Inspiration from afar
The time lapse video below and the artwork of Sol LeWitt served as the springboard for this project.
When I watched the time lapse video of the Milky Way I was completely awe struck when the movement of the stars created the concentric circles of light. BEAUTIFUL!
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The circles brought to my mind the wall drawings of Sol LeWitt, an American artist who shook up the art world with his point of view on conceptual art.
LeWitt would create a formal list of steps for a piece of art then another person or an entire group of people would follow his planning and directions carrying out his instructions to complete the work of art. The video (right) offers you an insight of this process. |
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Conceptual time warp art
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This project** can be treated as a game. Follow the instructions posted and create an illustration. Then make up a new sequence of steps - perhaps ask a friend or family member to write up instructions for you. The interpretation of the steps is completely up to you. How will the way you decipher the instructions vary from a friend's version?
materials:
markers and/or colored pencils printout of circular graph on heavy weight paper* pencil and ruler (optional) 
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The variable circular grid download was created by my daughter Kelsey Mader per my instructions/request - sounds like conceptual art to me!
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Instructions for making artwork on a circular grid:
1) color one ring yellow 2) color one half ring blue 3) color one half ring orange 4) make a black and white checkerboard section 5) make a striped ring 6) make a fat ring 7) make a skinny ring 8) color a quarter circle with a dark color 9) color a quarter circle with a light color 10) color a pink piece shaped like a slice of pizza 11) make a section blue and green striped 12) make a section yellow and red striped 13) make a ring of polka dots 14) outline a section with red 15) outline a section with black 16) outline a section with green 17) make another checkerboard section |
**Credit where credit is due: The idea for this LeWitt "game" was developed as a lesson plan from dickblick.com.
Think about conceptual art.
How does being restricted to the steps effect your artwork? Do you feel more creative by accepting the challenge to interpret the instructions or less creative being controlled by the instructions? |
