Fellow Art Educators, click here for more detailed info (Coming soon)
"Micrography, the scribal practice of employing minuscule script to create abstract shapes or figurative designs, is an art form that has been used by [Jewish people] for over a millennium. This intricate decorative technique was first practiced in Egypt and the Land of Israel in the tenth century. Micrography developed within the Islamic cultural milieu in which the written word was frequently transformed into elaborate decorative patterns. This abstract ornamentation, emphasized in Islamic art, strongly influenced the artistic creations of the [Jewish people] living in many Near Eastern countries." https://www.jtsa.edu/prebuilt/exhib/microg/index.shtml
Step 1: Complete Practice value scalesChoose a word and practice creating different values by varying the way to write the word such as all caps, lower case letters, cursive, big, small, close together...
- Darker values require you to squeeze letters/words together to avoid big gaps. You can also overlap your words. In the darker values, the words do not have to be legible. - Lighter values require larger writing, more spaced out letters/words. - Make sure that your letters/words touch the edge of the boxes to ensure that your shapes keep form. If you're on a roll, try different shapes like a star to get really tight in small corners. |
|
Sample: Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.
<<< POWERPOINT! |
Step 3: Fill out the Inspirational Text portrait questionnaire
Answer the following questions in your sketchbook.
1. Full name of your inspirational person.
2. What is this person's nick name or stage name?
3. Is this person still living? What is their birth date and/or death date?
4. Where is this person from?
5. What is significant about the time period that they lived (even if it's the present).
6. What kind of influence does this person have on society? What type of audience would find this person inspiring?
7. Why did you choose this person? What influence do they have on YOU personally? (5-10 full sentences)
8. Describe the text or words you will use to create your portrait (from a book, lyrics, a speech...) Why are these words significant for this person? If these are words from a speech or interview what were the results of these words? Did anything change because of them? Why are these words important to YOU?
1. Full name of your inspirational person.
2. What is this person's nick name or stage name?
3. Is this person still living? What is their birth date and/or death date?
4. Where is this person from?
5. What is significant about the time period that they lived (even if it's the present).
6. What kind of influence does this person have on society? What type of audience would find this person inspiring?
7. Why did you choose this person? What influence do they have on YOU personally? (5-10 full sentences)
8. Describe the text or words you will use to create your portrait (from a book, lyrics, a speech...) Why are these words significant for this person? If these are words from a speech or interview what were the results of these words? Did anything change because of them? Why are these words important to YOU?
Step 4: Choose the Text
The text that you choose must be relevant to the person you're creating a portrait of. For example, I chose Atticus Finch so I want to choose excerpts and quotes from Atticus from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mocking Bird.
If you chose Martin Luther King Jr, you might want to choose his famous "I Have a Dream" speech and excerpts from other speeches. If you're choosing a musician, you might want to choose specific song lyrics or an actor's interview quotes or favorite quotes from a movie. It can be in ANY language, especially if your person's first language is other than English.
You must have access to these quotes throughout the entire project. They can be printed out or you can have access to them on a personal device or Chrome Book. Not having the text available in class in not an excuse to not work. Be responsible.
If you chose Martin Luther King Jr, you might want to choose his famous "I Have a Dream" speech and excerpts from other speeches. If you're choosing a musician, you might want to choose specific song lyrics or an actor's interview quotes or favorite quotes from a movie. It can be in ANY language, especially if your person's first language is other than English.
You must have access to these quotes throughout the entire project. They can be printed out or you can have access to them on a personal device or Chrome Book. Not having the text available in class in not an excuse to not work. Be responsible.
Step 5: draw grids to create a proportional portrait
We'll be using a grid system to create a large proportional portrait from your printed picture. It is imperative that you be as accurate as possible when measuring. Use light pencil lines to create your grid since you'll be erasing these later. Complete a practice worksheet.
Draw a ONE INCH grid over your printed picture.
Draw a TWO INCH grid over your 16x20" final paper.
**ATTENTION** This can be tedious but I PROMISE, if you take your time it will pay off in the end.
Draw a ONE INCH grid over your printed picture.
Draw a TWO INCH grid over your 16x20" final paper.
**ATTENTION** This can be tedious but I PROMISE, if you take your time it will pay off in the end.
Step 6: Outline the values and facial features on your printed picture
Step 7: Transfer image
In LIGHT pencil, transfer your image, square by square, onto the larger paper. If you've been really accurate up to this point, your portrait will come out beautifully! Remember, only draw shapes.
Once your entire image is transferred, erase all the grid lines.
Once your entire image is transferred, erase all the grid lines.
Step 8: Fill in shapes with Text value using black pen only
Using your original picture as a guide, start to fill in your shapes with text value. **Remember, you're using this person's spoken or written words.**
1. Start with the darkest darks first. Since we're using pen, you can't erase. You can only go back and make values darker. (Eyes, shadows along neck, chin, inside ears, nostrils, and most times, hair.) 2. Once you've matched your dark values, move on to the next lighter value and so on until your entire portrait is complete. Tips and Tricks: ***BIC pens or Paper Mate pens tend to look and work out best. Gel pens or ball point ink pens are a little bit harder to control and are better for more advanced or ambitious students. You can also get a wider range of value because you can vary the pressure of the pen to get also get value.*** 1. You can always go back and make values darker if you need to adjust. 2. Make sure your letters and words are TOUCHING your shapes outlines. 3. Don't worry about "lines" or "paragraphs". This isn't an essay. 4. Overlap words to make values darker. Use bigger more spread out letters and words for lighter value. It is not necessary to be able to read every word. 5. Follow the shape's contours. (Remember from the beginning of the year.) You may want to change the direction of the lines of words you're writing to show hair direction. 6. Almost everything must have some value. No one has anything on their body (including the whites of their eyes) that is as pure white as your drawing paper. There may be places such as highlights that may be left white to show high contrast. |
Jessi P. working on her portrait of Carl from The Walking Dead
Kim C. working on her portrait.
|