8th Grade Project 1: "Organic or Geometric" theme using B&W drawing center

8th Grade Art students learned the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design. Their first project involved Shape, one of the Elements of Art. Our artists had to choose to create work using Organic or Geometric shapes. Students were introduced to our Drawing Center. They learned about the value scale using H and B drawing pencils, stippling, hatching, cross-hatching, and scribbling. They also became familiar with vine, compressed charcoal, charcoal pencils, white pastel on black paper and neutral pastels on different colored papers. They were introduced to different types of papers and the "teeth" that hold the medium in place. Students were responsible for researching at least 2 artists that inspired them. They wrote down the names and titles of their artwork. Students created at least three thumbnail (preliminary) sketches in their sketchbook before moving on to their final pieces. 

I acted as facilitator, mentor, artist, and brainstorming buddy to allow them to envision their final work. Occasionally, small groups receive a relevant demonstration and everyone receives one-on-one support. 

Before the project is due, the class participated in a TAG critique. TAG stands for

T- Tell them something that you like
A- Ask a question
G- Give advice

Students are able to take the feedback and apply it to their work before it's due.

Busy creating art!

Cadet Zhou creates a white chalk study of a bird based on the artist Kellas Campbell

"Outstretched Wings" by Kellas Campbell, charcoal on paper

Cadet Zhou's interpretation of the bird with oil pastel on pastel paper

Cadet Racine designs his name based on Superman

Cadet Racine's Logo-inspired name design using drawing materials

Cadet Ye creates a pencil drawing of Easy E, using the grid drawing method by Chuck Close

A portrait of Phillip Glass using the grid method of reproduction by Chuck Close

Art class allows Cadet Ye to go in a different direction. He chooses to explore military drawings

Cadet Ye's final drawing using pencil on paper

Cadet Graham studied the work of Georgia O' Keefe and created studies of flowers before deciding on a large black pastel drawing of a Yin Yang

Cadet Graham's final black and white pastel and charcoal drawing of a Yin Yang

Cadet Maier researched the art of H R Giger and other artists that worked on the movie Alien and Predator. Maier begins drawing the Predator on black paper with white pastel.

Cadet Maier's final drawing using white pastel on black paper

Cadet Maier draws from a reference as he creates his work

Cadet Lorenzo works on a drawing of a bull dog

Cadet Lorenzo's final piece was created with charcoal and brown pastel on paper