Value Self-Portraits

We started off the year with a K-5 unit of self-portraits. This was 5th grades unit project. They started with photocopied images of themselves. The students learned about tints and shades and used them to create a value painting over top of the photocopy. Students were encouraged to add contrasting highlights and shadows to make the portrait pop. The portraits were then cut out and matted onto a "wordle" background. This was made of a design of words that describe each student.

Symmetrically Sketched Spiders

In this lesson my student have been exploring the differences in draing techniques. Sketching and gestrual drawing vs. complex contour designs. For an exercise in sketching students were given one half of a spider and asked to finish the spider using sketching and shading. Student show off what they have learned about value and skethcing before partaking in a contour exersize.

PAPER SCULPTURE

This is a 5th grade lesson that explores how paper can be used for sculpture. We use white on white to study how sclulptural techniques can show space, value and depth in an artwork. We use one small piece as an accent color. We watch a power point that features techniques as well as artists who have created some really amazing works with white paper sculpture. I will try and post my ppt in a box.net file soon. I encourage students to think outside the boz on this one and get very mechanical in their detail work.