Example of Student Work: 

Project 4: Exploring Identity through Masks

 

Objective:
I will construct a mask using recycled materials.
I will create emphasis on my project by placing attention to detail, craftsmanship, and proportion. 
I can give my mask an original title. 

Materials: 
Sketchbook
Pencil
Cardboard
Hot Glue Gun
Hot Glue Sticks

Think and then answer these questions in your sketchbook! 
Personal identification will be a starting point for your mask. 

How can my mask reflect who I am? 
How can my mask reflect an emotion? 
What five words describe who I am?
**Remember a portrait can be as much about masquerade and invention as it is about physical description. **


Evaluation: 
Inventiveness with the plastic bottle
Mask design and construction
Effort - Took time to develop the idea with sketches and models, etc. 
Craftsmanship - Is your project neat, clean, & complete? Skillful use of the art tools & media? 

Student Work Examples: 

Project 3: My Alebrije

Objective: I will create a "spirit animal" by combining 3-5 animals that will represent me into a colorful mythological creature. 

Materials:
Your imagination
Sketchbook
Pencil
Cardboard
Newspaper
Masking Tape

Art Vocabulary: 

Alebrije - brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical (fantasy/mythical) creatures.  
*see video* https://youtu.be/wGOJ3td7C58

Pattern - a repeating shape or form.

 Emphasis - is the an area or object within the artwork that draw attention and becomes a focal point.  

Form  - a three-dimensional composition. 

Art History Connection: Pedro Linares López

Pedro Linares López and his son Miguel at the roof of their house in México City, working in the Alebrijes sculptures.

Pedro Linares López was a Mexican artisan born in Mexico City and was known as the creator of the paper mache' figurines named alebrijes.  Pedro Linares started as a skilled maker of carton Judas figures and figurines for Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and many other artists from the Academia de San Carlos.  The art form of alebrijes was created by Pedro after he became sick at the age of 30 in Mexico City.  His own unique alebrijes came out of a dream, where he saw his death and rebirth in a mountainous setting inhabited by these creatures. 

 Evaluation: 
Animal design and construction
Did you use at least 1 insect? 
Did you use 3-4 animals? 
Is your project colorful? 
Inventiveness with the paper mache' and acrylic paint
Effort - Did you take the time to develop your idea with sketches? 
Craftsmanship - Is you project neat, clean, and complete?  How skillfully did you use the art tools and media? 

Example of an Alebjije:  

Mini Project 4: Designing a Sketchbook Cover

Objective: I will create a sketchbook cover design using a creative lettering style for my name along with 2-3 elements or principles of design. 

• You must draw your first name or last name or both using a creative lettering style.  
• You must create a design using the 2-3 elements & principles of design.
• Use watercolor paint to cover the entire background of the design you created. 
• While the watercolor paint is still wet, sprinkle some salt on the cover. 
• Carefully take your sketchbook cover to the drying rack. 

Examples of Student Work:

Mini-Project 3: Think Aliens! 
Repurposing magazines to create a work of art

Objective: I will find an image of a person, and then turn them into an alien using the amazing drawing skills I have developed this semester. 

Skills Needed: 
Creative Thinking & Problem Solving
Imagination with something personal
Individual Thinking

Time Needed: 
2-3 Class Periods!

Materials: 
Paper
Pencil
Permanent Marker
Magazines or Newspapers
Crayons
Colored Pencils
Paper

Procedure: 
1.  Find a photograph of a face in a newspaper or magazine and cut it out.
2.  Choose to use either the top half of the face or the bottom half and glue it to a sheet of paper. 
3.  Turn the image into an alien using ONLY a permanent marker.  That means no pencils are allowed for this assignment. 
4.  Create a background for your drawing. 
5.  Color your drawing using crayons and/or colored pencils. 
6.  Make sure your First Name, Last Name, Date and Period are on the back. 
7. Turn in your mini-project for a grade. 

Examples of Student Work: 

Mini-Project 2: 
The Art of Silliness! 
Bad Hair Day

Don't you just hate it when your hair goes everywhere BUT where you want it to go?  Ever get made fun of for it?  Well, guess what? Even our heros and celebritites have bad hair days. 

