Principles and Elements Abstract Art Book
Materials:
- Colored construction paper
- Scraps of colored paper
- Glue sticks
- Scissors
- Colored pencils, crayons, or markers
- Water color paints
- Anything else you can think of
To make an accordion fold book:
Materials:
- Colored construction paper
- Covers 6 1/4 x 4 5/8"
- Strips to make pages, at least 2 per book, more if you wan to make a longer book. The strips should measure 6 x 18".
Fold long strips in half, fold each half to the middle, making a 'W' shape. Glue one page at the end of the strip to another. Press accordion folded pages into a stack. Center covers on top and bottom and glue on. Paste endpapers into book. Endpapers cover the inside page where the regular pages are glued to the cover.
Principles and Elements Abstract Art Book
While making this art book, keep in mind Olivia Gude's Post Modern Principles of art, specifically layering.
Choose a single shape. This will bring unity to the piece. Make several of these shapes, using colored pencils, markers, crayons, paints or cut paper. Unity is created because the same basic shape is repeated throughout the composition; unity is often created by repetition of art elements.
Make more of your chosen shape. Make these with variations of size or form. Vary the proportions of the sides of the shapes. Make some of the variations as dramatic as possible. Create contrast. Variety and interest are attained by making variations of the basic shape.
Discuss how the arrangement of shapes can create a feeling of movement and rhythm in a composition. Talk about what times of shapes and lines relate to a certain action or movement. Demonstrate possible combinations using cut out paper shapes on an overhead projector. Have students come up to the projector to try out their own combinations. Have the students experiment with layering, pushing some shapes further into space while others appear closer.
After experimenting with possible combinations, paste shapes into place.
Create emphasis and contrast by adding a new kind of shape in the same or a different color. Add texture by using different types of paper as well as other materials such as foam or string.
Using cut paper or markers, add lines which will enhance the sense of movement in your book. Think about how these lines relate to the rest of the composition.
Consider the entire composition. Is it balanced? If so what type of balance symmetrical or asymmetrical? Do the pages seem to reflect Gude's post modern principle of layering? Add shapes, lines or words to create the composition.
Finish book by making an "About the Author" page and a cover with the decoration of your choice. Also, add a small envelope that has one secret about your book.
