Nōtan is a Japanese design concept involving the play and placement of light and dark as they are placed next to the other in art and imagery. (Wikipedia)

The process

Some final results

Often times students feel overwhelmed at having to draw something new, or drawing at all.  Drawing by design has the teacher draw one step at a time so the students can follow along.  In our art class we did a Draw by Design of an owl.

Once the shape (owl) has been created students have the freedom to add whatever designs or details they want.  One suggestion we were given is to have a border.  This comes in handy for students who finish early and need something else to do.

On our first day together we worked on our Visual Journals.

– We were first asked to rip up pages in our book

– Then work with pencil crayons and markers

– Then we were asked to re attach the paper we ripped out

– Throughout the class the teacher periodically introduced us to new material to use on our visual journals. These materials included pastels, hole punchers, stickers, glue, and yarn.

Our group found this activity refreshing as it was a change from the art we were used to. We were not given directions on what to do for our visual journals. We were free to do what ever we wanted and how ever we wanted. This was a change from art we were used to growing up which was always a set project with a criteria.

Some of us struggled with it in the beginning as we didn’t know what to create. We were so used to being told what to make in art. This activity helped us appreciate and value the freedom to create art without direction.

Visual Journal Reflections

We were asked to create a reflection of our visual journals with minimal wording. We were asked to do a visual reflection of our visual journal. It was interesting how different all our reflections turned out.

Owl Art

Our Cultural items

Collaborative sketches