Creating in the Style of Ryan Travis Christian

The Contemporary Art Museum in Raleigh is presently holding an exhibition of artworks by Ryan Travis Christian, entitled " Well, Here We Aren't Again." Christian is a Chicago-area artist who enjoys working with graphite and ink. In his work you can view abstract elements, comic characters, and cartoon iconography.

The students viewed his work and loved his use of graphite and ink, as well his use of cartoons. We decided to create our own compositions using black sharpies. Students created stencils of their favorite cartoon character and found a way to incorporate the image in their design. We were also free to incorporate our favorite images from Christian's work.

This project gave us the opportunity to review the concept of Line. We discussed how a  straight line tends to make our eyes run along its length. In analyzing Christian's design, we saw how horizontal lines tend to be calmer and vertical lines tend to be more bouncy and alive. In Christian's Xs, diagonal lines can move in and out of the picture plane more than horizontal or vertical ones. In Christian's work we saw how lines can be real or implied, thin or thick, straight or jagged. 

This student used the charactr of SpongeBob and the X-Men logo in his composition

He incorporated images from Christian's works: We're coming to poke you in the eye,  Infinitely Unrealized Comic Potential, and Noisy Neighbor

Ryan Travis Christian, We're coming to poke you in the eye

Using rulers to create a checker board design. 

The student incorporated the logo and symbols from the cartoon character Ben 10

Some of the imagery is taken from Christian's works Handlers, Noisy Neighbor  and Infinitely Unrealized Comic Potential

Ryan Travis Christian, Infinitely Unrealized Comic Potential

Scooby-Doo and Jerry (Tom and Jerry) were the chosen cartoon characters for this composition

We can see elements from Christian's works Noisy Neighbor, We're coming to poke you in the eye and Infinitely Unrealized Potential

Ryan Travis Christian, Noisy Neighbor 

The angry bird image together with the image of Ferb from the animated comedy Phineas and Ferb 

Ryan Travis Christian, Handlers

SpongeBob, Jerry and Mickey Mouse together with the images found in Christian's work Handlers, We're coming to poke you in the eye, and Infinitely Unrealized Comic Potential

Tom from the cartoon Tom and Jerry and Scooby-Doo are sharing the composition with

targets and the poking eyes and the Xs from Christian's works.

Students incorporated successfully the scribbles found in some of Christian's works

Students were successful  in using a variety of lines to create interesting compositions

Georgia O'Keeffe's Flowers

For this lesson we looked at the work of Georgia O'Keeffe. We discussed how she created large paintings of flowers, as if she wanted the viewer to see their beauty through a magnifying lens. She said: "I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty." The students looked at pictures of her work and they were amazed with the beauty of colors and lines. 

She also said: "When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not." 

We used water colors in order to create our large-scale flowers. Students were encouraged to use a variety of brushes and colors. 

Make a Portrait of a Friend

The purpose of this project was for the Kindergarten students to make a portrait of their friend.

We discussed how a portrait is a drawing, painting, photograph or sculpture of a person.

We looked at Kasimir Malevich's self portrait and discussed his choice of colors.

We also look at  Karl Schmidt-Rottluff's Portrait of Emy. We discussed how with the use of vibrant colors  the artist expressed  his feelings about Emy. Color becomes an important aspect in the composition. 

Students sat across from each other, observing the details in each other's faces. They were also advised to illustrate in their portrait at least one thing they like about their friend.

Student comment: "He laughs really loud."

Student comment: "I love her freckles; and we both like the color green." 

Student comment: " She has big eyelashes."

Student comment: "She has curly black hair; she is sad because her mom is out of town. 

Blue is a sad color." 

Student comment: " She is always so serious, and she has crazy hair."

Student comment: "My friend is like a rainbow."

Student comment: "My friend likes the color blue."

Student comment: "He makes me laugh."

Student: "Sometimes he makes me angry; red is an angry color."

Student comment: "My friend likes the color pink."

Student comment: "I love my friend's super black hair."

Student comment: "My friend lost three teeth and he looks funny." 

Student comment: "I love her short black hair and her big brown eyes."

Student comment: "My friend has funny hair."

Beautiful Felines

The students in Art Club created these expressionistic in-style cats.

Students used a variety of brushes. We learned how to mix and use acrylics correctly. 

We reviewed our lesson on how to create interesting lines and patterns.

Having fun with lines, colors, and patterns

Using smaller brushes for detailing

Student comment: "I made a flower and a red banana for my cat."