Chuck Close #2

The students have been working hard on their Chuck Close inspired pictures and they are looking great.  In class we not only watched the short video on Chuck Close, but we discussed color, value, tints and shades.  Each student choose 2 colors that they wanted to use for their picture and then created a variety of tints and shades to use as a 'reference key' for their picture. 

Unlike Chuck Close, the students were only going to use these 2 colors to create the values for their picture. I also decided that it would be alright for the students to create a grid on both the source picture and their paper.  I believe that the grid help the students to draw their picture more accurately and therefore have a more successful  project.  This also will help raise young artists' self-esteem when it comes to drawing and artistic ability.

IRON MAN

(light & dark values drawn with grid)

IRON MAN

(light & dark values added according to Value Key)



Other Student Work:

(inspired by Chuck Close)

Chuck Close

The first project of the 3rd trimester is one of my favorite projects. The students will be introduced to the American artist Chuck Close. Chuck Close is a photographer and painter that has gained world wide recognition for his amazing massive-scaled portraits. Even though he was left severely paralyzed from a spinal artery collapse in 1988, he has continued to create beautiful and stunning paintings.

Metals

The last project of the 2nd trimester for the 8th grade students was a Metals Project.  Students pierced, cut, filed and sanded negative spaces in their metal to created the desired design.

Student began the project by creating 9 different 2 X 3 ideas.  They then had to decide where negative shapes would be in order to create detail within their specific design.  Next each student was given 12 jeweler's saw blades and a saw frame to begin their project.

Finally, the students used files to 'clean up' any over-cuts and rough spots that were created from their sawing.  Students were also instructed to sand their project when the filing was completed.

Here are a couple examples of the 8th grade work this year:

Track Shoe Bookmark:

Saxophone Earings: