It’s commonly believed that art and science are polar opposites, but the truth is that they’re a lot closer together than many people think. Both art and science are about exploring, understanding, and interpreting the world around us. Some art projects that highlight the intersection between art and science are discussed below:
- Animal Habitats. You can use a variety of mediums to draw, paint, or create replicas of animal habitats. Try to create habitats that you wouldn’t see in your own neighborhood! Doing this helps you learn how to conduct research, teaches about biology and biodiversity, and creates connections to the natural world.
- Soundwave Portraits. Sounds are caused by vibrations, and these vibrations can be reproduced as art with the assistance of a computer, tablet, or smartphone app. These visual depictions of sound waves teach about frequency, wavelength, and amplitude, and helps explore the concept of voice. Several people can speak the same word and record the vibrations. This demonstrates that a voice print is as unique as a fingerprint.
- Pottery. When you create pottery and fire it in a kiln, you can see how the clay undergoes chemical changes under heat and dehydration. This teaches about molecular structure and other aspects of chemistry.
- Paint Pouring. Creating pieces of art with poured acrylic paint looks dramatic and also incorporates a science lesson. Different paints have different chemical composition. Exploring how the colors flow and react teaches about density and viscosity.
- Epoxy Cast Molds. Epoxy is a polymer that starts in a liquid state but becomes solid and glossy with the addition of a chemical hardener. The poured molds are beautiful on their own and the curing process demonstrates chemical interaction at work.
- Plaster Frescoes. Another example of chemical interaction at work and at play, creating plaster frescoes shows how carbon dioxide in the air interacts with wet paint and wet plaster to bind the two together as a limestone surface. Frescoes stand the test of time, and this can be a history or art history lesson as well!