Sketchbooks - getting started

We have entered the 4th and final quarter of the school year.  After I lay down the "ground rules" and set up our sketchbooks (this takes the first couple days of class), we begin our first mini lab.  A mini lab is not quite a project; instead it is an exercise that prepares us for an upcoming project. What better way to begin our art adventure than to delve deep into the Elements and Principles of Art.

Please take a moment to see what previous classes have drawn to illustrate understanding of the Elements and Principles of Art.

 

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Personalized Self-Portraits

Doodling is not a mindless act.  It is meaningful.  It is an escape from reality, it is inspired by what we see, know, like, and experience.  In fact, many contemporary artists have adopted a doodle-ish approach to their artwork. It is a curious trend??? Gets me thinking - WHY?

 

8th graders collected images of patterns, textures, lines, and symbols, even quotes, lyrics, and other words that have meaning.  All these things we combined to create these personalized self-portraits with a doodle-ish twist.

 

I should mention, contemporary art is not the only focus here. 8th graders also learned something from the great Albrecht Durer.  He was a mathematician and artist credited with “inventing” the grid method.  So, we pulled out our rulers and took lots of measurements, creating a grid that guided us in the drawing these spectacular self-portraits.  I found this a great way to warm up to observation drawing ... really helps the eyes and hands stay in sync.