Student Handout

Meet Three Young Artists

“My inspiration would be the ever changing and shifting of people and things around me.”

Favorite Materials: bristol paper, brush pens, and double-ended brush markers; a drawing tablet for digital art

“My inspiration is my family and friends, music, and other artists like RETNA, Joe Ledbetter, and Aaron Kai.”

Favorite Materials: paper, markers, and acrylic paint

DAVID LEEDavid Lee doodled through his classes as a kid, often connecting his illustrations with the information he was being taught so that he could easily remember it. Admiration for graffiti soon yielded an interest in type, and the Los Angeles artist began to explore fonts and artful lettering while attending middle school and taking art classes. At 23, David is still studying art. “Art has taught me to just go with the flow, and with that, it has helped me get over a lot of things and to just keep pushing forward,” David says. “It has also taught me that everyone is different in his or her own way and that you should cherish yourself.”

“My inspiration is helping the people in my community find positive ways to express themselves so they can live more peaceful and interesting lives.”

Favorite Materials: masking tape, acrylic paint, paintbrush, stencils

LUIS GONZALEZAt 18 years old, Luis Gonzalez is already making and selling art in his hometown of Boston. Being an artist—as well as working toward becoming an art teacher—has kept him productive and out of mischief. “Art opened my eyes to other ways to live, giving me the opportunity to be the person I truly believe I am,” says Luis. “By having a chance to do positive things where I can express my hopes and pains, I now see a path, my path, to a productive future.”

KRIVVYToronto artist KRIVVY has been making art since she was in kindergarten—a pursuit that has helped her cope with personal challenges. In the second grade, she found inspiration in the words of a teacher who told her that “famous artists never stopped drawing.” Now 21, KRIVVY can attest to having had ink- and marker-stained hands for most of her life. She recently worked as an artist at a community arts initiative and hopes to work as a counselor. About art, KRIVVY says, “It’s given me a sense of purpose and a way to connect to people and communities that I could never manage to otherwise.”

Project Tips

Tips on Creating

Illustrating CharactersTips from KRIVVY:

• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes: It’s fun to incorporate those “errors” into the overall character design.

• Try and relax yourself as much as possible when inking—it makes for a smoother and more-confident line, if that’s the look you’re going for!

• To make areas look solid, outline the area in which you’re coloring and then use small to large circular motions to fill in the rest of the color.

1. When creating stencils, think about negative space. You are creating an image by taking away material, so what is left provides the outline of what you want to show.

2. If your stencil has a few parts or letters, make sure that they are not too close together.

3. If you are trying to make something that has open space like the letter O, draw connectors or small links so when you cut the stencil, the outline remains and you don’t end up with a circle. Do not cut the connectors when cutting the stencil.

4. Always be careful when cutting stencils and follow all safety guidelines.

Stenciling With CollageTips from Luis Gonzalez:

• Make sure you put the tape and stencil down carefully so the paint doesn’t leak under it.

• Don’t be afraid to take risks.

• Follow your inspiration; your heart knows best.

• Pay attention to how the colors interact with one another.

David Lee, 23, Los Angeles

Inked Black-and-White Designs With Color Blocking Tips from David Lee:

• When blocking out each color or shape with tape, overlap it. If you don’t, there is going to be white showing.

• When peeling off the tape, pull away from the paint, not toward the paint.

• If too much paint is applied, it will take longer to dry. You still need to make sure it is dry before peeling off the tape.

Student Handout

Name:

Student Handout

Artist’s StatementAfter completing your project, reflect on the process and what inspired your artistic style. What does your art represent, and what do you want others to know about it? Respond to each item below.

My inspiration:

My approach:

What my art represents and means to me:

How I hope my art inspires others:

Challenges I experienced during the artistic process:

David Lee, 23, Los Angeles

David Lee, 23, Los Angeles

Imagine you have landed an awesome internship position at Boxxwerks, an internationally known design firm. This could lead to the career of your dreams! You’ve just been handed your first assignment, to design a package for a new premium nut-free trail mix that is low in calories, high in nutritional value, and incredibly delicious. Here are the project requirements:

• The package, which will hold 8 ounces of trail mix, must have a volume of between 150 and 190 cubic inches. Your package may take the shape of a rectangular prism, a cylinder, or perhaps something more daring, such as a triangular pyramid.

• The material chosen for the package should be suitable for the product and help protect it. Trail mix is a dry snack food typically made of ingredients such as dried fruit, granola, pretzels, chocolate chips, coconut, etc.

• The package design should include a label that is informative and eye-catching. The rest of the package should also be attractive.

Remember, this could be your big break! You want to persuade your boss that you are an exceptional designer, so make sure your presentation is excellent. Today you’re an intern, but tomorrow you could be a creative director, and, eventually, you could even run the company.

Name:

Think Outside the Box!

Student Handout

Volume Formulas

Rectangular prism: length x width x height

Cylinder: π x radius2 x height

Triangular pyramid: 1/3 x area of the base x height of the pyramid

Directions:

Step 1: Complete any research necessary before you begin designing. Consider package types, and the pros and cons of each. Volume formulas are listed for reference.

Step 2: Make a 2D drawing of your package design.

Step 3: Make a 3D model of your package out of cardboard, including the label and other design elements.

Step 4: Prepare a presentation for your boss at Boxxwerks that promotes your design. You will deliver this presentation to the class. At a minimum, be sure your presentation includes the product’s name, the package’s dimensions, and the material chosen for the package.