4.2 A figure in action

ARTS AND CULTURE

Grade 5

CREATING, INTERPRETING AND PERFORMING

Module 15

VISUAL ART

ACTIVITY 1

TO RECOGNISE A FIGURE IN ACTION

[LO 1.12]

In the previous Modules you studied line, colour, tone nuances and patterns respectively and a variety of art forms.

In this Module form (geometrical and natural) and specifically form-in-space (tri-dimensional) will be studied. Design (with the emphasis on contrast) in handiwork will also be researched.

STEP 1

Find and cut out a variety of approximately eight to ten sports figures, in action, from magazines and newspapers, e.g. rugby players, tennis players, athletes, skaters, divers, swimmers, soccer players, etc.

Then make a photo montage (like a collage, but where only photos or pictures are used) of all the sports figures in action.

STEP 2

Using a pen, make a dot on each joint. Then join the dots with straight lines so that the figure is a structure in motion. (See illustrations below)

STEP 3

Copy the dots and lines of one of the figures on A-4 paper and then with a pencil or pen draw the figure in that position. The drawing must be done in line only and will be used in your next activity.

ACTIVITY 2

TO MAKE A THREE-DIMENSIONAL FIGURE IN ACTION

[LO 1.12]

Step 1

You must bring THREE pipe cleaners to make a figure in action. The pipe cleaners must be used as follows:

PIPE CLEANER 1: Wind the one end round a finger to form the head.

PIPE CLEANER 2: Lace the second over the neck of the first pipe cleaner and wind the two ends to form two arms:

PIPE CLEANER 3: Bend the third one in the middle to form two legs and join it at the bottom of the first pipe cleaner.

Step 2

The body can now be bent to look like the drawn figure. The ends can be bent to form hands and feet.

Step 3

You can now put cut straws over the limbs of the pipe-cleaner figure.

ACTIVITY 3

HOSTING AN EXHIBITION

[LO 1.13]

After all the figures have been completed, you can exhibit your pipe cleaner figure as well as your preliminary sketches.

ACTIVITY 4

TO CREATE A DESIGN FOR A T-SHIRT

[LO 1.12]

Bring an old plain coloured (preferably white) T-shirt from home for this activity. Your educator will tell you briefly about the history of the T-shirt.

Step 1

To concur with the activities of the performing art disciplines Music, Dance and Drama, you must create a simple design for a T-shirt which can be worn at a sports meeting. You must first decide whether you will be using the name of your school or of a specific team. (Each group can create its own design.)

Step 2

Remember that the emphasis falls on contrast in this module and when creating the design, as many as possible forms of contrasts should be used, e.g. natural flowing letters contrasted with geometrically angled form / letters in cold colours like blue and green contrasted with letters in warm colours like yellow, red and orange / letters in coarse textures contrasted with letters in smooth textures, etc. Take the above contrasts into consideration before starting your own designs.

Step 3

You have planned your designs on paper and now the outlines can be drawn on the T-shirt in a light pastel colour. Note that textile pastels are used in the same way as ordinary wax crayons. Control is of utmost importance and you must be very careful not to stretch the material when the pastels are applied firmly or when you wish to darken colours. Rather repeat the same movement to get the colours darker or firmer.

Step 4

After the design has been completed on the T-shirt, take the T-shirt home to be ironed, to make the design permanent and to prevent the colours from running. During the ironing process the design must be covered by a strip of material. The whole design must be ironed in circular movements for three to four minutes. After that the T-shirt is washable, although it is still advisable to wash it separately the first time.

Assessment

LO 1

CREATING, INTERPRETING AND PRESENTINGThe learner will be able to create, interpret and present work in each of the art forms.

We know this when the learner:

VISUAL ARTS

1.12 designs and creates artworks and craft works which explore the use of natural and geometric shapes and forms in two and three dimensions, in observational work, pattern making and design, and in simple craft objects;

1.13 displays work in the classroom.