2 Point Perspective

The 8th graders just learned about creating work using two vanishing points (known as 2 point perspective). The students can choose to create a city, a birdhouse community, or 3-D letters. We then watercolor them. Here are some of the results.

The Van Wert City Schools art department at the middle school and high school level have long felt that drawing is fundamental. Without a strong foundation in drawing, students really struggle to become successful in high school art classes. With that in mind, all middle school art classes start the trimester drawing still-lifes. I typically set up about 4 throughout the classroom and as long as the students can handle it, I let them choose which ones they draw and where they sit. This trimester I decided to set up some still-lifes that I haven't done before. Here are some of the results.

Still-Life Drawings

Drawing: it's the ABC's of art. I would imagine that most of my students would say that they really don't enjoy drawing still-lifes. However, the many things I can teach through still-life drawings are priceless. We cover shape, value, space, gauging, highlights, color, blending, shadows, and craftsmanship. It's really amazing to see how far the kids come from their first drawing of the trimester to the last still-life they create. We only spend the first 3 1/2-5 weeks (of a 12 week grading period) on drawing, but to see how far they come in that time is awesome!

Gingerbread Houses

My first year teaching I remember thinking, "How will I ever get my kids to focus enough to work the day before Christmas break?" Then, my mother suggested that I create gingerbread houses with them. Well, 12 years later we are still making the houses. However, I never used gingerbread. Instead, we use graham crackers and royal icing. All the kids have to supply are the decorations for their homes. They each have a "property" (posterboard cut to 6"x6") that they build the house on and then can landscape around it. Once the houses are all built, they join "Gingerbread Village" on my countertop and the teachers all come in to judge them. I give extra credit to the winners and at the end of the day the kids take their houses home (if they make it that far before being devoured!). Here are some pictures of my 8th graders making their houses.

Impressionism

I love student work with chalk pastels. We use chalk when we look at Impressionism and I encourage the kids to show their, "brushstrokes" in their work. They work from landscape photos. This project is a fun way to end the trimester with a great class!

Paper sculptures

In 8th grade we really don't have time to do clay. Instead, we create really awesome paper sculptures. These artists did a great job with their's, so I thought I would share them with others!

Self-Portraits

The 8th graders have been busy working on their self-portrait project. I love this project! We start by making a 20 step value scale and then I take the kids’ photos. We put a grid over their photos and then grid a large piece of paper. They actually draw the entire picture with the grid and then paint the project with acrylic paint in a monochromatic (one color) color scheme. I have had several students in the past come back and tell me that they have their self-portrait framed and hanging in their homes! These may end up hanging in homes soon!

I love teaching the 8th graders how to create a 2 point perspctive city! These usually turn out very nice and look so much more complicated than they really are. In class, we work on going step-by-step drawing the buildings and I show them a few tricks to create the windows, signs, etc. Then, the kids have a few days to add all of their special touches. I just love what Maddie did with One Direction!

The 8th graders have been sketching the still-lives, using different types of media. Their first still-life was in regular pencil. The second still-life they created was with white pencil on black paper. The final still-life sketch was done on scratch board. I'm very happy with the results.

Homecoming Banner

Each year the 8th grade Independent kids create a banner for homecoming. This year's theme was, "Blast from the Past." Each student chose a decade and a cougar. I think they did a great job!

Still-Life Drawings

Here, I've posted some of the still-life drawings that the 7th and 8th graders just finished working on. All 3 grades begin still-lifes with a value sketch. The 7th graders then do a sketch in colored pencil. The 8th graders move on to reverse-value and scratch art. I have 3 girls taking 8th grade Art for the second time (they are more advanced). Those girls used charcoal and chalk. I find the results to be quite nice! Great job artists!