Art 2

Grid Project with Class
Each student will receive one small portion of two famous paintings, "American Gothic" by Grant Wood, and "Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace" by Frida Kahlo. They must recreate that specific section they received on an 8"x 8" piece of paper (50 points per image). Then, each student will randomly draw from a bag one Element of Art and one Principle of Design. Students can use any media they want to remake their portions of the famous images, BUT, they also must specifically emphasize the Element and Principle they chose. The basic image/structure of the painting must be withheld, so we can tell what it is when every students piece is placed together, but otherwise you are free to go wild with changes! See below for the original paintings...

Exploding Head Self-Portrait
For this assignment, students will create a self-portrait, but an EXPLODING one! On an 18"x 24" paper, they will draw themselves in black in white in an interesting or amusing pose. (No yearbook photos, boring, straight faces) You can show just your head or whole body, from any angle. Pencils will be used to achieve detailed shading in the portrait, and possibly black colored pencils, charcoal, and/or sharpie to achieve even higher, intense contrast. What the exploding part you ask? You have to imagine that something is coming from some part of your head or body. It can be abstract, realistic, or both, but must show some REPETITION or PATTERN. Whatever is exploding from you should be in color, any media of your preference.
*Keep in mind that your pose/expression should clearly interact and engage with what is happening to you.
Total = 100 points

2 Point Perspective Still Life
Students will collect at least three objects from their backpack, or bring from home, to draw as a personal still life. No more than one of two objects are allowed to be circular in shape. Objects must be drawn from life, in class, and be drawn using 2 point perspective. Projects should...

Be drawn in 2pt. perspective with vanishing points that go off the page
Have a horizon line
Have a unique assortment of at least three objects, no flat phones, rectangular erasers. Make the objects be an expression of YOU!
Contain some overlapping
Have a clear light source (evident by your shading)
Contain a full range of values/shading (darks, middle, and to light)
Use of ink or color pencil techniques (Ink= hatching, crosshatching, scumbling, pointillism, etc. For colored pencil= burnishing, saturation, contrast, layering, "fooling the eye")
Objects must be sitting on surface, not floating, and have a cast shadow on the ground/table
Avoid excessive, boring, blank space

Total = 100 points

Keith Haring & Aaron de la Cruz
With a group of 3 to 4 other students, design and create two large posters that are inspired by artists Keith Haring and Aaron de la Cruz. Posters will be done in paint, and should show CONTRAST, PATTERN, and MOVEMENT using BOLD LINES. Once completed, we will cover our school's art gallery with your creations, from the floor to the ceiling!
Total= 60 points (per poster)
*For more info on Keith Haring, click here, and Aaron de la Cruz, here.

(Keith Haring images)

(Aaron De La Cruz images)

Color Wheel- Color Mixing in Paint
Everyone can use some color mixing practice! Make sure for this exercise you are ONLY using red, yellow, and blue paint= the PRIMARY colors. From those three colors, all other colors will be made. Black and white paint will be needed to help you create your tints and shades. Be sure to mix your colors on your palette, not on the paper, and DO NOT blend across your squares in one swoop. Each individual square is slightly different in color and needs to be created on the palette before applying it to the paper. Be as neat as you can and be sure to label everything.

Use of tempera or acrylic paint to create a color wheel with 12 "pie" pieces/colors (40 points)
Create 6 more columns, with 7 boxes per each= 2 columns are tints, 2 shades, 2 complementary color pairs (10 points per column)

Total = 100 points

*Check out some great reading on the MEANINGS of COLOR here!

Collage Painting
For this assignment, you will first need to create a collage on a 12"x 16" paper. Make sure your collage contains color and isn't entirely made of up black and white images. When complete, choose a 3"x 4" area of your collage that you will blow-up and re-create on an 18"x 24" paper. Use the grid method to help you re-draw the cropped image as close as you can to the original, but now on a larger scale. But, here's the real challenge! Paint your drawing, with your goal to being to mix your colors as precise to the colors in the original image as possible! Be as hypersensitive as you can to the colors you see, and be relentless in trying to mix it yourself. This is a fabulous way to practice color mixing with paint, as well as train yourself to be aware of all the fabulous variations of colors there are out there.

Grid/drawn accurately (25) points)
Color matching (55 points)
Neatness, no white space, paint covering all areas (10 points)
Collage (10 points)

Total= 100 points

Watercolor Techniques
My favorite part about watercolor, is all the exciting techniques you can use. There are countless ones to try! Pick 10 of the 15 watercolor techniques I have listed below. Divide up a large piece of watercolor paper into 10 portions and demonstrate your use of each technique. Label each one in each.
Total = 50 points (5 points each)

4 values of one color (separate each one)
Wet-in-wet
Dry Brush
Salt
Plastic Wrap Blot
Tissue Blot
Wax Resist (with white crayon)
Rubbing Alcohol Dots with Q-tips
Graduated Wash
Stencil (with masking tape)
Stippling dots
Drips
Pen and Ink
Transparency
Splattering

Watercolor Calendars
Now let's use your new watercolor skills and make a fun, useful watercolor calendar! Your calendar should...

