Ben-Day Dot Activity

Last year I taught a series of lessons on Pop Art.

One of the intro lessons involved the use of Ben-Day dots.

The second session of this years Art Club is this very same activity as it was successful before.

Take a look at these pictures that I drew last year:

All three of these use Ben-Day dots and bold solid colour.  All three are figures chosen by the children of last years classes, as they were their favourite icons.

If you have not seen it already check out Roy Lichtenstein and Benjamin Henry Day, Jr. You will then be able to see the history behind the art style, both in medium and its invention.

Through the use of Ben-Day dots you can make blocks of colour.  If you use coloured dots close together it makes a more solid colour, however if you use them further apart it makes a lighter colour.  Eg: Red dots close together will make a red, whereas if they are further apart it will make a fleshy tone instead.

I put it to vote again this year and the three most popular popular icons I drew up as templates.

Here they are:

Justin Beiber

Psy

Rhianna

Now your task is to colour one of them using a mixture of block colour and Ben-Day dots.   Try to use Ben-Day dots for the skin and background.

Things to keep in mind.

• Try to stick to only a few colours.  Lichtenstein stuck to generally 3 yellow, blue and red (sometimes green)
• Ben-Day dots in one section stay the same size and colour.
• All dots use the same pattern, look at it closely, use a ruler if it helps.
• All dots in one section are equally spaced apart from each other.
• Be creative, make it stand out!
• Pop Art is about simplicity, eye catching icons and impact.  Don't be too fussy with details.  
• Think bold and think big.
• Take care with your colouring and make it as good as you can.

Good work!  Keep it up!