Form and Value still life, with a little critique on the side

Art 1 Still life

In art 1, I follow the elements of art. The focus for this still life was form and value. Yeah, still lifes are super boring, the students don't really like it... to start with. I set up the still life and all the kids groaned and moaned. I gave them all view finders (which we had used before) and a piece of white sulphite. The view finder is great to help with where to start. As the drawings progress, and the students are kind of timid about getting dark, I kept pushing them to see a whole range of value. Previously, we had created value scales. I went as far as growling DARK, and using a high light voice for light. The students find it funny, but it reaches them. As the students continue to draw, they can see their own improvement and actually start to enjoy the boring old still life. The following are a variety of examples of finished products. 

Hunter L. 

Richard T. 

Ali G.

The Critique

After each project, my class critiques in some way. For this projects we did a gallery group critique.

I placed all the drawings up with numbers and no names. The students are put in groups and have to answer the proceeding questions and then share with the large group. Its a great way to see everyone's work, compare and contrast, but also give constructive criticism. 

Group Critique- Still life; value and form

Group Members

As a group please answer the following questions

1. Pick 3 compositions (drawings) tell me what is successful about these drawings- be specific

2. Using the same 3 compositions, what can be improved

3. As  group discuss what was the most difficult thing about this assignment, what was the easiest?

4. Name 3 things you learned by drawing this still life

Focus on emphasis and color

In my Drawing 1 class, we are focusing on the principles of design. For the first project, I set up a still life. The focus on the still life was emphasis. We used view finders, and the student had to find a view that the still life touched 3 sides of the view finder. They were to focus on correct perspective and "Draw what they see" (Betty Edwards reference). To finish the composition, they wanted the emphasis to be on the fruit. So using pastel pencils, they created value with color on the fruit. The rest of the project was done in fine tipped Sharpie. It was a really nice beginning project, and help me to see the skill level of some of the students that I had not had in class before.

Contour Line Hands with zentangle negative space

To begin the semester, my Art 1 students learn about line and using the right side of our brain. We do several blind contour drawings of our hands, exercising the right side of the brain. As a project, the students draw contour line hands, then fill the negative space with zentangles. I just learned about zentangles, and I love them! The students learn to create interesting negative space while using different types of line. Here are a few examples of students' work.

Trompe L'oiel or trick of the eye

My drawing 1 class always start with a personal still life project. Each student has to create a composition using personal items about them. It helps me to get to know the students are people and as artists. The students need to focus on creating and interesting composition by using varying sizes of objects, creating good flow through out the composition, and using good contrast in darks and lights.