Embrace the Shake...overcoming unexpected obstacles

Creativity and Exploration come hand in hand.  Phil Hansen really knows how to embrace obstacles as a learning experience.  Take a look. 

HOW can YOU create a CONTOUR drawing??

CONTOUR lines not only shows us the shape of the subject/object they show us the edges.  You can see the depth of the object by the way the contour lines are drawn.  A contour drawing does not show us where the light source is, leaving some things about the subject/object a mystery. 

Mona Brookes, author of Drawing for Older Children and Teens, writes:

"By following what appears to be the outline edges of an object, you can create an impression of it.  Contour Drawing is a style of realistic drawing, but it doesn't capture the kind of three-dimensionality that you can achieve with shading."

Below notice the way Pablo Picasso uses a line to represent most of the edges of the figure below.  He tried to keep the correct proportions and successfully portrays the physical characteristics of the model.  Learning how to create contour drawings is a fundamental skill that all artists should develop. 



Contour Drawing



Outline

GREAT SITE TO VIEW FOR LINE WORK IN ART

Finding VALUE in PUMPKINS

Of course pumpkins have value, they have a beautiful color, without them what would fall and Halloween be??? So pumpkins are valuable, but where can we see the Element of Design VALUE in them?  When you have completed all of your warm-up VALUE exercises, do a pencil sketch of a pumpkin from my desk. Make sure you show all the highlights, mid-tones, and shadows (core and cast) that you see.   Take a look below at a great example of this exercise:

Remember all that you learned when doing the value exercises, ask yourself these questions:

• Where is the darkest value?
• Where is the lightest value?
• How dark is the pumpkin compared to the stem and the paper?
• Is the stem thin, thick, curvy, short?

Take your time observing...

After you finish the drawing and you have done your best, complete the following reflectio/assessment:    Pumpkin Value Rubric

VALUE makes it REAL

Take a look at this cool video that shows VALUE in action.
The artist uses a combination of marker and white pencil to add the highlights and shadows that really make this elephant come to life.  Notice the cross-hatching, hatching and the variety of shading techniques that were used to give this elephant some character. 

Click on the IMAGE to view video

What ARTISTS can do....

Lights and darks...VALUE changes everything!

Leonardo Da Vinci, egg tempera, early 1500's
Link to more drawings by Da Vinci

                                                                                                                                                                                                6th Grade

The Elements of Design are the building blocks of all art and one of the most exciting elements is VALUE. Artists think about VALUE (the range from light to dark) when they are trying to represent how light effects a subject and when creating a realistic work of art. CONTRAST is created when a dark shade is next to a light shade.  Contrast creates drama and interest in a work of art. Any drawing or painting that has different values of the same color is called MONOCHROMATIC.   

The angle and strength of a light source makes a huge difference. Can you see where the light source is coming from and the highlights and shadows it creates?

Whenever a work of art has a caption please take note of the artist that created it.  

St. Jerome,  1605-1606, Oil,  Baroque artist, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

The Calling of St. Matthew, 1600,   Baroque artist, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

Pelvis Series with Red, Oil, 1931, Georgia O'Keeffe

Pelvis with the Distance, 1943, Oil, Georgia O'Keeffe

Leonardo Da Vinci, pencil sketch, early 1500's

Value Drawing Worksheet

How does an artist learn how to draw??

                                                                                                                        5th Grade

Being super, super observant is one of the best ways to become awesome at drawing.  Also, if you practice a lot and learn how the Elements of Design are used to create a work of art you will be on your way to becoming an amazing artist.

Contour vs. Gesture

We are going to begin by learning all about "LINE".

LINE is one of the Elements of Design that can be used in many ways to begin a work of art.  

Contour LINE shows the edge of an object, person, place or thing...whatever you are drawing.   Artists take their time drawing in a very controlled way, creating a drawing that shows accurate size, shape, and sometimes texture. 

GESTURE drawings are made using a LINE but when an artist creates gesture drawings they are usually trying to show a general idea of the shape and size of the subject they are drawing.   GESTURE drawings are loose, "scribbly", and aren't concerned with an exact representation of anything, just a general idea of what something looks like.  It's a great way to discover the proportions and a composition.  Take a look at some examples below.  

Welcome to Mrs. Kaiser's Art Class!!

Wow, big changes for me!  I am so excited to be part of the Walsh community after spending 7 years teaching art at Branford High School I am going back to my roots in art, which is teaching middle school!  Many years ago I taught middle school in Madison and New Haven-very fond memories.  This year I will be teaching 5th and 6th grade on B and D days.    My space is located near the 5th grade locker bays near the Home Ec room-hopefully I will get many treats when classes start cooking!


During the year students will explore many styles of art, learning about a variety of artists.   Every student will learn the skills that are needed to express themselves visually!  Art class meets once every four days for the entire school year with most projects spanning many class periods.  The MOST IMPORTANT thing about getting every bit out of Art Class is for all students to simply participate-get involved with the conversation, listen to what is being taught, be ready to make art.  I post most lessons on this blog. 

If your child would like to enhance their knowledge (practice really helps one grow as an artist) there will be extra assignments on the blog.  I am looking forward to getting to know all the young artists throughout the year!

  Sincerely, Mrs. Kaiser