The Painted Sole

Prerequisite: A love of art and fashion. An eagerness to draw and paint. A desire to use fashion as a tool for self-expression.

Course Summary: Are you an uber-fashionista- a trendsetter in the making? Do you love to express your personality through what you choose to wear?  Imagine a place where Project Runway and Art class meet.  The Painted Sole course offers a unique way to explore your love of art, expand your painting and drawing skills and put a one-of-a-kind stamp on your wardrobe. Using the medium of paint and your imagination you will create original designs and apply them to accessories you already have in your closet. The goal is to gain a keen understanding of how color and pattern communicate in our daily lives.  How they can make us feel a certain way and help us define and express who we are.
General Methodology:  Hands-on participation, group sharing and discussion. Breaking down elements of painting and design making into tangible units: artist’s tools, techniques, free drawing, composition, style-exploration, color pallet making, pattern creating from sketch to paint. Putting these elements together brick by brick to arrive at deeper and more multi-layered understanding of art, design and the self.

Homework: Students will maintain Inspire Books throughout the semester. This may include writing, collage-making and drawing. They will be asked to bring in objects from home that may be used for stamp-art. Students may be asked to research designers, pattern makers and artists. They will also be asked to bring in used items from their wardrobe that may be painted, such as: cotton T-shirts, caps/hats, canvas sneakers, jeans and fabric bags. The criteria for these items will be defined in a handout and each item must be approved by a parent/guardian before painting.

Example of the specific kinds of experiences students will have:

• Students will be asked to fill out a Style Questionnaire and share it with the class.
• Students will learn about the basic tools of the artist and how to set up their workspace.
• We will explore free-drawing techniques that help shed any fears of right and wrong. There are no mistakes in this class, only happy ones.
• Students will create patterns using ordinary found objects as stamps and apply them to an accessory.
• We will explore color-blending basics; students will create unique color pallets that reflect specific occasions, seasons and places.
• Students will be asked to create designs for an imaginary client with very specific style needs.
• Students will create patterns based on themes (floral, geometric, abstract etc.) and apply them to accessories.
• Students will be asked to present all of their work at our final Design Gala- parents are welcomed!

Intended outcomes:

• Students will celebrate their uniqueness and feel confidence in expressing their personal style through art and fashion.
• Students will gain insight into how color and pattern affect how we feel about ourselves and how we express ourselves.
• Students will have a deeper awareness of color, light, shadow and pattern in our environment and how they communicate to us and impact us in our daily lives.
• Students will expand their knowledge and ability to use the artist’s tools, as well as become more confident artists.
• Students will better understand the process of creating a design: running with an idea from it’s inception in the imagination, to a sketch, to color blending, to composition and finally application.
• Students will feel proud to wear their creations and be trendsetters in their own lives.