Virtual Resources
At-Home Art Activity
Takashi Murakami, born 1962, in Tokyo Japan, was interested in Japanese anime (cartoon animation) and manga (comic books) from a very early age. He attended Tokyo University of the Arts where he studied traditional Japanese art and techniques and mastered Japanese flower painting. He coined the term Superflat to define his work, which embodies the Japanese tradition of a flat pictorial space. The Happy! exhibition at NSU Art Museum includes this floral work, a perfect symbol for spring and new growth and happiness.
Materials
- White paper or cardstock
- Assorted coins or other small round objects
- Black Sharpie or other permanent marker
- Colored markers, crayons or colored pencils
- Covering for your work surface
Art Vocabulary
Anime – A style of animation originating in Japan that is characterized by stark, flat, colorful graphics.
Manga – A flat style of imagery used in Japanese comic books and graphic novels typically aimed at adults as well as children.
Overlap – When one object is placed in front of another, preventing the view of the other, at the same time creating depth.
Virtual Resources
Inspiration for your Imagination
Takashi Murakami, Open Your Hands Wide, Embrace Happiness!, 2010. Private Collection, Courtesy of Sabsay Gallery Denmark © 2010 Takashi Murakami/ Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All rights reserved
Art Activity
Instructions
Step 1
Always use a protective cover for your work surface. Several layers of newspaper, brown paper or a plastic tablecloth work well. This step is especially important if you are using permanent makers that may bleed through your paper.
Step 2
On a white piece of paper or card stock, using a marker, or a black crayon or pencil, trace coins or other small round objects in a random pattern leaving space in-between the circles. Permanent markers are great for this step and step 3 because the lines will not smear later if you color in with water-based markers.
Step 3
Continue to add flower petals to the circles you have traced, this can be done by drawing several u-shaped lines connecting to the circumferences of the circles. When drawing the petals, it is ok to stop at the edge of the next flower, which will create the illusion of depth by overlap. Add smiles and other facial features to your flowers.
Step 4
Choose your coloring medium: marker, crayon or colored pencil and then color in the assorted flowers you have drawn.
Step 5
Look at your composition and decide if more flowers are needed in the remaining white spaces. Add more flowers accordingly.
Art Activity
Notes
For younger children use very larger paper or poster board as well as larger unbreakable items for tracing circles. This is also a perfect outdoor sidewalk chalk activity.
*If you have any questions about these art activities please e-mail Sue at: [email protected]. Now in her garage making art!
NSU Art Museum is part of Nova Southeastern University
NSU Art Museum is supported by the City of Fort Lauderdale
