This week the students will be learning about Charley Harper. Charley Harper is an American artist born in 1922. He grew up on a farm in West Virginia in a small town, Frenchton. He loved to roam the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Charley had a special connection with nature and animals through examining their every move. He knew, one day he wanted to become an artist. Once Charley Graduated from art school, he was drafted into the war. In the war he would sketch quick drawings of soldiers in battle. Because battles are quick and movement is always happening, he learned how to sketch quickly and well. Soon Charley traveled the west studying nature with his wife, Edie. He realized he needed to make money and went into advertising. He was getting turned away left and right for his realism. He realized what he needed to do, " I concentrated on trying to simplify the great natural forms and symbolize the design underlying the surface clutter"-Charley Harper. Charley portrays animals and nature in a simple yet descriptive way. He has worked for Ford Times, " I have illustrated the Golden Book of Biology and The Animal Kingdom, both for Golden Press in New York. I have illustrated nature subjects for Childcraft and World Book Encyclopedia."- Charley Harper.
Charley Harper and his designs.
Here is a video of some of his work.
The students will be making their own watercolor piece using water colors and black pencil. They will choose an animal and draw it with pencil. One that is done, they will draw over their painting with a black colored pencil. Through this work the students will study color (appearance of an object that is created by the differing qualities of light it reflects). They will learn what primary colors and what secondary colors are as well.
I hope this blog helps!
Thanks
