Cashing In on Jasper Johns

Scholastic Art had a fabulous magazine with Jasper Johns, a 20th century American Abstract Expressionist painter as their cover story. He was born in Georgia, but most of his symbolic works were created in Mid-Century New York City. He broke with the trend of the Abstract Expressionists of the day, who were putting paint splatters or brush swooshes on canvas. He chose to use common symbols. My Everyday Students read about his symbols and statements, his life and his art. Then they used letterforms, and at least seven to ten letters to create a chaotic, but unified composition inspired by Johns. Below you will see works created in chalk pastel. Some students chose oil pastel or paint to express themselves. Jasper Johns used stencils, but I challenged my students to draw their letterforms either from their imagination, or to choose from fonts with styles that were college-like, a Game Of Thrones-like font, a classic serif font, and a modern san serif font. As they developed their compositions students also had to identify negative and positive space. Another requirement was that they show at least three Principles in their work. I have a background in print graphic design, so it was especially enjoyable for me to share the nuances of typography with my students.