Radial Design is design created that is visual drawn to the center. Every culture incorporates radial design into their architecture and design of building, tools/equipment, textiles and art. It is woven into the community’s building design, clothing and culture.
This lesson is an exploration into pattern design reflecting on community and local environment.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
- Students will understand geometry in context of an art pattern design project.
- Students will learn to discuss their radial pattern designs using both math and visual arts vocabularies such as: arc, concentric, balance, repetition, contrast, angle, symmetry, radial pattern, intersect, bisect, acute angle and obtuse angle.
- Students will identify visual imagery unique to students’ community, their environments and culture, and translate those elements to patterns designs.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS and THEMES:
- What is this? (show Tibetan mandala) What does this pattern represent to these monks?
- What is this? (show Mayan Calendar) What does this pattern represent here?
- How would you define radial pattern design?
- What are examples of man made radial pattern designs? (i.e. hub caps)
- What are examples of radial pattern designs in nature? (i.e. spider web)
Participate in a class discussion of themes: Cultural Celebrations/Festivals/Community Events, Neighborhood and Environment, Transportation/Journey, Geography:
- Describe how communities vary in land use, population density, architecture, services, and transportation.
- Describe the social and cultural life in their region and neighborhoods and interactions among people (celebration, festivals, community events, etc.).
Trace a 7″ square on to three consecutive sheets (one side) of paper in your sketchbook. Divide the square into four triangles by drawing an “X” – two lines drawn from corner to corner. In one of the triangles create a simple drawing based on the landscape they live in. Think about the land as if you were a bird flying high above the land. Trace the turns in the road, the affect of the river and gentle hills. Create a linear design based on your bird’s eye view of the landscape. Include their road (driveway) and the landscape up to their house.
Using tracing paper repeat that design three more times and tape down on to the paper creating a radial design. Make sure to fill the tracing paper to match up design to create a symmetrical radial design.
Shade in areas to create a black and white image.
Using the radial design created, transfer the design lightly on to the sheet of metal provided. Observe the demonstration of “tooling” the metal. Use a stack of newspapers to create a cushion to “push and pull” the metal gently into a relief. Complete the work so the image is symmetrically tooled throughout. (Best practice – Even slow steady work will not create lines in the metal.)
Artist Statement – In your sketchbook write out a paragraph describing a place this pattern could be used in your community.
http://www.slotshelters.com/explore/explore-radial-pattern-making
