Master Artist Star Book

Submitted by: Stephanie M. Corder, AZ Academy ~ U.S. Virgin Islands
UNIT: Artist Research - Bookmaking
Grade Level: high school (adaptable to middle school)

 

Objectives:

To learn about a famous artist by researching them and creating a star-book based on the 3 D style of the Griffin and Sabine books. Each one of five pages will contain pertinent information about the artist inside a handmade envelope.

 

Books should include:

1. Short biography of the artist including a description of his/her art style.

2. Timeline of important events during the artist’s life

3. Picture of the artist (can be a self portrait)

4. At least one "example" of artist's works.

5. Choose one of the following for the fifth page of your book:

• A letter from you in 2005 to the artist in their own time.

• An interesting quote by or about the artist.

• A letter TO you from the artist, referencing their art career and the time they lived.

Your master artist books should contain details based on the artist’s style, for example the background of the pages could be made from prints by the artist, or use prints of the artists work to make the envelopes.

 

Resources:

• Griffin and Sabine books with pockets/envelopes

• The Griffin & Sabine Trilogy Boxed Set

• Sabine's Notebook: Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Continues

• Alexandria: Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Unfolds (v. 2)

• The Gryphon: Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Is Rediscovered

• Griffin & Sabine Writing Box

• Artcyclopedia - starting place for artist research.

Modify these instructions for making the book:

• Mini Star Book Ornament (your book will be much larger)

• Splitcoast Tutorials

• Star Book instructions by Spitcoaststampers

• Patriotic Star Book: Project of the month by Stamp Artist Becky Stratton. (Archive)

• Star book instructions PDF file from San Diego Museum of Art

• Three layer Star Book - HGTV (Archive)

Materials:

• Card Stock (white and assorted colors)

• Photo Paper (white Tag board could be used)

• Vellum (to make the envelopes with) or prints of artists work

• Pen and Paper to write biography, letter, quotes, etc.

• Assorted media to illustrate, and decorate your book with.

Procedure:

Day One:

Choose your artist; use the information provided to make notes and plan your research. Begin folding and connecting pages accordion book style for the inside "star" of books.

Note:

Choose someone you really like, enough to use one of their works for a spoof/parody in our next project.

Homework:

Write a one page biography about the artist

Obtain a photo/ portrait of the artist

Day Two:

Turn in biography and cut and measure paper for the outside of books, and begin making envelopes.

Homework:

Create a timeline that includes important events that happened during the artist’s life.

Obtain an example of artist’s work; can use one example from classroom with my permission (if I can’t let you use it, I will get a copy for you!)

Day Three:

Finish making envelopes.

Homework:

Choose one of the three options listed in number 5, humor and irony relating to the artist’s life are nice additions if you choose the letter format.

Day Four:

Use this period to complete any final touches on book and final presentation.

 

Notes from Stephanie:

The Griffin & Sabine books are a wonderful series of a fictitious correspondence by Nick Bantock, an English illustrator (one of my favorites). I took inspiration from the way he incorporates real envelopes with real papers to withdraw from them. As far as I know none of his books are star shaped.

 

...the black card stock makes up the inside star (I gave them a choice of ochre, raw umber, or white card stock) I used three 9x12 sheets per student and had them measure and cut it down to 6x9". They then folded them in half and taped them together in accordion format. Once they finished that, they taped the first page (not folded) to the folded edge next to it, and then taped that to the folded edge next to it, and so on and so on until they had a "flower" shape...

 

I have a series of poster calendars, and gave them the option of using one poster or downloading and printing digital images, both were equally effective. I used photo paper, it didn't occur to me to print onto card stock. I had them cut five pieces of their artist's image to 5 ½x6" noting that it would be placed horizontally and placed between each of the corners of the star. Instruct them to line up one 6" side of their print to one of the folded edges of the star and tape it along the edge. Then have them tape the other side, repeating until they have five prints taped side to side leaving two inside pages of the star, so the book can be closed. Punch a hole in each of these pages and knot a ribbon into each. Now you can tie the book to stay either open or shut!

 

I downloaded an envelope template and had them use this to trace and put together five envelopes. We then hot glued these into the books to hold their research about their artists.