This week we are celebrating Black History by highlighting artist Alma Thomas. Alma is a graduate of Howard and Columbia Universities where she studied with Jacob Kainen, Robert Gates and Joe Summerford and developed an interest in color and abstract art. She was an art teacher for 30 years in Washington D.C. and retired at the age of 83. Alma encountered many obstacles as a Black female painter, but never let that hinder her work. Alma was a colorist who used nature as her muse. She was honored as the first African American woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum.
Alma Thomas is the inspiration for our mosaic project. Her piece, The Grassy Melodic Chant is our source of inspiration and was created using turquoise geometric shapes. The negative white space represents the blossoming of flowers.
Almas Thomas
Grassy Melodic Chant, 1976, Acrylic on canvas
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Grassy Melodic Chant, 1976, Acrylic on canvas
Smithsonian American Art Museum
In our mosaic example, we found inspiration in rays of light. Our piece was made by cutting out shapes from colored paper.
Materials:
● Any medium
● Sketch Paper
● Pencil
● Scissors (our example)
● Glue stick (our example)
● Colored paper (our example)
● White paper or cardstock (our example)
● Any medium
● Sketch Paper
● Pencil
● Scissors (our example)
● Glue stick (our example)
● Colored paper (our example)
● White paper or cardstock (our example)
Directions:
1 - On the sketch paper, write down ideas of inspiration. For Alma, it was blooming flowers. Sketch what your inspired idea might look like.
2 - Use any medium to create the final product and bring your vision to life.
1 - On the sketch paper, write down ideas of inspiration. For Alma, it was blooming flowers. Sketch what your inspired idea might look like.
2 - Use any medium to create the final product and bring your vision to life.
To Recreate Our Mosaic Example:
1 - On the white paper or cardstock draw your inspired idea with a pencil.
2 - Decide what colored paper you want for your drawing and negative space.
3 - Take the colored paper and cut it into different shapes.
4 - Start gluing the shapes on the drawing.
5 - When your drawing is covered with the shapes, you can start gluing shapes of a different color onto the negative space to complete the mosaic.
1 - On the white paper or cardstock draw your inspired idea with a pencil.
2 - Decide what colored paper you want for your drawing and negative space.
3 - Take the colored paper and cut it into different shapes.
4 - Start gluing the shapes on the drawing.
5 - When your drawing is covered with the shapes, you can start gluing shapes of a different color onto the negative space to complete the mosaic.
Remember, the project this week is all about channeling inspiration, so look around you, be creative, and have fun.