with students at Kenwood Academy, Chicago
Challenge:
Using painted toys and humorous hand-written speech bubbles, compose and photograph a narrative still life that exemplifies a color scheme relationship.
Materials: old toys or household objects, paper, sharpies, camera, spray or acrylic paint (optional)
Process:
• The day before, ask students to bring in old, colorful toys or household objects.
• After discussing basic color schemes such as primary, complementary, analogous, etc., students work in groups to choose toys whose colors create a scheme. Teacher may also assign schemes and have students paint the objects with spray or acrylic paint.
• Meanwhile, a group member brainstorms, cuts, and writes a speech bubble for one of the subjects that plays on that color scheme. For example, a purple and yellow toy (complementary) might say: “You complete me.”
• Students set up their subjects on a neutral background and suspend the speech bubble from wire or an unfurled paper clip.
• Students photograph artwork (natural lighting recommended)
• Use actual students as subjects instead of toys, bases on the colors of their shirts
