Understanding Non Objective Works

Students looked at works by Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky and contemporary American artist Moe Brooker and then, while listening to soft jazz, designed their own non-objective piece infusing self expression and emotional content into the work.

Kandinsky once said "Of all the arts, abstract painting is the most difficult. It demands that you know how to draw well, that you have a heightened sensitivity for composition and for colors, and that you be a true poet. This last is essential." Students considered their own purpose in creating meaningful work.

Understanding and Apply One Point Perspective

Students were responsible for completing vocabulary terms for homework.  These terms were used regularly throughout assignment.

One Point perspective terms:

Vanishing Point -
Horizon Line -
Parallel Lines -
Perpendicular Lines -
Converge -
Recede -
View Point -

Aerial perspective terms:

Foreground -
Middleground -
Background -
Contrast -
Line of Sight -
Saturated -
Angle -

Then students completed homework assignment using at least five shapes to demonstrate"vanishing point" and "one point perspective".  Demonstration was completed by teacher in class on Oct 25th and 26th.   Homework due Oct 29th and Oct 30th.

 

After several direct instruct lessons and practice sessions, students moved in the school hallway and applied the concepts to a drawing. Students selected the section of the hallway to complete. At the point of these photos students have moved back into the classroom and are retracing their own lines with sharpie.

Understanding and Applying Value

Students completed value scales to learn control and value quality.

Then applied these techniques to object studies.

Students then began to sketch their first still life, with attention to good composition and light pencil pressure.

Students begin to shade their work, addressing technical skills such as smooth value transitions, smooth pencil shadings and 8 distinct values.

Introduction to Drawing

For my Art 1students, I begin instruction with technical drawing skills.  Learning to "see", as opposed to relying on symbols and imaginary lines will provide the artist with a framework for development.  The process consists of blind contour, upside down drawing, and value studies.

End of the Year, 2012

Once again, the end of the year has arrived.  While tomorrow is the students' last day, today the halls are nearly empty.  I am proud of each of my students accomplishments, but most especially of those who graduated last night and are beginning the journey to adulthood.  Our students received a total sum of college scholarships and grants in excess of $1.5 million, and several of our young people are headed to the armed forces.  I could not be more proud of their successes, and I was honored to have been part of the process.

Congratulations to everyone for another great year!

Symbolic Mixed Media

Students discussed symbolism in art and literature, and how to represent a complex idea visually.  We discussed the theme "life" and what it meant to each student individually.  Students then took their concept and chose an object to represent it, developing their piece using mixed media of their choice. 

Here one student utilized the spider web as dream catcher, as a spider can place the web deliberately in a space, but then elements of luck determine what lands in the web.

Here another student developed the idea of weathering the storm / the unavoidable, and using cut paper, cardboard, and paint created a symbolic tornado.  The student incorporated glitter to remind the viewer of the silver lining, and the benefits of hardships.  

Freshman Coral Reef collages

Freshman students used a dye transfer technique with tissue paper to create coral reef collages.

Stippling Work

Art 3 and 4 students selected images of their choice and completed a stippling representation.

Monotype Prints

After learning the process of creating monotype prints, students used nature as a loose inspiration and set to work.   Each student had to submit three successfully completed prints, one of which had to be at least two layers of color.