Junk yard treasures.

Junk yard treasures. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "What's wrong with old cars?" I asked. "They're old!" my students replied. "So?" I answered back. "They're old and junky!" So the challenge began. What fun! I had another opportunity todemonstrate and prove to my advanced art students there's beautyeverywhere ... especially in old, junky cars. Isn't the Internet wonderful? This project developed as achallenge and ended up with some fantastic student paintings. I told mygroup of reluctant art students they must first research on the Internetfor old, junky cars. The older and more junky the cars, the better. I had to chuckle ... I must be getting old because what most of mystudents thought were really old cars were actually models from the1970s and '80s. "Older ... much, much older!" I repeated over and over. Students discovered some really beautiful old clunkers. Favoritesearch results on the Internet were from "old cars,""junkyard cars," "antique cars" and "classiccars." There are hundreds of old beauties with rusty frames,missing headlamps, broken windows and all with a wonderful aura justwaiting to be captured in paint and with enthusiasm. I used GoogleImages to locate just such pictures. Encourage students to "followa link"--many single pictures will link to dozens more photographs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I present a lecture to the class incorporating my laptop, aprojector and, of course, the Internet. I demonstrate a search forvehicles that would lend themselves well to this project. I stress theimportance of subject matter, layout, environmental "aura" and"personality." Students select two to three photographs, andtogether we critique which choice would lend itself to interpretation inour medium. Once a vehicle is selected, it is driven into Adobe Photoshop See Photoshop. for atune-up, repair and restoration. (Sorry, I couldn't resist thepun pun,use of words, usually humorous, based on (a) the several meanings of one word, (b) a similarity of meaning between words that are pronounced the same, or (c) the difference in meanings between two words pronounced the same and spelled somewhat similarly, e.g. .) The student then "tweaks" the photo to their individualtaste and interpretation. On the top menu bar, go to Images >Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast. We've discovered everypicture can use a little help. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Go back to Images > Adjustments > Posterize. Here the colorscan be slightly adjusted to create an even more interesting range ofcolors. Most students elect to stop at this step, but some studentschoose to go one step further: Filter > Artistic > Cutout cut��out?n.1. Something cut out or intended to be cut out from something else.2. Electricity A device that interrupts, bypasses, or disconnects a circuit or circuit element.3. . Withthis selection, the photograph can be reduced to a maximum of eightcolors, thereby simplifying the composition more dramatically andimpressionistically. Some students do not like this step because it eliminates too manydetails. But being the artist, they can pick and choose how they wish tointerpret their final rendering of the subject matter. Once their finaladjustments are made, two colored prints are made--one on paper forreference and one on an overhead transparency for projection. The "canvas" is now prepared. Students select caradvertisements to tear (or cut) into strips and glue these onto 20"x 16" Masonite board. A wash of white glue and water is appliedunder and over the newspaper pieces. The entire board is covered withads. I stress not using parts of the newspaper with either too bold oftype headlines or pictures--we want merely a subtle newspaper"texture" for our background. Once the glue has dried, their car is projected onto the Masonite,and the basic shapes are drawn using a thin, black permanent marker A permanent marker is a type of marker pen that is used to create permanent writing on an object. Generally the liquid is water resistant, contains the toxic chemical xylene or toluene, and is capable of writing on a variety of surfaces from paper to metal to stone. . Istress that their colored print is for reference, and they may choose toexplore and discover other combinations of hue, value and contrast. Ialso help them discover the use of value when rendering similar colorareas appearing in the shadows of the vehicle. It is fascinating for thestudent to discover that an old chrome bumper might be made up of myriadlavenders, blues and pinks, as well as the presumed grays--colorcombinations and a technique used by the Impressionists 150 years ago. Students choose to use tempera tempera(tĕm`pərə), painting method in which finely ground pigment is mixed with a solidifying base such as albumen, fig sap, or thin glue. paint, watercolor paint, watercolorpencils--or all three. Every student gets really involved in thisproject. The discovery of color not of the white race; - commonly meaning, esp. in the United States, of negro blood, pure or mixed.See also: Color and the medium is wonderful. I make apoint of suggesting the use of black or, more pointedly, not the use ofblack. I encourage them to mix other colors to create their darkestvalues. I also suggest that they may wish to apply their paint in a thinapplication to allow their newspaper background to showthrough--especially in the background. The results are amazing a��maze?v. a��mazed, a��maz��ing, a��maz��esv.tr.1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise.2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex.v.intr. , especially to the artists! Each of theirprojects has an abundance of personality, attitude and beauty not beforeassociated (by the students) with "old, junky cars." And everystudent comes away with enhanced pride and a sense of accomplishment forcreating a wonderful work of art. If there is a drawback, it is probablyall the school staff and teachers who continually ask to buy theirpaintings. I must admit ... I have this old beauty parked on my den wallproviding new joy each and every day. LEARNING OBJECTIVES High-school students will ... * recognize the character and beauty of overlooked items in theircommunity. * explore the artistic mediums of watercolor, watercolor pencilsand tempera paint. * discover the technique of collage collage(kəläzh`, kō–)[Fr.,=pasting], technique in art consisting of cutting and pasting natural or manufactured materials to a painted or unpainted surface—hence, a work of art in this medium. . * discover the use of Internet technology and graphic designsoftware as a creative aid. * encounter the principles of color, line and shapes, as well asthe elements of balance, space and composition. * learn a new technique for self-expression. * build self-confidence and self-esteem. MATERIALS * 20" x 16" Masonite panel * Computer with Adobe[R] Photoshop[R] (or other photo program) * Internet access See how to access the Internet. * Ink-jet printer * Tempera and watercolor paint * Watercolor pencils * Newspaper advertisements * White glue * Thin, black permanent markers * Overhead transparencies and projector At the time of this project, Len Mathes taught art at South ElMonte South El Monte,city (1990 pop. 20,850), Los Angeles co., S Calif., in the San Gabriel Valley; inc. 1958. Manufactures include transportation equipment, electrical and plastic products, clothing, textiles, machinery, and furniture. There is poultry processing. (Calif.) High School. After 33 years of teaching, he retired inJune 2008.