For a couple of years I have been admiring images of Masking Tape Perspective Murals found on the
Art at Becker Blog. Perspective is one of the units I had been having a love hate relationship with and this year I revised the
unit to contain skill building projects I feel really good about. In addition to feeling more confident about skills students acquired within the unit, I feel like the block schedule (80 minute periods) allows for more extended projects that can make something like a tape mural project a reality to achieve in one day. Added to that extra funding from a grant I was awarded last month and there you have it: confidence, time and money!
I decided to make the Tape Perspective Project the mastery project of the Perspective Unit. Students slowly built skills and confidence of creating 1-2 point perspective art using a variety of media and techniques. Then the Tape Perspective Mural Project was introduced and the 4 day process began: Students sketched a 1-2 point perspective drawing in class using iPads for images and inspiration. Then students got in teams of 2-3 people and selected the best sketch that demonstrated mastery. Using that sketch, students practiced recreating the mural out of masking tape on butcher paper in class using only the sketch as reference, tape, scissors and yardsticks. This was a VERY successful method for groups to learn how to work together effectively. The next day I assigned groups their wall space averaging (6' X8'), gave them blue painters tape, yard sticks, scissors and chair to stand on and that was it. The rest of the day was like magic! I have never seen kids so engaged and excited about an art project before. The best part was when classes were let out and other students campus wise oohing and ahhhing over the artwork showing their appreciation!
