The art question

Ever since I clicked "Publish Post" after criticizing Peterson and Burke for their picture book/drama lesson, I've felt a little guilty. Let me explain ...

One of the things they did in the lesson was invite the school's art teacher into the classroom to teach the basic elements of visual design to their students. Since the authors are English teachers, I was baffled at that. Yes, the book was part of an inter-disciplinary unit designed to include art, history, and language arts. But for some reason, this aspect of the lesson troubled me. (I'm still not sure why, and I'm equally sure I'll keep mulling it over.)

But here's why I've felt a little guilty. I was critical of teaching artistic design in an English class ... but it is precisely that aspect of the lesson that aroused my own curiosity as a learner, even to the extent that I've applied some of what I learned from Peterson and Burke about design to picture books I've looked at since then.

Well.

So I want to share with you some of those design basics. And I want to confess that I checked a book out from the library called The Picturebook: Source and Resource for Art Education. I want to know more about issues of design in picture books.

Here's what I learned from Peterson and Burke. Design elements can be essentially categorized into line, shape, and color.

Line - the thickness and direction of the line suggest mood and emotion. Horizontal lines are intended to convey a sense of peace, serenity, or stability, whereas vertical lines offer suggest aspirations and ideals. Diagonal lines might indicate confusion or motion/activity.

Colors - the shades and intensities correspond to mood. Darker colors suggest gloom, danger, mystery, threat, or intense feeling. Lighter colors demonstrate lightness, joy, or tenderness.

Shape - Curved shapes convey nature or freedom, whereas defined shapes might mean rigidity or man-made objects.

Okay, with these basics in mind, it is possible to derive meaning from a quality picture book from an entirely new perspective. And if, as Peterson and Burke say, the visual arts can extend a student's grasp of "how plots and characters are developed," well, then that's a good thing.

One of the inarguables my research has surfaced is that the illustrations in a picture book are integral to the story's meaning. So, I guess it makes sense to teach students a few basic design elements. I know - saying "I guess" is not exactly an enthusiastic endorsement. I confess, I'm still struggling with whether to spend time on this in an English classroom.

But, I have to also confess, as a learner, I'm intrigued. And I want to know more. And, gee ... isn't that endorsement enough?