Deco Dream City
Now that we know what makes a building Art Deco, let's make our own Art Deco buildings and create a Deco Dream City!
This arts activity is broken into 3 helpful sections. If you wish to jump ahead, to one of the later sections, simply click the round image for that section below. If you don't want to jump ahead, feel free to scroll down to see all of the information, suggested arts and crafts materials, video demonstrations, and more!
Before You Begin
Before you jump into making Art Deco buildings for your Deco Dream City, let's look at the suggested materials that can be used to make your very own Art Deco building.
Exploring What Makes a Building Art Deco
Let's take a look at the special features, materials, colors, designs, and shapes that make New York's world-famous buildings Art Deco.
Making Your Own Art Deco Buildings
Check out the 4 video examples that each show a different artistic method that you can use to make your own Art Deco building
Section 1: Before You Begin
Before you jump into making your Art Deco buildings for your Deco Dream City, let's take a look at a brief video that gives you an overview of the Deco Dream City project and suggests some materials you can use to make your very own Art Deco building. These ideas, materials, and supplies are just a suggestion, you can use whatever you have to create your own Art Deco building, you don't need to go purchase anything new.
To view the video click the play button in the middle of the video title page below. To view the video in full screen, click the four corner icon in the bottom right corner of the video.
Suggested Materials and Supplies:
You don't have to have all of the materials and supplies listed below to make your Art Deco building. These are just some of the materials that we will use in our video examples. Feel free to use other arts and crafts materials that you may have. Just remember to be creative, there is no right or wrong answer!
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Printed building template(s) (shown to the right) that you can modify however you choose, or you can use drawing paper if you'd prefer to draw your own building
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Coloring supplies such as pencils, markers, crayons, pastels, pens, and/or whatever materials you like to use when you draw and color
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Colored construction paper, wrapping paper, old magazines or newspapers, and/or whatever collage materials strike your fancy
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Scissors
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A ruler or straight edge to help draw straight lines, Art Deco patterns, and/or geometric shapes
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Liquid glue, a glue stick, and/or clear tape
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Materials that sparkle, like loose glitter, glitter tape, glitter glue, rhinestones, or even extra buttons
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Shiny materials like aluminum foil, chewing gum wrappers, or metallic foil papers
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If you choose to make a 3-D building, you can use any empty box or carton waiting to be recycled, such as cereal boxes, shipping boxes, milk or egg cartons, even empty paper towel or toilet paper tubes. Really anything will work
Again, it’s totally up to you-––any sort of arts and crafts or clean recycled material will help you create your Deco Dream City!
Downloadable Materials
Click the image below to open a full-size, printable PDF of your template
Section 2: Recap of What Makes a New York Building Art Deco
The video below features a quick recap of the Art Deco design features used in world-famous buildings like the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, and so many more. If you'd like to view the video recap, click the play button in the middle of the video title page below. To view the video in full screen, click the four corner icon in the bottom right corner of the video.
Section 3: Making Your Own Art Deco Buildings
Now that you have gathered your materials and remember the design features that make a New York building Art Deco, let's look at 4 examples that each use a different artistic method to create Art Deco buildings. Click one of the examples below to be taken to that specific video. Or, you can scroll down and view each of the 4 video examples. These videos are not step-by-step how-to tutorials, they are just examples meant to inspire you! Remember, it’s your building, so you can design and decorate it however you wish.
Drawing and Coloring Your Art Deco Building
The below video includes some inspiration for drawing and coloring your Art Deco building using one of our templates. Click here if you'd like to choose and print one of the templates we’ve provided. Or, if you prefer to draw your own building instead of using one of our templates, please do! This video is not a step-by-step how-to tutorial, it’s just an example meant to inspire you! You are making your own building, so decorate it however you wish.
To view the Drawing and Coloring video, click the play button in the middle of the video title page below. To view the video in full screen, click the four corner icon in the bottom right corner of the video.
Collaging Your Art Deco Building
A collage is a piece of art made by sticking various different materials such as pieces of paper, photographs, or fabric on to a backing. The below video includes some inspiration for using collage techniques to create your Art Deco building using one of our templates. Click here if you'd like to choose and print one of the templates we’ve provided. Or, if you prefer to draw your own building instead of using one of our templates, please do! This video is not a step-by-step how-to tutorial, it’s just an example meant to inspire you! You are making your own building, so decorate it however you wish.
To view the Collage video click the play button in the middle of the video title page below. To view the video in full screen, click the four corner icon in the bottom right corner of the video.
Making Your Art Deco Building 3-D
3-D stands for 3-Dimensional, and it's easiest to think of 3-D art pieces as sculptures. These 3-D artworks, unlike art on a flat piece of paper, can be seen from all sides and angles. The below video includes some inspiration for using techniques to create your 3-D Art Deco building using one of our templates and recycled materials you can easily find in your home. Click here if you'd like to choose and print one of the templates we’ve provided. Or, if you'd prefer to draw your own building designs instead of using one of our templates, please do! This video is not a step-by-step how-to tutorial, it’s just an example meant to inspire you! You are making your own building, so decorate it however you wish. This video is not a step-by-step how-to tutorial, it is just an example meant to inspire you! You can decorate your building however you wish.
To view the 3-D video click the play button in the middle of the video title page below. To view the video in full screen, click the four corner icon in the bottom right corner of the video.
Making Your Art Deco Building Digitally
Digital art uses a computer as part of the creative process. If you are interested in learning more about animation, graphic design, website design, or digital design when you are older, you may enjoy watching this example. If you haven't honed your computer art and design skills quite yet, that's fine, because all artists start where you are, with curiosity! The below video includes some inspiration for using digital techniques to create your Art Deco building using Adobe Photoshop and one of our templates. If you'd prefer to create your own building designs instead of using a template, please feel free! If you'd like to go back and choose and download one of our templates to your computer, click here. This video is not a step-by-step how-to tutorial, it's just an example meant to inspire you! You can decorate your building however you wish.
To view the Digital Art video click the play button in the middle of the video title page below. To view the video in full screen, click the four corner icon in the bottom right corner of the video.
Now send your design to your teacher so your teacher can make your class
Deco Dream City!
Acknowledgements
The Documenting Deco online program is provided with funding and support from a generous contributor in addition to:
This program would not have happened without the assistance of many individuals who contributed their time, talents, and knowledge to make it possible. Many thanks to architect and photographer Richard Berenholtz, who inspired Documenting Deco and shares his vast experience with students participating in the program; Judith Spokony, who brings more than thirty years as a New York City educator to creating the teaching guide and student materials; television producer Pamela Kawi who has contributed her talents overseeing all our media; Damian Cavalo for videotaping Richard Berenholtz’s interview; Sandra Tansky for her careful editing and helpful suggestions; Christine Stoddard for her exceptional development and implementation of this program; and David Fuchs for his assistance.