MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!!!

Welcome to the exciting idea of learning about the visual arts with international currencies used as the medium of reference.


Many people tend to think that art is not important. But without visual artists we would not have money to express value and to conduct trade on any level.

These artists work with engravers and relief designers to create the designs in paper money or coins to serve the personal, cultural, and national needs of its users. Yet it is so easy for many of us not to see money as powerful, beautiful, and curiously incredible works of art.

Even coupons can be considered a type of money. Tickets may be also. The artists that create these items have to consider a lot of things in order to be successful. Plus they have to be clever enough to stay a step ahead of counterfeiters. In other words they even have to be better than the other artists who may want to copy their work.

This requires talent, skill, intelligence, imagination, and a very good work ethic.

We live with this art every day of our lives. It binds us to others on so many levels. It makes everything possible. Yet we overlook the gifted artists that create money for our personal or professional use.

By the end of this lesson you will see money in a broader light while gaining some insight into other countries and their design and use of money.

In the future some of you may even start telling your friends that money is your favorite form of visual art. You may pull out a hundred dollar bill and say, "Look at that great work of beautiful, functional, art!!!

Welcome to your lesson on the visual arts using money as the medium of a creative learning exchange. This is every day visual art that makes our world go around. This is a type of art that we love to use and receive.

All of the images in this site are were selected for educational purposes only. They are not to be used for commercial reasons. It may be illegal to print images of currencies for any reason therefore I suggest you do not make prints of this curriculum web.

" Enjoy this exciting geopolitical lesson in the visual arts."

Turtel Onli M.A.A.T.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The image above is an example of the early types of printing presses that engravers used to create paper money.

IMPLEMENTATION:

In order to complete these assignments you will need the following supplies and skills.

1. A sketch book or some type of unlined drawing paper.

2. Writing supplies as in lined paper and a pen.

3. Drawing materials such as markets, crayons, or colored pencils. Basic art making skills. The student should have successfully completed the fundamental art class assignments in studio art and art criticism.

4. Basic internet and computer skills such as using the browser, links, and basic scrolling methods.

5. An open mind to independent creative learning.

News: The USA is going to redesign its 20 dollar bill. Another great job for an artist.

You will learn about the money designed for use in Greece, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Australia, the United States of America, Japan, Singapore, and Mexico.

This lesson will expose you to the icons, economies, and histories of these nations as well.

You will open up to the fascinating qualities of the kinds of currencies that artists have designed for several countries around the world.

The idea was to provide a sampling of designs that could be considered representative of the major cultural or economic nations of the world in a context to provide for creative learning that is interdisciplinary and multicultural.

This lesson combines art appreciation, art history, and art making based on the most visible of all visual art forms.

There is a historical and geopolitical slant to this lesson that may encourage you to visit some of these countries in the near future.

 

Click on a country or currency below to begin: