I have done many grid projects in the past, from traditional, to Chuck Close style, Post-It Note grids, and even Warped grids... but during the pandemic, students may not have access to all the tools we normally use for grid projects, so I developed this method of folding to create an 8 x 8 grid. This video will take you through the lesson I will use with my students, but you can apply the technique to any grid drawing that needs to be done at home.

​Political art does not have to be divisive. Political points of view have been in art for hundreds of years.  2 quick examples include the work of Goya and Jacque Louis David. Each was thoughtfully pushing a point of view that we can appreciate in hindsight. What may seem radical today, in time, may be seen as innovative or benign. Only future historians will be able to judge our actions today. 

​Political movements seem to have galvanized the country in a way we have not seen since the Civil Rights Marches of the 1960s. This is an opportunity for our students to have a voice and express their point of view. To ensure the message stays clear and positive, this is the assignment I am giving my students.

Pick an issue you feel passionate about.
Create a poster with your supportive message.

• Title
• Message
• 3 Simple supporting facts
• Bold image
• Written Statement on back 1/2 page 12 pt font. explaining why it's important and how you are connected to the issue, why you care.

 
3 Items of CAUTION:
A. Stay Positive
B. NO Hate or Putdowns
C. NO Stereotypes  (Assigning the bad actions of a few to all in the group)
 
Possible political movements:

• Black Lives Matter
• Blue Lives Matter
• LGBT Rights
• Pro Abortion
• Pro-Choice
• Pro Life
• Family Detention
• Border Protection
• Confederate Symbols
• Creationism/Darwinism
• Political Candidate to Support
• Global Warming
• Endangered Species
• Recycling
• Wearing Masks

Other?... When in doubt, ask. Share your sketch with your parents!
 
Assessed grade based on following directions, level of detail, and workmanship, not if I agree with your point of view.

Below are student samples, photographed by students, and submitted via Google Classroom. 

Envelope art has just 3 requirements:

• An area for an address (center-ish)
• An area for a return address (Upper-Left Corner)
• Area for a stamp (Upper-Right Corner)

 
The easiet solution is to leave negative space in those areas so that mail can be sent easily... those areas do not HAVE to be left blank, but should be very light so that written text for addresses can be easily read by a scanner. If those areas use bold color, particularly red, then they cannot be scanned and that will delay delivery if you send the art in the mail. 
 
As an art project, they can be done without having to buy anything, and can be created with any material you have on hand from pencils & pens, to watercolor, food coloring, or even coffee as paint. As a work of art however, you might not want to mail them at all.

These envelopes might also make for great gifts. You could make a few, wrap them in ribbon, and send them as a gift.
If you have Instagram, you can follow Karen Karnuta  HERE: https://www.instagram.com/guthrieartroo

Terry Border is an artist that uses simple objects to create photographs that are fun and full of life. He explains that, "Basically, the project concerns adding wire to ordinary objects to help pose them as living characters, usually telling a story, and then photographing them. For some reason people liked it."
 
His work can also be the inspiration for students working at home with limited supplies. Using everyday objects and a bit of wire Terry sets us dioramas or scenes to photograph, and sometimes adds a caption, though in many cases, a caption is just not necessary. Students can use his method to explore and re-purpose items in their house, perhaps even with a contemporary theme of home isolation. What might a scene look like when dealing with the issues we face today... social distancing, washing hands,  wearing masks outdoors, learning to cook, and more. You can find more of Terry's work on AMAZON HERE.

Keith Haring, Shepard Fairey, Jean-Michel Basquiat and other contemporary artists formed their roots in the world of graffiti and murals. Though not everyone has access to a wall; cardboard, plastic wrap, and other found materials can be perfect stand-ins. This can also take the form of a drawing with the intent that it is a design for a mural or large graffiti work. The world is experiencing this pandemic and artists are expressing their feelings in many ways. Some with hope, some with anxiety, but the process of designing and creating art is very therapeutic. 

Here are some contemporary examples of Covid Graffiti.

Chez, is a graffiti artist from Russia, he uses plastic wrap to create walls between trees as a way to form a wall to paint on. This might be an option for some, and the clarity of plastic makes for a surreal integration of the environment and the image.

Author, Eric Gibbons, Reads From His Book for your art students & includes a lesson introduction you may assign. The video description includes 15 FREE lessons you can print and use with your students.

Full edition available on Amazon:
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2VhhZVi

​If you would like a set of all 4 books, visit HERE.

Author, Eric Gibbons, Reads From His Book for your art students & includes a lesson introduction you may assign. The video description includes 15 FREE lessons you can print and use with your students.

Full copy at Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UWIiRM  

​If you would like a set of all 4 books, visit HERE.