Objective: 
I will give an image of a person a bad hair day through the amazing drawing skills I have practiced this semster. 

Time needed: 5 days

Materials: 
Image of a person from a magazine
Scissors
Glue
Pencil
Permanent Marker
Your imagination

Art Vocabulary: 

Please write the following art vocabulary in your sketchbook for a grade!!!

Organic Shapes - Organic shapes are shapes with a natural look and a flowing or curving appearance. They are usually irregular or asymmetrical. Examples: plants and animals. 

Geometric Shapes - Geometric shapes are circles, rectangles, squares, triangles and so on.  They have edges and can be created using art tools such as pencils, pens, marker, etc.  

Shape and Form Handout

Process for Bad Hair do: 
1.  Find an image of a close up image of a person in a magazine. 
2.  Precisely cut the image out. DO NOT include the hair! 
3.  Using Excellent composition and craftsmanship, glue the image onto an 8.5x11 sheet of paper. 
4.  Design the new "Hair do:" use pencil to lightly draw the organic shape of the new bad hair style by dividing the hair inot organic shapes (spaces).
5.  Use a permanent marker to trace the organic shapes within the hair. 
6.  Use a permanent marker to create organic doodles and patterns within the new organic space. 

Background: 
1.  Design the background: Use a pencil and a ruler to lightly draw geometric shapes in the background. 
2.  Using a permanent marker trace over these new shapes. 
3.  Within the new geometric spaces create geometric doodles and patterns. 

Check your work - Did you:
 - Did you write your name, date, and period on the back of your paper?
 - Did you use excellent craftsmanship, including a variety of complex lines? 
 - Did you illustrate an interesting composition (cropping, no floating, filling the space)?
 - Did you illustrate distinct areas of organic and geometric shapes and lines?
 - Did you use at least 3 different line thicknesses? 

You did? Excellent! 
You probably just earned an A!

Example of student work: 

Project 2: Self-Portrait Abstractions

Objective:

I can investigate real/surreal, and learn about distinctive qualities of both styles. 
I can create a self-portrait abstraction in a surrealist style using personal dreams to inspire a narrative painting. 
I can give my painting an original title. 

Art Vocabulary: 

Please write the following art vocabulary in your sketchbook for a grade!!!

Abstract - Abstract art has no recognizable subject. Some abstract artists had theories on the emotions that were caused by certain colors and shapes.  Other abstract artists painted with emotion and randomness hoping to capture their emotion and subconscious thoughts on the canvas.  

Example of Abstract Art: 

Composition  II in Red, Blue, and Yellow by Piet Mondrian



Abstract Expressionism - Abstract Expressionism is an artistic movement made up of American artists in the 1940's and 1950's, also known as the New York School, or more narrowly, action painting.   Abstract Expressionism is usually characterized by large abstract painted canvases, although the movement also included sculpture and other media (drawing, photography, etc.).

Example of Abstract Expressionism: 

Action painters were led by Jackson Pollack and Willem de Kooning, who worked spontaneous improvisatory manner often using large brushes to make sweeping gestural marks. 

Autumn Rhythm, No. 30 by Jackson Pollock

Woman II by Willem de Kooning



Surrealism - Surrealism in art explores the subconscious areas of the mind.  The artwork often makes little sense as it was usually trying to depict a dream or random thoughts.  

Example of Surrealism Art: 

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali
Perhaps the most famous of all the great Surrealist paintings, the Persistence of Memory is know for the melting watches as well als the clarity of the art.  The painting gives you sense that you are dreaming and time is irrelevant.  
 

Realism -  Realism in art is the attempt to depict the world exactly as it appears.  

Example of Realism in Art: 

The Gleaners by Jean-Francois Milet
This painting is a great example of realism.  It shows three peasant women gleaning a field for some scraps of wheat.  They are bent over in hard work in the hope of finding a tiny bit of food.  This painting was not well received by the French upper class when it was first exhibited in 1857 as it shoed the harsh reality of poverty. 

