Winter Pop-Up Cards: A Poppin’ Way to Explore Geometry in Art!

Winter Pop-Up Cards: A Poppin’ Way to Explore Geometry in Art!

Pop-up cards are a FABULOUS example of the geometry in art. Make this snowy forest mini pop-up card with me!

Hi, art lovers!

Geometry and art might seem like two separate worlds, but they share a common foundation in shapes, angles, and patterns. This connection is especially evident when creating pop-up cards, a delightful and engaging way to blend creativity with practical math skills.

See how math sneaks it’s way into making pop-up cards!

How Geometry in Art Enhances Creativity

You might be wondering how the precise, structured world of math could intertwine with the free-spirited, creative pursuit of art. Well, the answer is surprisingly simple—math and art both rely on geometry! This became clear to me recently while I was creating some wintry pop-up cards in the studio. To my surprise, I found myself delving into the realm of mathematics
 

Yes, you heard that right! I use math ALL THE TIME in my art studio!

Discovering Geometry in Winter Pop-Up Cards

As I worked on a Snowy Forest Mini pop-up card, I began to realize just how much geometry was involved in my process. I was thinking about angles, how to make multiple triangles at once, and debating about whether to design my card in quarters or thirds. Suddenly, it hit me—”Wow, I use math when I make art all the time!”

Creating pop-up cards involves a variety of geometric principles. For example:
 

  • Parallel Lines: Understanding how lines that never meet can be used to create structure in the design.

  • Triangles: Learning how to create and combine triangles to form complex shapes, which is vital for both artistic design and geometry.

  • Positive and Negative Space: Exploring how different shapes interact and how space can be used to enhance the overall composition of the card.

These activities not only make math more tangible but also show how geometry can enhance artistic expression.

Teaching Geometry in Art Through Pop-Up Cards

Parents and teachers can use pop-up card projects to introduce basic geometry concepts in a fun and accessible way. For instance.

  • Right Angles: Demonstrate how 90-degree angles are used in the construction of pop-up elements.

  • Fractions: Show how dividing a page into halves, quarters, or thirds can help in designing the layout of the card.

  • Three Triangles in a Rectangle: Teach how triangles can fit together to form other shapes, reinforcing an understanding of geometric relationships

When I was crafting my Snowy Forest Mini pop-up card, I found myself naturally talking about right angles, demonstrating how three triangles can fit snugly within a rectangle, and even using terms like “parallel lines.” While I knew that art and math often intersect, it was awesome to see how geometry immediately informed my art-making!

Making Math Fun Through Geometry in Art

Math doesn’t have to be a struggle for kids. By integrating geometry into art projects like pop-up cards, we can make math an exciting and enjoyable part of their creative process. This approach not only builds confidence in math but also sheds like on how math and art are intertwined.
If you have reluctant mathematicians at home or in the classroom, consider showing them this video of me and my good friend Nutcracker making our Snowy Forest Mini pop-up card. It’s a simple yet effective way to demonstrate how geometry in art can be both fun and educational.
 
Check out these math concepts in action:
 

  • Fourths… 3:15

  • Parallel lines… 5:40

  • Three triangles in a rectangle… 6:14

  • Right angles… 6:50

If you and your young artists love this video, please like and subscribe!

© Copyright 2024 Emma Tipping.
All rights reserved

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