Using Technology for Putting Together the Information
 Expansion of Illustrating Skills Through the Visual Arts

 EXPANSION OF ILLUSTRATING SKILLS THROUGH THE VISUAL ARTS

The visual art component was added in the third year of the project to illustrate events and activities that cannot be photographed. The primary goal of the visual arts component is to enhance the web site with drawings and paintings of historical places where Minto people have lived, camped and experienced their subsistence life-style.

In order for the students to develop "a sense of place" in the visual art world, they will view art and learn about artists in other parts of the world to see how they include their own cultural heritage in their art.

Philosophy

Art is a universal language which crosses time and cultures. The Minto Mapping Project can use the visual art to reflect and preserve important cultural events of the past, and those events happening now.

The growth and development of each individual can be enriched through art since it celebrates uniqueness, self- expression and diversity. Art provides a means for appreciating, valuing and respecting ourselves and others.

Mission

It is the intent of the visual art segment of the project to provide the students of Minto with a broad scope of art experiences. It will give diverse exposure to media, concepts and activities to enable them to record what is happening around them. Students will use their art to illustrate the stories the Elders tell and to draw the historical sites and landmarks. Their experiences will include some formal training in the visual arts, as well as the local folk art taught by the Elders. What they accomplish can be scanned to the web site to enhance the project and give it meaning to themselves as well as the Elders.

Traditional Folk Art of Minto

Students need to identify the folk art popular in their village of Minto both past and present. This would include beading, carving, clothing design, bark basket making and others. Folk art is defined as the art forms done by artists of an ethnic group without formal art education. Folk art is usually passed down from one generation to another.

Students need to investigate the origins of design and patterns used in the local folk art, and understand the significance of these art forms in their lives.

Elders need to pass on information and teach the students about their traditional folk art. This should include any historical importance, along with specific techniques and instruction in each of the art forms.

Visual Art Experiences

Producing art must include some building block experiences both in the concepts taught and the media the students learn to use.

Drawing Concepts

1. Introduce sketching and contour line drawing.
   
   
2. Draw from observation.
   
   
3. Use forms and light to study shading.
   
   
4. Discuss and use perspective to give depth.

Media for Drawing

pencils, charcoal, oil pastels, and the ink pen

Painting Concepts

1. Discuss color theory: This would include primary colors, secondary colors, complementary colors, analogous colors, and monochromatic color schemes.
   
   
   1. Learn how to mix secondary colors from the primary colors.
   2. Discover how color combinations can give a mood to a painting.
      
      
2. Discuss value and contrast using a monochromatic color scheme.
   
   
3. Learn watercolor techniques such as wet on wet, wet on dry, washes, and resists.
   
   
4. Examine different painting styles of artists going from realism, impressionism, to abstract. Compare the varied styles of folk art in Minto.
   
   
5. Combine media using both painting and drawing techniques. Oil pastels will create a resist and ink pens can enhance a painting with detail

Cultural Standards

Students
A6, B1—2, C3, D1, E8

Educators
A2—4, A6, B1, B3, B5, C2—3, E2—3, E5

Curriculum
A1—5, B1, C4—6, D2, E1

Schools
A1—2, B2

Communities
E2, F2—3