 Art History Connections: 
Frida Kahlo and Georgia O'Keefe

**Please review the power point presentation, "What Dreams May Come" **

Materials:  
Pencil
Sketchbook and/or scratch paper
Responses to promps used for Silhouette Project
Canvas Panel
Acrylic Paint

Think and then answers these questions in your sketchbook! 
**Write the question and response in your sketchbook for a grade!!!!**

How can my portrait reflect emotion? 

How can my portrait reflect who I am? 

What message do I want my artwork to communicate? 

What kind of feelings am I trying to invoke from my viewer?

Procedure: 

1.  Review the responses you answered for the silhouette project along with the think questions we went over. If you forgot what prompts we went over I have re-typed them for you below: 

List 5 goals in your life.
List 5 important facts about your life.
List 5 words that describe you.
List 3 of your greatest fears.
List 5 things that bring you joy. 
List 5 of your most favorite things. 
List at least 3-5 Hobbies you have outside of school.
and 
How can my portrait reflect emotion?
How can my portrait reflect who I am? 
What message do I want my artwork to communicate? 
What kind of feelings am I trying to invoke from my viewer? 

2. Bring a photograph of yourself to next class so that you can really see your facial features. 

3.  Use your photograph and the responses to the above prompts to create a surrealist portrait of yourself on a scratch sheet of paper. 

4. When your design is done, you much decide on a color scheme. 

5. When the entire class is done with their sketches, you must watch the power point presentation of Acrylic Painting: A Beginners Guide. Make sure to take notes for a participation grade!!!!!

6.  Draw your design on an 11x14 inch canvas panel. Make sure to write your name, date, and period on the back of your canvas using a permanant marker. 

7. Paint your design carefully. Remember I take up to 20 points off for terrible craftsmanship (how neat and clean your work is). At clean up time, leave your canvas on the red drying racks toward the back of the classroom. One slot per student. 

8.  When you complete your project, write an original title on the back using a permanent marker.  

9. Finally, ask your teacher for a grading rubric and grade your own work.  Turn in your grading rubric and project in for a grade.  

Student Work Examples:  Self-Portrait Abstractions

Project 1: Everything that defines me in line
A Slihouette Project

Objective: 

I can create a 12x18 inch ink silhouette profile drawing with the essential things that define me as a person. 
I can incorporate at least 3 different patterns.
I can use a variety of lines and textures. 
Everything will be inked using a permanet marker.
I can refer to the Art History Reference, Giuseppe Arcimboldo. 

Vocabulary:

Silhouette - A silhouette is an outline of something that is filled in with a solid color. Before photography was invented, it was very popular for people to pay to have their profiles cut into silhouettes by artists. 

Pattern -  A pattern is a repeated shape or design. 

Visual Texture - Visual texture is an illusion of texture created by an artist. 

Texture - Texture is the surface quality of a work of art. 

Materials: 

Sketchbook or scratch paper
Pencil
12x18 drawing paper
Project Warm-Up Questions Answered

Art History Connection: 

Giuseppe Arcimboldo was an Italian Mannerist painter whose grotesque compositions of fruits, vegetables, animals, books, and other objects were arranged to resemble human portraits. 

Procedure: 

Step 1: Answer the following project warm-up questions in your sketchbook. 
     - List 5 goals in your life.
     - List 5 important facts about your life.
     - List 5 words that best describe you.
     - List 3 of your greatest fears.
     - List 5 things that bring you joy.
     - Create 3 or more patterns you would like to wear or like to see.
     - List 5 of your most favorite things. 
     - Write down your favorite artist, band, song and/ or quotes. 
     - List at least 3-5 hobbies you have outside of school. 

Step 2:  Ask a table partner to trace your silhouette onto a 12x18 sheet of drawing paper. 

Step 3:  Using a pencil draw images to fill in your silhouette with images and words based on responses from the project warm-up questions. 

Examples of Student Work:

Mini Project 1: 

Objective: I will create a sketchbook cover design using the art element of line. 

• You must include you first name or last name or both. 
• You must create a design using the art element of line.
• Use watercolor paint to cover the entire background of the design you created. 

Examples of Student Work: