced some test pieces within each medium so I could gain an insight into it's possible limitations.

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I began with mono printing, exploring a variety of additive and subtractive methods, and then moved on to my tetra pack intaglio piece. Once the piece had been cut and inked, it just needs to be run through a printing press. Unfortunately, I did not have access to this at the time of this VAC, but it is something I hope to explore further in the future.

Visual Aids produced for use in the Classroom
Visual Aids produced for use in the Classroom

Lino Printing

To experiment with a variety of drawing, mark making and Lino cutting techniques to produce a successful Lino print influenced by the theme 'Value", and an accompanying Unit of Learning.

Brief:

 

The aim of this VAC was to gain a deep insight into the Lino printing techniques achievable in the classroom, while also examining the pedagogy behind delivering a printmaking UoL.

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I began by creating a still life composition of a series of items I felt were extremely valuable to me - living in a small apartment at the time, anything that reminded me of home was so valuable, so I chose this as a starting point. We then explored thumbnail compositions and a variety of Lino mark making techniques to gain knowledge of the possibilities & limitations within this medium.

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We then created and printed a successful lino print, and used our newfound knowledge to create a Unit of Learning for delivery within the classroom

Process & Rationale:

 

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