Peter Max Figure Studies

Students will become inspired by American Pop Artist Peter Max, draw models of

students in the classroom and color them in with abstract patterns.

Students will be able to make better pieces of art after they experiment with pattern and

creating abstract figures with color

Objectives- Students will be able to

• draw from observation - make several figure studies

• work on figure proportion

• gain appreciation for work of Peter Max - 1960s artwork

• explore pattern and color in creating an abstracted figure composition

Project Summary

• This project will use contour figure studies from class observation. Make at least 5 contour studies of parts of the figure to whole body studies. No shading is to be used and only line to describe the details of the figures. Overlapping the drawings using tracing paper will give you an abstracted look at 3 or more contours and colored pencil will be used for the shapes created by the overlapping figures.

Assessment Rubric

Student Name: Class Period:

Assignment: Abstract figure - Peter Max Date Completed:

Circle the number in pencil that best shows how well you feel that you completed that criterion for the assignment.

Excellent Good Average Needs Improvement Rate Yourself Teacher’s Rating

Criteria 1 – Contour figure studies 10 9 – 8 7 6 or less    

Criteria 2 – Aesthetic arrangement of figures - composition 10 9 – 8 7 6 or less    

Criteria 3 – Rendering of patters - use of color 10 9 – 8 7 6 or less    

Criteria 4 – Effort: took time to develop idea & complete project? (Didn’t rush.) Good use of class time?

10 9 – 8 7 6 or less    

Criteria 5 – Craftsmanship – Neat, clean & complete? Skillful use of the art tools & media?

10 9 – 8 7 6 or less    

Total: 50 (possible points)

Grade:  

        Your Total Teacher Total

               

Student Comments:   Teacher Comments:

Proportion: What do you know?

• Proportion, such as in the body, is the study of relation of human body parts to each other and the whole, essential for depiction of the overall figure.

• Scale: The size of an object in relation to an ideal or normal size

• How many heads high is the human body?• Before you independently start drawing models,

let’s set up a figure study together and practice on Contour Drawing & Proportion

• There are several discrepancies about the true Golden Mean of the human body. Some people state it can be anywhere from 7 to 8 ¾ heads tall. But for the sake of all arguments, we will draw our bodies as 6 heads tall.

Drawing paper 9” x 12”ErasersRulers

Pencils or other drawing toolsHandout of average human body

proportions

The Human Body is 6 heads tall (from the top of the skull to the chin)

• Lightly sketch on paper guidelines for human figure (horizontal lines to measure 6 heads tall.)

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Sketch parts of body in correct positionsRefine drawing to present proportions. It should be a CONTOUR drawing – meaning hardly pick up the pencil and focus on the outside edge.

Your 2’o clock partner can model for you and then vice versa.

Afterwards, Erase guidelines and complete drawing in chosen medium (markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.)

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Assessment:

• Did student draw a figure in correct proportion and create a contour drawing?

• Using the rules of Proportion, create a contour drawing of this model sporting Peter Max inspired clothing.

Peter Max

• Peter Max was born in Germany, but raised in Shangai, China and other various European countries before coming to America in the early 1950’s.

• He is known for his bright vivid use of color, fascination with Astronomy, and paintings of celebrities, and he annually paints the Statue of Liberty every 4th of July.

• He went through several periods of his artistic style- first by painting as realistic as possible, then applying photographic collages, then came about his psychedelic cosmic art, which typically had dark outlines are subjects and bright colors.

Click on the link for a Max video (3:08)

Materials

• Pencil #2 or HBnewsprint 12” x 18”

Procedures: Drawing from Observation

• Make at least 5 contour studies of parts of the figure to whole body studies. No shading is to be used and only line to describe the details of the figures. Do some modeling lying down and some standing for good contrast

Remember: Do not pick up the pencil, draw slow and concentrate.

Do a variety of Contour drawings (such as a whole body and maybe just a head or hand.

Assessment:

• Did student draw at least five contour drawings in correct proportion of full figures and some body parts?

Where can you find Emphasis (the center of interest) in this work of Peter Max’s?

How does Max create Movement by having his “Umbrella Man” standing straight up, but the background goes horizontal?

Materials• Contour drawings from yesterday

Masking tape

ScissorsTracing paper  Graphite sticks

Procedures:Creating Emphasis & Movement

• 1. Take all of the contour studies of the figure and cut around them so that you have only a small space from the edge of the drawing.

