Embrace the Grid

I like to introduce grid drawing to students so they know it's a tool they can use if needed, but I didn't want to spend a lot of time on a traditional project that would take a long time to complete. I was also on a mission to make sure that students know how to use the materials in their personal art supply kits and are comfortable using them. That's how this project was born!

Here is my test before introducing it to the students- a drawing of one of our roosters.

Instead of hiding the grid we embraced it, switching technique or medium in every neighboring square. Students could use their own photo or a creative commons photo. We printed the photos with the grid on them and then drew on one inch grid paper with thin blue lines.

Here is the handout that I posted for students: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hqzbI_m761hJCKvQ1_fiVgGUI0TP8X4_gn594-R44Nw/copy

   

Theme: Music

Music was the last theme that my high school students worked on before spring break when EVERYTHING changed.

I don't think I know anyone who doesn't like music. Everyone can find a style they like. In addition to March being Youth Art Month, it is Music In Our Schools Month so it seemed like a good time to make connections between the arts.

Here is the slides presentation that I used to go over the big ideas:

The big questions for this unit were:

How can artists visually express music?

and

How can color convey feeling?

After the discussion, the students warmed up by using 10 minutes* to capture the feeling of a song in a nonobjective painting. The majority of students wanted to keep working so they spent the rest of the class period on the task. I let the students listen to the song of their choice using their personal device or headphones and their school computer.

Students had choice of media.

Eventually, students came up with a plan for a project inspired by music that they could complete in about 2 weeks.

This student painted on old records and then riveted them together to form a wall hanging.

The inspiration for this experimental painting came from the title of the sheet music. I have a couple of old sheet music books I rescued from being recycled.

This painting was inspired by Weezer's Island in the Sun

These two friends made paintings the complement each other.

This drawing was by our Italian exchange student who really loved to draw. I like how you can see where she erased on the left side.

Here are the Visual Arts Standards and Graphic Design Competencies we addressed through this unit:

Digital Repeating Patterns

Here's a fun project my computer graphics students completed! I learned the basic steps from a Skillshare class that was hand drawn repeating patterns. I let the students start drawing by hand but we finished on the computer. Here is a link to the handout I gave them with all the steps: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ChKRWFiFgo_rDOi1lhNMWZF8jWc1EAj8FEBXxgwHSIo/edit?usp=sharing 

 

I need to explore doing this project in Illustrator. I have only had access to an updated version of the software for about a year and am self taught so I'm not sure of the best way to do it, but I feel like it might work even better, or at least save some steps!

It was really fun to see what objects the students chose to work with.

I will admit that sometimes things don't match up perfectly when you repeat the tile, which doesn't make sense to me, but be prepared in case it happens. We were able to just make some small adjustments when zoomed in and complete a couple lines to fix things.

2019 Nature/Science Projects

Here are some of this year's Nature themed artworks. It is my favorite theme to start with when we have completed bootcamps because it is "safe" enough for students to feel comfortable but broad enough for everyone to come up with a different solution. You can see a post from a previous year here: https://www.katiemorrisart.com/2017/12/theme-naturescience.html 

If students don't have an idea they complete a work based on the guidelines for the Jr Duck Stamp Program or State Fish Art Contest. Of course some students choose to do it just because they want the challenge or like the idea! Both of the students' whose work is shown above placed in this year's contest.

Here are a few more duck artworks as well as a fishing picture and a model of a creek.

These two sculptures were created by a very mechanically minded freshman. It is so interesting to me to watch how he builds.

This student wove together a drawing of a flower and a drawing of a flower cell.

Colored pencils are always a popular choice with my students.

Agate inspired watercolor painting. The student made two, one with warmer colors and one with cooler colors.

Half human, half animal.

Painted batik

Mixed media depiction of a galaxy. Watercolor, acrylic, and colored pencil.

Story

I wanted to share some of the artwork my intro high school students created during our "Story" themed unit this year. You can see another post about this theme along with a slides presentation full of examples here: https://www.katiemorrisart.com/2017/11/story.html.

A couple students took on the challenge of altered books. This was a play on Rapunzel with the artist's friend serving as model.

The next 2 altered books were inspired by anatomy and by telling stories. The book on the left (in progress at the point of this photo) has a rib cage cover and the inside had sections of pages cut away to represent the organs. The book on the right is supposed to be a campfire where you could sit and tell stories. The student used tissue paper for fire and ash.

The next project was created by a student who loves fantasy and dragons. She made a hollow egg first and cut it apart so that it fit perfectly together. Then she sculpted a tiny baby dragon. She experimented with layered glazes and found a combination she liked.

The following project was made by a student who wanted to explore spray painting. He created a combination of stencils and masks that he used to make a phoenix.

This student used a mask mold as a starting point for a mermaid. She added some real shells in the end.

It's always fun to see the variety. I only wish I'd taken more photos!