“Copper” by Phil Dike

Art Masterpiece

4th Grade

Phil Dike, 1906-1990)

Born in California He liked art and entered a contest in High School after a teacher encouraged him to enter.Studied in New York, Europe and North AfricaHe worked at Walt Disney Studies on movies such as Snow White and Fantasia He was the first artist to add color to Disney animations.

Phil Dike’s Artwork:

“Fish Market”, “Circus” and “Storm over Indio”

About “Copper”The metal, copper, has been used for tools and weapons for more than 10,000 years.In the early 1930’s, Dike came to Arizona and saw the effects of the depression and the Arizona mining industry. He created “Copper”, an oil on canvas painting while he was in Arizona.

Let’s have a close look…What do you see in this painting?What colors do you see and how do they make you feel?What do you think life was like during the Depression in an Arizona mining town?Is there light in this painting, if so, where is it coming from?

“Copper”He combined two towns in this painting – Jerome and Miami to show the 2 types of mining in Arizona. (underground mines and open mines)The use of line leads our eyes to the copper plant.

Quote from Phil Dike about “Copper”

“[This] picture represent a culmination of feelings and experiences in the copper mining towns in Arizona prior [to] and during the Depression, of that period which influenced me greatly.”

What we will be making today…

Think what would be in an Arizona landscape.Sketch some ideas on your small white piece of paper. Plan your entire scene and erase and adjust until you like it. Keep it simple. Place the black paper under your copper foil and use your stylus to sketch your scene into the copper. Be sure to carve your name on your picture!