Have a creative, unique theme throughout. No hearts and stars, flowers and rainbows. Make it interesting! Is your theme immediately evident to the viewer?
Must have 12 months
Be creatively woven/attached/tied together to be hung on a wall- choose something that compliments your theme
Neatly have months/days written in ink, with a SPECIFIC font style that you looked up on dafont.com. Let's go beyond our normal, everyday handwriting, and choose a style of font the COMPLIMENTS and GOES WITH your theme.
At least 50% of each page should be taken up by watercolor, avoid too much blank, white space
Use as least THREE watercolor techniques (in total over the 12 months) that we tested out in class

Total = 120 points

*If you need some ideas for your calendar, check out some of my favorites on my Pinterest board.

Emotion Project
After receiving a poem written by Ms. Vaughn's Creative Writing students, create an original piece of art that brings to life the emotion the student chose to personify. Any material or medium is acceptable- make it come alive! Seek to move your viewer!

Must reflect/connect to the original written poem by the Creative Writing student
If done on paper, the paper should be no smaller than 18"x24", and a background is required
Experiment with 3D elements or textural components
Should be thoughtful and inventive, please no hearts and rainbows, etc.- stay away from cliche symbols and imagery we already see all the time
Your piece should be well-crafted and show time and effort spent
Efficient use of class time, good work habits

Total = 100 points

Mixing Flesh Tones
Want to paint a person? Confused on how to paint their skin? Mixing flesh color may seem daunting, but it doesn't need to be! All it takes is some practice and experimenting. There is a limitless variety of skin tones, and each person is completely unique. Being able to find the subtle differences amongst each individual, even differences within one person's skin, can truly help bring a painting to life and capture a sense of realism. Examples belows and click here for some of my favorite, simple tutorials.

Cardboard Big Heads - Inspired by Wayne White
Wayne White is a wacky, fun, and creative artist and thinker. Watch his TED talk here, entitled, "You're Supposed to Act All Impressed." I guarantee you will not only get a good laugh, but also be fascinated by his giant puppet creations. Inspired by his 3D work, we will be making big heads out of cardboard. This will be a be a group project, and you can pick any well known person or character you choose to do for your big head.

2-4 people in a group
Heads must be 2 to 3 times larger than your own head and have an opening so that you could potentially wear the big head on your head
Start with a cardboard structure, then use paper mache, paint, and any other mixed media materials you can find
Try your best follow the shape of person you are creating- for instance, if I am making a giant Betty Boop head, I should not leave my box rectangular in shape, it should be rounded
Try your best to capture the correct colors. If your subject is an actual human being, there should be shading in the flesh around the cheeks, eyes, nose, etc.
Big heads should detailed, well-crafted, and as professional looking as possible
Work together with your group members, be productive, and use class time efficiently

Total = 100 points

Skeleton & Muscle Practice
It helps immensely to know what is going on underneath the skin of the human body, in order to better draw the figure. If you have no clue what is poking out there, or connecting here, etc., how can you possibly fully comprehend how illustrate it? Devote some time to drawing the skeleton and muscle systems of the human body. I guarantee it will help your brain grasp better grasp how to make sense of what you are seeing and trying to show in your artwork.
*Click for some more resources and tutorials below...

JUMP! Project

Street Art Unit- Stencils and Block Prints

Weaving
Create a weaving using yarn, string, rope, and fabric. Your "loom" will be made out of cardboard, with string wrapped around the top and bottom (inserted into grooves every 1 inch), creating the "warp" threads. Using an over-under pattern, weaving your yarn through the warp strings. The horizontal weaving of the yarn is called the "weft". Alternate colors and textures to design an interesting piece, pleasing to the eye. A stick, woven through the top and bottom of your weaving (after being cut off the loom), will help the weaving maintain its shape and make it sturdier.

Craftsmanship= Warps and wefts are pulled tight, the weaving can hold itself together and is strong. (40 points)
Design/Color= Attention and care is shown to the detail and pattern created in the weaving. Colors, texture, and overall design is pleasing, interesting, creative and required planning, skill, and diligence. What did you try to do that was different than everyone else's? How is your weaving unique? Show me that you tried something different! (40 points)
A stick or similar reinforcement has been inserted into the top of the weaving to strengthen the piece and make it possible to hang securely. (20 points)

Total = 100 points

*Check out my Pinterest board for some weaving inspiration!
*Curious about the history of weaving? Read up on it it and discover just how ancient it really is here!

Planner Cover Contest
Create a unique design for the MCHS 2017-2018 planner cover contest. Be sure to follow the specific size guidelines and rules which are below. Your design should not have a lot of boring, blank, white space, and should go beyond the typical MCHS mustang. Be original and creative. You might just win and actually get your design printed!
Total = 50 points