This week, we began a new unit all built around developing new drawing skills for their 'smartest artist' tool boxes. First off, we learned all about the value scale, and how many different tones of whites, grays, and blacks we can create using our various shades of drawing pencils.
The students filled in their own value scales in their sketchbooks before moving on to our discussion on forms. How can you turn a two dimensional shape into a three dimensional looking form using only pencils and paper? Well, I guarantee any of my young Picassos could answer that one for y'all!
We talked about light, value, shape, line, and form in our vocabulary this week. The students completed a higher level worksheet where they were given empty flat shapes with the creative and skillful task of transforming them into forms that almost POP off the paper.
Check out their craftsmanship for yourself!
Then after conquering value and form, these amazing artists progressed to an advanced technique of drawing using only contour lines.
We studied artists from history who practiced contour drawing to deepen their understanding of the subjects they drew. Contour drawing is a fabulous tool that helps our eyes and hands to become "besties". The trick is to move SLOWLY on paper and not lift our pencil up even once. (Sounds way easier than it is, trust me!)
The students exercised their hand/ eye friendship by first using contour lines to draw their hands while also looking at their paper. A contour line is one continuous line that traces the 'edge' or 'outside' of its' subject. Students were focused on catching details such as knuckles, wrinkles, finger nails, etc as they slowly focused on capturing their hands on paper.
Next, we moved into 'blind' contour drawings which are always a fun surprise! The rule to drawing blind contour is that your eyes never leave your subject, and your pencil continues to draw (with one continuous line) all the while NOT LOOKING at your paper. Try it some time!!
And for the finale of this exercise, we step into the realm of (dun-dun-nu-nuh!) ....... portraiture!
Ms. Holloway explained the difference between a portrait drawn with shading and value, and a portrait drawn using only contour lines. Quite the contrast!
The students practiced by choosing a fellow artist at their studio table, and taking turns drawing each other's beautiful faces using that one continuous contour line while looking at their paper.
And then, as you guessed it, we moved onto the fun and surprising technique of BLIND contour drawings of not only our friends, but our own faces as well!
Students were given mirrors to use for drawing themselves and the outcomes are fabulous, look!!!!
I swear it, y'all, these kids are constantly impressing me with their mad art skillzzzzz!
Stay tuned for our next exercise which will be gesture drawing using each other as models!!!!
Below is a link to the current extra credit assignment (not due until the end of the nine weeks) :