6th Grade

This week, the sixth grade visual arts classes started the final part of their drawing unit. We have discussed examples of linear and atmospheric perspective. Students have learned to identify key characteristics of these two types of perspective, and have started two linear perspective drawing exercises. Earlier this week, they created a piece of word art using three-point linear perspective. Now, they are working on a drawing of an interior architectural scene using one point perspective.

6th Grade Visual Arts

The sixth grade visual arts classes are finishing their self-portrait boxes. Their portraits are hanging all around the art room.
Next, we will be moving on to an exploration of the techniques artists use to show perspective. We will discuss examples of artwork using linear and atmospheric perspective. Students will complete exercises with these techniques as we prepare for a life drawing using perspective. Whether the subject for this drawing ends up being indoors or out will be up to mother nature.

8th Grade Mixed Media

The mixed media class is finishing their altered books, as they begin to learn about big ideas. A big idea is a subject or idea that recurs throughout many pieces of an artist's work. We have had class discussions on big ideas found in the work of Deborah Butterfield, Banksky, Zac Freeman, Kathe Kollwitz, Pablo Picasso, Louise Nevelson, Bev Doolittle, Andy Goldsworthy, Chuck Close, Ando Hiroshige, M.C. Escher, as well as some examples from my own portfolio.
Through the next several weeks, students will go through the process of developing a big idea, planning a series of at least three works of art using this idea, and creating this series of artwork.

Upcoming Sketchbook Checks

I will collect sketchbooks on the following dates:
8th grade - Monday, 1/12
6A - Tuesday, 1/13
6B - Thursday, 1/15

Students should have a minimum of sixteen pages of sketches for this sketchbook check. These drawings should include at least seven clearly labeled life drawings.

New Photos

Be sure to check out the photos to the right. Session 2 6th grade 1/2 portraits and 8th Grade mixed media compositions were just updated.

8th Grade Mixed media

The 8th grade class is working on altered books for their second mixed media assignment. We looked at the work of Brian Dettmer and a number of other book artists. Students were each given a discarded hardcover book. They have developed plans for how to use that book as the basis for a sculpture. The results of our first project were excellent, and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished altered books!

6th grade

Sixth grade visual arts students have been learning about shading, value, and proportion as they complete self-portrait drawings. These drawings will form the centerpiece of a self-portrait box composition. The finished composition will include a collage of many different personal symbols along with the self-portrait drawing. We will study the work of Joseph Cornell as we begin the collage portion of this assignment.
Students should begin to gather and bring in images and small objects to include in their collages.