Value Pumpkins (6th Grade)

6th grade learned about how value can create the illusion of 3-D form by creating a value scale using different colored crayons on drawings of pumpkins!

They viewed the artist exemplar shown about to see how value plays a key role and showing the direction and intensity of light on an object. They were encouraged to add details to their pumpkins such as stems and vines, and also were reminded to always go from light to dark from top to bottom. They also practiced blending colors to create a smoother value scale.

Typography (6th Grade)

Students learned about typography and different "fonts" and practiced a graffiti-inspired writing style that has 3-D elements. Students viewed different kinds of fonts and discussed serifs, bubble letters, and block letters. Then they watched a demonstration of forming 3-D graffiti letters and then practiced their own with a cheat sheet to help them. They were then expected to form the word "ART" using these letters.

Op Art Exercise (6th Grade)

Did a short exercise with my older students who did an Optical Design project earlier in the year. The process for this project is very simple, and most of the students were very successful. Some students started coloring their designs and they look awesome!

Optical Design (5th & 6th)

5th and 6th grade are learning all about Op Art! As part of this unit, they must complete an optical illusion of their own and add color to make it look 3D. These are just rough draft pieces, but they show how students have already progressed in their use of line, color, and value.

6th Grade Gesture Drawings

6th grade learned about gesture drawing by watching a brief PowerPoint and then drawing from observation! Small groups of students drew the poses of their classmates within 1min. intervals. This allowed many different students to draw vs. pose. In this exercise, students were encouraged to draw the pose only using a joined stick figure.  Many students also experimented with overlapping poses, using different colors for different poses, varying the size of their drawing, etc.

Gesture drawing is the first step to learning the art of figure drawing, which 6th graders will have the chance to explore later this year