Lesson Plan (from the Archives): Fairytale Mixed Media Painting, High School

Mixed Media Assignment

 

Problem: You will create a collage using found images which illustrates a traditional story, such as a myth, legend, or fairy tale. You will then use this collage as the basis for a painting or mixed media piece.

 

 

Part I: Collage using existing images

 

Step 1: Brainstorm stories in which you are interested. Think about the visual possibilities of each tale. Choose one.

 

Step 2: Collect images from magazines. You may also look up and print some images, however, avoid using pre-existing illustrations of your tale as much as possible. Your finished collage will be more interesting if you push yourself to use originally unrelated images in a creative manner.

 

Step 3: Paste your images to a heavy paper to form your collage. Think ahead of time about images that should overlap.

 

DUE TUESDAY – one week from today

 

Part II: Mixed media piece using your collage as a basis

 

Step 1: A ground – choose one or more general colors to paint the entire surface of your paper

 

Step 2: Underpainting – paint the basic shapes of the images you see in your collage

 

Step 3: Adding details – you can continue using paint, or use markers and pens as well

 

Step 4: Collage items – cut images out of paper, or find pre-existing images. You can also add more unusual materials such as fabric.

 

DUE: End of marking period

Cinderella: Collage from pre-existing found images.

Cinderella: Pencil drawing done from the above collage.

 

These two Cinderella illustrations take an early, Grimms Brothers, version of the tale for inspiration, which differs significantly from the Disney movie. The grave of Cinderella's mother, and the tree that grows on it, figure prominently in the older story. The tree itself replaces Disney's fairy godmother, with Cinderella's gown falling from it's branches. The birds are Cinderella's other helpers and saviors.