2. Look at them and arrange them in the order of your preference good to bad.

3. Place them near to each other and overlapping, to see vertical and horizontal movement and an area of emphasis.

Tracing & overlapping new shapes

• 4. Use a piece of tracing paper to start tracing out the first contour drawing in the area of emphasis.

5. Next, trace another over the first to create new shapes when they are traced together.

6. Repeat this using at least three contour studies.

7. Take the tracing paper and transfer the image with graphite onto a new piece of 9 x 12 (or 12 x 18) paper.

8. Outline the transferred image with a black ink pen.

Assessment:

• Did student transfer at least three contour drawings that have created a new piece of art that shows Emphasis and Movement and outline them?

• Max's visual impact on the '60s has often been compared to the influence the Beatles had with their music.

• An animated film based on the Beatles was made in 1968 called “The Yellow Submarine.” Many people suggest that Max worked closely with the Beatles to produce this film, but all of the film makers denied Max’s involvement.

• But pay close attention to the images, patterns and color used in the film clip. It is hard to make any acknowledgment that the film makers weren’t inspired by Peter Max’s psychedelic style of the time.

Lucy in the Sky w/ Diamonds clip is (3:27)

Questions to Ponder?

• What do you think a “Blue Meanie” would really be in London in 1968

• Why do you think they had Mickey Mouse ears on their head? What are the artists trying to say?

• What are some styled features did you see a lot of? What were some common visual elements? “Yes” “No” “Know”

• Can you think of anyway this film helped influence future artists already? Think of tv shows, channels and music.

Really get to know the artists by thinking about the Time Period, “1968”

• Johnny Cash records, “Live at Folsom Prison”• The Green Bay Packers win Superbowl II• The Vietnam War rages. • The American Civil Rights movement: African-

Americans demand equal rights and begin protests.• The U.S. is being torn apart due to the war. Old vs.

young, man vs. woman, Caucasian vs. African American. The Black Panther party and other groups become militant activists. (Tommie Smith and John Carlos)

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated.• Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated.• “Hot Wheels” toy cars are first made• The Space Race between Russia is coming to an

end. Planet of the Apes and 2001: A space odyssey

Procedures: Drawing from Observation

• Make at least 5 contour studies of parts of the figure to whole body studies. No shading is to be used and only line to describe the details of the figures. Do some modeling lying down and some standing for good contrast

Remember: Do not pick up the pencil, draw slow and concentrate.

Do a variety of Contour drawings (such as a whole body and maybe just a head or hand.

Procedures:Creating Emphasis & Movement

• 1. Take all of the contour studies of the figure and cut around them so that you have only a small space from the edge of the drawing.

2. Look at them and arrange them in the order of your preference good to bad.

3. Place them near to each other and overlapping, to see vertical and horizontal movement and an area of emphasis.

Materials

• Pencil #2 or HBFinal Project paper 

Colored pencilsInk drawing pens

Optional: Pastels - collage materials

Practice with Pattern

• Get a piece of Scratch paper and make 12 of your own patterns, words and designs.

• Using Colored pencil, fill in the shapes created by the overlapping figures. Be creative and apply your new patterns!

Assessment:

• Did student create original patterns and color in their new overlapped Contour drawing with colored pencils?

Assessment Rubric

Student Name: Class Period:

Assignment: Abstract figure - Peter Max Date Completed:

Circle the number in pencil that best shows how well you feel that you completed that criterion for the assignment.

Excellent Good Average Needs Improvement Rate Yourself Teacher’s Rating

Criteria 1 – Contour figure studies 10 9 – 8 7 6 or less    

Criteria 2 – Aesthetic arrangement of figures - composition 10 9 – 8 7 6 or less    

Criteria 3 – Rendering of patters - use of color 10 9 – 8 7 6 or less    

Criteria 4 – Effort: took time to develop idea & complete project? (Didn’t rush.) Good use of class time?

10 9 – 8 7 6 or less    

Criteria 5 – Craftsmanship – Neat, clean & complete? Skillful use of the art tools & media?

10 9 – 8 7 6 or less    

Total: 50 (possible points)

Grade:  

        Your Total Teacher Total

               

Student Comments:   Teacher Comments:

Objective for today:

• Complete your figure study - Using Colored pencil, fill in the shapes created by the overlapping figures. Be creative and apply your new patterns!

• Refer to your final rubrics and I will be playing another Yellow Submarine clip to help inspire you with your abstract psychedelic designs

Click for Yellow Submarine Clip (9:59)