Back to basics - contour line drawing

I always like to begin the semester by studying contour line drawing. It is a skill all artists employ at some point during the creative process, even just in sketches. We discussed the importance of looking at the object you are drawing instead of burying you head in the paper. The students practiced blind contour drawings during which they could only look at the subject they are drawing. It was a frustrating but fun exercise and ultimately helped to remind students to draw what they see, not what they think.
The students also learned about the element of art line; specifically line qualities. We looked at examples of how line quality can give a completely different look to the same drawn image.

The students then applied this knowledge by drawing "Line Quality Cupcake Contours". A cupcake was placed at the center of every table. The students selected a colored piece of sulphite and used pencil to draw the contours. The students then divided their drawing into quadrants. In each quadrant, the students went over their pencil lines with sharpie using a different line quality. The students then finished the project by erasing any pencil marks and colored it however they wanted with colored pencil.

Getting to Know You...

Even though it is the middle of the school year, it is like the first week of school in the art room with a brand new group of students to start the new semester. I always like to start off with a project based on the students' names. Most middle school students are excited to create personalized art. I try to pick projects all students can be successful at so they start out on a positive note. I have a few go to name projects but I always like to try new things. My counterpart and I turned to an art teacher's best friend: Pintrest.

For 6th grade, we selected this project from art projects for kids. On day one, we went over how to create a variety of block and bubble letters. Then we discussed facial proportions and created a sketch of the final project. Students then created the "Part of Me" project on 9x12 drawing paper and used colored pencils to complete it. View the Fegely Artsonia gallery to see more.

7th grade students learned about shape as an element of art through a powerpoint, notes, and discussion. The students filled out an interest survey to help them brainstorm for this project. They were then asked to come up with a shape that somehow describes them or their interests and fill the shape with their names. We discussed and practiced different lettering techniques. View the Artsonia Gallery here.

The eighth graders reviewed positive and negative space then created what I refer to as the "negative name tangle". Drawing lightly in pencil, the students wrote their names. Then, students used sharpies to fill in the negative space with a minimum of 10 patterns and designs. Once the entire page was filled, students erased the pencil lines so the negative space made the positive space visible. View the gallery here.

 

 

Save Your Sharpeners!

At the beginning of the year, I thought I was on to something. I placed a "trash bucket" at each table for students to sharpen their colored pencils over to eliminate the garbage huddle club. I'm no dummy. I knew half the students were over by the can sharpening an already sharp pencil so they could talk with their friends who they didn't sit with.  I thought the garbage can at the table was great...until my sharpeners started disappearing. Students would empty the shavings at the end of class not realizing another student had placed the sharpener in the bucket.

Then I had this brilliant idea. What if the sharpener was somehow attached?  A string could easily get cut or become a play thing. A magnet... Now there's an idea!

I found these cute metal tins at Target in the dollar section. 

Then I hot glued a magnet to the back of each sharpener...

And Ta-da! Now even if the sharpener is placed inside the bucket it can not be dumped out.

New Semester Resolutions

A new semester brings new beginnings. At FMS, the students change NCAA (specials) classes so I get to welcome a brand new group into my classroom. It's like the first day of school all over again. I'm excited to get to know these students and help them grow as artists. 

I figure a new semester is the perfect time to refocus and make improvements to my life as teacher. You are currently reading part of my New Semester Resolution. It is my goal to update my blog on a regular basis as a way to keep parents and the community informed. I have other resolutions: be more strict on tardies and hand out more positive "Caught in Action" cards. 

So let's see how this goes!