Mr. Rees' Class Blog » Creative Arts

Holiday Fun: Mandala Meditation

Mr. Rees — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 10:08:30 +0000

Mandala (मण्डल) is a Sanskrit word that means “circle”. In Tibetan Mandala Sand Painting is called dul-tson-kyil-khor, which literally means “mandala of colored powders”. They are key part of anuttarayoga tantra meditation practices. Below is a short video showing some monks creating a very complex Mandala.

On Friday (last day of school) we had a go at creating a Mandala with pencils/textas and everyone seemed to enjoy the quiet meditation time. Below are some more templates that you can use during the holidays. If you are really keen, you can try making your own Sand Mandala using salt and food colouring or powdered dye.

Click on image for larger version and then print it out
Here are more templates , several more
and some animal mandalas

Drawing Perspective: Vanishing Point

Mr. Rees — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:19:45 +0000

In class this week we have been learning how to draw with perspective. I was very impressed with the effort everyone put in and have seen some fantastic drawings. Click here to play with an interactive tool that allows you to explore perspective. If you are really keen you can try here.

Here is a picture that uses the same techniques that we used in class. Can you work out where the vanishing point is?

Here is a drawing of a building with two vanishing points. Are they on or off the paper?

Here is an example of a students drawing using two vanishing points, though he has made a few mistakes. Can you spot what needs to be fixed?

Vanishing points don’t just have to be for landscape scenes, they can also be used for drawing the inside of a building.

see more examples

We will be trying the room drawing next week in class, though you are more than welcome to have a practice at home.

[UPDATE]: Examples of completed work by 4R

Andy Warhol – Can of Soup

Mr. Rees — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:57:55 +0000

Andy Warhol (August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987), was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. He was very famous for turning everyday items, like a can of soup, into a piece of art. The highest price ever paid for a Warhol painting is $100 million for a 1963 canvas titled Eight Elvises.

In class we combined two of his well known pieces, Campbell’s Soup and Marilyn Monroe, to create a fun new version. We also decided to make our own yummy soup varieties.

Could you walk past the soup isle and not put one of these new varieties into your trolley?

Art or Advert?