Chris+&+Rachel

=** BOOK REVIEWS! **=

**__“Come Look With Me: Exploring Landscape Art with Children” by Gladys S. Blizzard__** Blizzard, Gladys S. //Come Look With Me: Explo////ring La////ndscape Art with Children.//Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc. Watertown, MA. 2006

This book shows a variety of landscape paintings throughout history. Each painting is located on the left page, with the right page showcasing multiple questions pertaining to the image, plus a couple paragraphs explaining the painting. The questions asked, are questions that will allow the student to look at the painting in different ways. For example, one painting has a question that asks what kind of sounds might be heard if you were there. They force the student to think in depth about the painting.

This book would be extremely useful in a lesson plan. The book provides a lot of information on the artist, plus questions about the painting. We feel that this book would pertain to our lesson plan that we created, and even take it to the next level. Once the students complete our lesson, and have an idea of what inspired them and what they want to create, they can use this book as a source to find out different techniques that will enhance their image. Ranging from figures poses, use of color, and use of brush strokes.

**__“Why is the Blue Dog Blue? A Tale of Colors” by George Rodrigue__**  Rodrigue, George. //Why Is Blue Dog Blue? A Tale of Colors.// Stewart, Tabori & Chang. New York, NY. 2001

 This book is written by the artist himself, and tells the story of why he paints a blue dog blue. He talks about all the different colors he could paint the blue dog, and how he comes up with his ideas. Not only does the book use artistic images, the structure of the text is also filled with interesting styles, differing from page to page. The author asks what colors he would paint the blue dog, after going to certain places. For example he asks what color he would paint the blue dog after going to the beach. The answer is tan. This adds humor to the story, and also gives the reader a guessing game to play as they read so they can enjoy the book even more.  This book could be used in our lesson as an example of ways to include design and inspiration in a children’s book. It relates to our theme of inspiration behind an artists’ idea. A book like this could be used for an extension to our lesson plan as an assignment where we have our students create a simple children’s book themselves and explain their own inspiration behind their artwork. We would ask the students to not only explain their ideas, but also make it creative by the use of original text and image layout.

**__“Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman” by Marc Tyler Nobleman__** Nobleman, Mark Tyler. //Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman.// Random House, Inc. New York, NY. 2008  This book tells the story of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who were two social outcasts who through their hard work and dedication wrote the now very famous Superman comic strip. It is a children’s book, aimed at younger elementary students (around 3rd or 4th grade). The beautiful illustrations help tell the story of the two as they struggle to make something of themselves.  The book relates to our lesson because it literally is about how artists find inspiration and how they came to their finished piece. It also shows how artists can take information from a story to make illustrations. In our lesson we talked about multiple ways an artist could find inspiration, and in this book the two protagonists show one of our examples. The two took parts of their own lives and incorporated them into their story. For example, the fact that superman wears glasses is reminiscent of the fact that the creators themselves wrote glasses. Also the S for superman is also for their both last names. One way we can extend our lesson by using this book, is by having our students take pieces of their lives and with that create their own comic book or strip.

=**__WEB TOOLS! __**= **__MyFolio__** []

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">MyFolio is a super awesome tool where artists can upload their artwork and share with others! Anyone can browse these images and draw inspiration and come up with ideas. This tool could come in handy in our lesson, by having each student post their artwork online, and then find other artworks that is similar to theirs. It can also help students find new styles of art that they might be interested in. The one thing that we don’t like about this tool is that each image is not protected, for anyone can right click and save the image as their own. Otherwise this is a great tool that could be used by any age group.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">**__WebCanvas__** <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">[]

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">WebCanvas is a tool where anyone can edit and add to an online painting. You can do whatever you want with the painting. The real cool thing about this tool is that people all around the world can edit the one image. It is a really cool feeling seeing what people throughout the world have added. This would be great for a lesson. Each student could go onto the Webcanvas and find a piece of it that suits them. They can then discuss what parts they like best with the class, and then add either their own artwork to it, or something else they pull off the internet. Another feature of this tool is the coordinates they give you in order to locate a certain place on the canvas. The one downfall to this website is the fact that people can add inappropriate images and phrases to the canvas. Another flaw is that because it so big, it can be a little bit slow. But besides those two things it is a great, creative program.

=<span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">**__HOT LINKS__** =

<span style="color: #7e207e; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons/grade-6-8/Art_Show_with_the_Masters.aspx <span style="color: #7e207e; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> - This is a lesson plan from the Kennedy Center, which has students researching famous artists, then creating a piece of their own relating to their research

<span style="color: #7e207e; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://www.georgerodrigue.com/ <span style="color: #7e207e; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> - This Link is the website for the author of the book "Why is the Blue Dog Blue"

<span style="color: #7e207e; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOL2LjPqUaQ <span style="color: #7e207e; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> - Here is a video that will give someone insight on how to mix colors properly.

<span style="color: #7e207e; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_zTI1aMj7I <span style="color: #7e207e; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> - In this video the artist Deborah Butterfield explains her creative process behind making her bronze casted horses.

<span style="color: #7e207e; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://artistsinspireartists.com/ <span style="color: #7e207e; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> - This Website is dedicated for artists inspiring other artists. You can view paintings, photographs, architecture, fashion, and many more

<span style="color: #7e207e; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://www.learn-to-draw-lessons.com/art-articles.html <span style="color: #7e207e; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> - The website is one that gives articles for inspirational and motivational purposes, as well as articles for kids and how they can get involved with art.

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