New Buffalo Middle School students have been off to a great start in the Art Department this school year! Students in 7th and 8th grade art classes were given the opportunity to participate in a design challenge to create an original Michigan flag for National Youth Art Month sponsored by the Council for Art Education and National Art Education Association.
Youth Art Month encourages support for quality art programs by recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences including:
Problem solving
Creativity
Observation
Communication
To promote Youth Art Month, each state coordinates a flag design contest, with the winning design at the state level made into a full size flag to hang at the national convention.
New Buffalo students took on this challenge by creating their own designs for the Michigan Flag theme during art class!
As my students began with the design thinking process, by researching the topic and defining what healing means to them. This helped students understand how they might be able to incorporate the theme into their design.
Each student made a list of concerns that were important to them in their sketchbooks. They shared their lists with each other and then we brainstormed solutions as a class about different experiences that make us feel whole when we need a reset.
These lists became the inspiration for creating their rough draft sketches. Students focused on the healing power of colors and creating scenes that reflect the beauty of Michigan.
Their designs had to include "Michigan" as a focal point and also incorporate the words "Youth Art Month" or (YAM) to meet the design challenge requirements.
When their designs were drawn on the final paper, we reviewed watercolor blending techniques before painting the Michigan flags with color, value, and intensity.
As students finish their artwork, they will upload a photo of their painting to their online portfolios on Artsonia to share with their families.
Students reflected on their Michigan Flag designs and wrote artist statements to explain the inspiration behind their paintings.
Title: "Sunrise Rock"
Artist Statement: My favorite part of this artwork is how the sunset, water, and rocks all tie together and look cute!
Title: "Freshwater Sunset"
Artist Statement: My favorite part of the artwork was painting the water. I also liked adding some glitter in the sky to look like stars, and in the water to replicate the lake shimmering in the sunset.
Title: "Beach Flag"
Artist Statement: I chose this theme because I love the beach and I want to share that love with other people.
Title: "Color Pop to Michigan"
Artist Statement: I thought of this design for Youth Art Month's Healing Through Color theme because the rainbow makes me happy.
Title: "The Michigan Galaxy of Color"
Artist Statement: This piece of art shows my state, Michigan, and how Michigan is surrounded by beautiful colors in a galaxy of wonders. My favorite part of this piece are the planets and stars.
Title: "Sunset Lake Michigan"
Artist Statement: I chose to paint the Mackinac Bridge because I think it's pretty and displays the state of Michigan well. My favorite part is the sunset.
My middle school students really captured the beauty of our Great Lakes State with these Michigan Flag designs!
Comments