Layers and Landscapes

layers can be confusing

In Inkscape there are “levels” and “layers”. We did a levels project earlier that demonstrated how to move objects on top of or beneath each other. Layers are different and more complex so I wanted a laser cut project that would teach this lesson and result in something beautiful to take home.

The lesson started with a brief few slides about famous landscape artists using pictures the students recognize from Disney movies and the like. Then students were invited to choose their “scape” (land, city, sea, cloud, etc.) and create at least 4 layers. This student created a “carnival”—scape with which I was not previously acquainted. It’s really cool, right?

Students had to cut their layers from 3mm birch plywood and then glue up some 6mm 1/2” pieces to separate the 3mm layers. (I pre-cut these to save the students the wait-time for the 6mm cuts.). This entire lesson came after we had an entire lesson on how to use wood glue properly. My mantra (“too much glue, too much glue”) is renown on campus. These Middle School students got a chance to show off their glue-chops in this project.

Landscapes include sky, mountains, trees, waterfalls, and rivers

This one is another favorite primarily because of the careful work the student needed to do to make the waterfall work.

We discussed sanding the pieces to remove the “scorch marks” left by the laser cutter but the artist decided against it. “It’s not that I’m not willing to do it, Ms. Orlik. It’s that I think the trees look more rustic with the brown. It looks like a California summer.”

Thinking about “negative space” is a difficult skill for any age group. Why, for example, does the waterfall work with very little wood but the river needs more wood to hold the ripples? That question resulted in a long classroom conversation that was well-worth the time.

Minimalism can be a good thing

As a devout animal-lover I was drawn to this city-scape with the park bench and the handy thing to hold the dog’s leash for a few minutes. I love the way this student took license to use more 6 mm pieces to give the dog some room to play.

You see the sun and the buildings but the eye is caught by the park bench and the leash holder. The completely random grass in the front is so not middle school…and I liked it because it seemed beyond its years.

I’m happy to share the step-by-step of this project. Just get in touch.

p.s. Parents who attended a 6th grade celebration were crazy-in-love with these projects. Parents proclaimed them “the best art my child has ever done". And I think they’re pretty cool, too.