Have a Great Holiday Break! See you in 2011!
~Mrs. Highsmith

Today in class:
1. Art History Video- prehistoric art
2. Unity discussion
3. Mosaic project explanation
4. Work on Mosaic Project

Homework:
Bring in old magazines
Turn in all make-up work

Today in class we glazed our pinch pot critters. I can't wait to see what they look like when they come out of the kiln!


4th period students listening to Zach, the program director at the Cabarrus Arts Council Gallery, explain some of the artwork.

Joe's self-portrait
Isa's self-portrait

Field Trip to Cabarrus Art Council Gallery! Pictures soon to come!

HOMEWORK:
1. Bring in magazines for EC!
2. Self-portraits were due today but several students need to turn them in!
3. Weekly sketchbook check- Draw a landscape (due Friday)
4. Progress Report Signed

Students' Oil Pastel Painting

Hunter's interpretation of Vincent van Gogh's Irises
Raquel's interpretation of Vincent van Gogh's Church
DJ's interpretation of Vincent van Gogh's Chair

Students' Self-Portraits!

Hunter
DJ
Tyler
Katie
Adriana
Lacy

It is Art History Monday again. Today we watched the art history video on the famous artist, Vincent van Gogh. Next we looked at one of van Gogh's most famous paintings, Starry Night. We discussed how van Gogh used the art principles of variety, emphasis, and harmony in the painting. Next, I demonstrated how to use oil pastels to mimic van Gogh's style of painting. Then the students worked on their own to create their own oil pastel paintings. Progress reports are being sent home today. They need to be signed and returned. If you have any questions please email or call me here at the school.

Homework:
1. Bring in old magazines for an up coming project.
2. Self-portrait due on Wednesday.
3. Weekly Sketchbook due on Friday. Draw a landscape(real or imaginary)
4. Returned signed progress report.

Today in class we continued working on our self-portraits.Jaime's self-portraitMadalynn and Raquel's self-portraitsKasandra and Whitney's self-portrait

Today in class we continued working on our self-portraits.

DJ working on his self-portrait.A better view of his drawing.

We began class with storytime. The book was called "The Dot". Then I demo-ed to the class how to shade skin tones with color pencils. But most students are not at the point to begin using colored pencils on their project yet. After the demo, students finished creating line drawing with the aid of the grid. The next step in the process is to erase all grid lines. After the lines have been erased, students can begin shading clothes and the background.

Homework: due Friday!
1. Signed December newsletter
2. Sketchbook activity: draw a scene from your favorite movie or TV show
3. Finish and turn in facial feature project

Today in class:
1. Written reflection on previous project
2. Grid white paper
3. Grid photo
4. Create a line drawing using the grid

Homework- Due Friday:
1. Signed December newsletter
2. Sketchbook Activity- draw a scene from your favorite movie
3. Turn in finished facial features project

Today is Art History Monday. We began class watching the art history video on the British Master, Turner. After the art history video we watched a video clip on how to draw lips with computer software. After watching the first clip, we watch a second clip on how to draw lips with graphite pencils. After watching the clips, we drew a pair of lips together as a class. Then the students drew 2 more sets of lips to finish up the project. Examples of the project are included below.

Today we learned how to draw noses. This is a very difficult facial feature to draw because there are no lines only value changes. But the students are doing great. I'll be sure to post pictures on Monday. Have a great weekend.

Today we learned how to draw the human ear. This is not an easy facial feature, but the students tried really hard. Their drawings are much improved from the ears they drew on Monday. We watched a video on how to draw an ear using Microsoft paint and then a video clip on how to draw a human ear with graphite. Then we drew an ear together. After drawing the ear together as a class, the students drew two more ears on their own using the magazine photos as reference materials.

Today we started my favorite drawing project, facial features. Students usually can see real improvements in their drawing abilities from the beginning to the end of the project. We began class by watching a video online "How to draw an eye with Microsoft Paint Software". This video never fails to grab the students attention. After the video we practice using the paper strip viewfinders to focus in on the eyes in magazine advertisements. Next, we watched a video clip on how to draw eyes. This video the artist was working with graphite (like us). Then using the steps we learned in the video, we drew an eyeball together as a class. These eyeballs were much better than the eyeballs that students drew on Monday. It is amazing the difference in just 2 days. After drawing together as a class, students drew 2 more eyes on their own.

Hunter's eyeball drawing.Raquel working on her second drawing.Jaime's eye drawing with the help of the viewfinder.