Summer Art 2011

What fun we have had this summer! I’m so impressed with the work that the students have done, as they have worked through projects which were new techniques to most.

We did a few landscape paintings for the first project, one being of a Sahara Sunset, and the other being a little more technical with a rainbow in a blue sky over a green, grassy hill. Before we dove into the projects, each student created their own color wheel using only the primary colors: Red, Yellow, Blue, and White and Black to practice tints and shades. This was a good introductory project to the summer course.

The next project we did was a clay figurine. I allowed the students to select their subject matter, but I wanted to help them focus on thinking in 3D, where so many are accustomed to a two-dimensional drawing. It was a stretch for some, but I feel that the figurines turned out better than I had expected.

Last project was print making. We mapped out the image, transported that to a linoleum block, carved out the image, and then inked the image to print on a paper. This was my favorite project because there is always the element of surprise in how the carving is going to turn out. It’s like magic every time!

Painting Project VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

Clay Figurine VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Level 6: Clay Project

Since the students have been working a lot in black and white, I decided to do a clay project to give them a different experience with a different medium from what they are used to and give then the opportunity to add some color to their artwork, while still holding to the basic elements of shape, value, balance, etc. The element of this project that stretches their way of thinking is having to consider creating an ‘image’ in 3D, where they have just been working in 2D thus far. I encourage them to look at it from all angles – worms eye view, and birds eye view.

Clay Project VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Level 5: White on Black Project

To build off of the last project, the Scratchboard project, the students have to now use a white pencil to again focus on the high lights and build the lights from a black background – hence the title ‘White on Black’. It is all about helping them learn to view the components of the artwork in different ways and appreciating the importance of a highlight within the composition.

White on Black Project VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Level 4: Scratchboard Project

This project is a fun one that starts to break the students out of their comfort zone a bit. Up until this point, they have used the grid system to map out their compositions. With this project, they no longer can use the grid and have to practice using their sense of making comparisons of shapes within the composition to put down the image. They also have to change their way of thinking as well as they now have to focus on bringing out the highlights, where up until now they have been building up the shadows. They are given a black piece of paper of which they have to scratch out the highlights. It sounds easier than it really is, but they are really coming out with great stuff!

		Scratchboard Project VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Level 3: Charcoal

After Ink, which is a very clean and precise medium, comes the splendidly soft form of Charcoal. This is a favorite medium that I use a lot in my own personal artwork and am thrilled to help the students learn to use it, sometimes for the first time.

Charcoal Project VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Level 2: Ink

Within the Ink project, the students are only able to use pen. This is an important skill for them to practice as it teaches the students to be careful with their mark making as there is no erasing when a mistake is made. They are able to choose their subject mater with a couple of rules; there has to be shading, and it has to be black and white. I’ve been very pleased with what had come about thus far! Take a look.

Ink Project VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Level 1: Graphite

One of my goals is to help the students get a well rounded knowledge of the different media that they can use to create artwork. I have created a level system for them to go through where they do a practice sheet and learn how to use the medium, and then do a project to follow.

Level 1 is the Graphite level where the kids learn to control their values using different pencils, as well as controlling the pressure they use to apply the graphite to the surface. The kids are able to chose their subject matter, but they all are required to use graphite, keeping the image in a gray scale, and practice their shading skills within their project. Take a look at what they have come up with.

You might notice that there are a couple of planet pieces in the bunch. Every student gets the opportunity to do this project. It teaches the student to learn about shading on a curved surface, layering, using different shading textures, and working with a light source. The planet pieces that you see here are my most recently added students this year. The rest of the students have already done this project in the past.

Graphite Project VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL