- Choose a song that inspires you.
- Make an abstract collage representing the song’s rhythm and mood.
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Photographs courtesy of Gwen Shockey at Princeton Day School in Princeton, New Jersey.
STANDARDS
Core Art Standards: VA2, VA8, VA9
Music to the Eyes
Use what you’ve learned to create a rhythmic color collage
Music to the Eyes Hands-On Project
Students from Gwen Shockey’s class at Princeton Day School in Princeton, New Jersey, created rhythmic color collages inspired by their favorite songs. Click through to see helpful tips and examples before making your own collages.
Lesson by and photographs courtesy of Gwen Shockey at Princeton Day School in Princeton, New Jersey.
Create a color wheel template. Use a compass to lay out a circle on mixed-media paper.
Use a ruler to divide the circle into 12 equal parts.
Divide another sheet of mixed media or watercolor paper into 15-25 squares, creating a grid.
Use acrylic paint to add the primary colors to your color wheel and color grid.
Mix secondary colors from the primary colors. Add the secondary colors to your color wheel and color grid.
Mix tertiary colors from the secondary colors. Add them to your color wheel and color grid. You might also create tints by adding white and tones by adding gray. Add each tint and tone to your color grid.
Cut your color grids into individual squares.
Choose a song that will inspire your collage. Consider what moods or emotions the song makes you feel. Plan your collage, brainstorming how you can play with shape, symbols, and color relationships to evoke your song’s rhythm and lyrics
You might paint a background for your collage.
Cut shapes, patterns, and symbols from the squares to add to your collage.
How can you play with analogous, complementary, triadic, or monochromatic color schemes?
Lucinda includes symbols that represent her chosen song.
How does Tyler explore a monochromatic palette?
Which part of Amy’s collage features complementary colors?
Now it’s your turn! How will you use what you’ve learned about color to create a rhythmic collage? Turn to page 12 of your December 2023 issue of Scholastic Art to see more examples from the students at Princeton Day School.
Project Prompt:
Parameters for Students:
Experiment at Home:
Cut out shapes in varying colors from old magazines, catalogs, or greeting cards to make a collage that represents your favorite song.
Before you begin, check out these examples by Gwen Shockey’s students at Princeton Day School in Princeton, New Jersey!
Use what you’ve learned to create a rhythmic color collage
Music to the Eyes Hands-On Project
Students from Gwen Shockey’s class at Princeton Day School in Princeton, New Jersey, created rhythmic color collages inspired by their favorite songs. Click through to see helpful tips and examples before making your own collages.
Lesson by and photographs courtesy of Gwen Shockey at Princeton Day School in Princeton, New Jersey.
Create a color wheel template. Use a compass to lay out a circle on mixed-media paper.
Use a ruler to divide the circle into 12 equal parts.
Divide another sheet of mixed media or watercolor paper into 15-25 squares, creating a grid.
Use acrylic paint to add the primary colors to your color wheel and color grid.
Mix secondary colors from the primary colors. Add the secondary colors to your color wheel and color grid.
Mix tertiary colors from the secondary colors. Add them to your color wheel and color grid. You might also create tints by adding white and tones by adding gray. Add each tint and tone to your color grid.
Cut your color grids into individual squares.
Choose a song that will inspire your collage. Consider what moods or emotions the song makes you feel. Plan your collage, brainstorming how you can play with shape, symbols, and color relationships to evoke your song’s rhythm and lyrics
You might paint a background for your collage.
Cut shapes, patterns, and symbols from the squares to add to your collage.
How can you play with analogous, complementary, triadic, or monochromatic color schemes?
Lucinda includes symbols that represent her chosen song.
How does Tyler explore a monochromatic palette?
Which part of Amy’s collage features complementary colors?
Now it’s your turn! How will you use what you’ve learned about color to create a rhythmic collage? Turn to page 12 of your December 2023 issue of Scholastic Art to see more examples from the students at Princeton Day School.