Symbolism was an art movement in the 1880s and 90s; “the artists offered the realities of fantasy,
dreams and hypersensitivity to
experience in place of the straight
naturalism or realism that reflects
the material world” (The Yale Dictionary of Art and Artists). Ferdinand Hodler and Paul Gauguin are
excellent examples.
root images can also be located
online if students are unable to take
their own photos.
of dream imagery and mysticism
enhance the opportunities for
the application of arbitrary color
schemes in the tree root composition. Have students review
their color theory knowledge and
experiment with monochromatic,
analogous, complementary, and split
complementary schemes.
Begin with Digital Cameras
Students are encouraged to explore
their community and make sketches
and digital images of native trees,
especially those with tree roots that
offer interesting designs and negative space. Often trees along river
and creek banks have root systems
affected by erosion that create interesting shapes, spaces, and patterns.
As students compose their photos, stress the importance of strong
light and shadow on the subject as
well as unusual viewpoints. Tree
Technology and Color Schemes
Incorporating technology skills,
students can download their images
to an image-manipulation program
and experiment with color filters
to enhance their creative process.
After selecting their color schemes Symbol of Self
and printing their images, students The Symbolism aspect of the assign-are ready to draw an enlarged ver- ment requires the student to reflect
sion of their tree and create sym-root image. They After selecting their color bolic images that
may choose to schemes and printing their represent their
zoom in on a small intrigu- images, students are ready personality and to incorporate these
ing area of their to draw an enlarged version images into the
photo or combine of their tree root image. lines and spaces
several photos. A of the tree roots
composition with balanced shapes without overpowering the composi-and negative space should be part of tion. These images can be somewhat
the project criteria. subliminal, and should add to the
