Layer
Assignment Summary:
Students are tasked with exploring the theme of 'layers' in both physical and metaphorical contexts. The assignment involves observing layered subjects in the environment, reflecting on their significance, and creating an artwork that conveys a layered narrative or message. This can be achieved using various mediums, from collages to digital software. Students are expected to write a reflection on their creative process and present their finished piece, highlighting their interpretation of layers and the artistic choices they made.
Objective:
Layers in art can refer to a multitude of concepts – from physical layers of paint on a canvas to metaphorical layers of meaning. This assignment is designed to help students grasp the significance of layers, delving beneath the surface to understand depth, dimensionality, and complexity.
Conceptual Definition:
A level or stratum of a set of things that lies one above the other. For example, layers of management in a corporation or layers of meaning in a novel.
Synonyms:
stratum, level, tier, lamina, sheet, film, coat
This word is versatile and can be applied in various contexts, from geology (layers of rock or sediment) to culinary arts (layers in a cake) to everyday life (layers of clothes for warmth).
Physical Definition:
A sheet, quantity, or thickness of material, typically one of several, covering a surface or body. For instance, a layer of paint or a layer of clothing.
Technological Definition:
In digital design and computing, a layer can refer to one of the levels at which resources function or a method to overlay sets of data. For instance, in Photoshop, different elements can be placed on separate layers, allowing designers to manipulate each layer independently.
Instructions:
Observation & Research:
Begin by examining objects, ideas, or environments around you that possess layers. It could be the rings within a tree stump, layers of history in an old building, or even layers of emotions in a poem or song. Document these instances, either through sketches, photographs, or notes.
Conceptualization:
Reflect on the layers you've observed. Think about the hidden layers beneath surfaces or the deeper meanings behind seemingly straightforward concepts. Now, decide on a narrative or message you'd like to convey through these layers.
Consider questions like:
- What's visible on the surface, and what remains hidden?
- How do layers contribute to the overall depth or complexity of the subject?
- How do the layers interact with or influence one another?
Creation & Experimentation:
Translate your layered narrative or message into an artwork. Here are some approaches to consider:
Physical Layers: Use materials like paper, fabric, or other media to create a multi-layered artwork. Collage, papercut art, or layered sculpture can be effective methods.
Digital Layers: Use software like Photoshop or Procreate to create digital art, playing with the software's layering capabilities.
Translucent Layers: Use materials like watercolor or thin fabric to produce layers where each one subtly shows through the next.
Metaphorical Layers: Create a piece where the layers aren't physical but conceptual. This could be a story that unravels deeper truths with each progression, or a painting where foreground, mid-ground, and background each tell a different part of the narrative.
Reflection:
Write a short reflection (around 200 words) on your piece. Discuss the layers you explored, the narrative or message behind them, and your choice of medium and technique.
Presentation:
Share your artwork with the class. Delve into your creative process, how you approached the theme of layers, and any discoveries or challenges encountered.
Assessment Criteria:
Depth of Exploration: The variety and significance of layers explored during the observation phase.
Conceptual Clarity: How well the narrative or message is conveyed through the layers.
Execution: Skill and inventiveness in the chosen medium and layering technique.
Reflection: Insight and introspection exhibited in the written reflection.
Presentation: The capacity to articulate the inspiration, process, and outcomes.
Note to Students: Layers enrich our understanding, providing depth, nuance, and dimensionality. Through this assignment, aim to unravel or compile layers in a manner that adds depth and meaning to your work, making the viewer pause, reflect, and delve deeper.
Max Ernst
Butterflies, 1931
Cut-and-pasted printed and painted paper, cellophane, and pencil on paper
50.2 x 65.4 cm (19 3/4 x 25 1/2 in.)
