Contour Line Unit continues-7th Grade Art

This week the 7th grade artists are busy working on their reflective and very expressive shoe drawings. Students are using their actual shoe as they draw from direct observation of a form. Some students have begun to enhance their drawings with an imaginary background to express a mood or something further about their world.

Each student is using the elements of line, form,color texture and value to make their shoe look both realistic and 3-dimensional. In addition, the 7th grade artists are employing the art principles of contrast to show texture and proportion,as they draw their shoe to scale.

In addition, students have learned about the principle of dominance and they are giving emphasis through the use of contour lines. These contour lines are accentuated lines that are used to make a 2-D drawing look three-dimensional in nature.

Also, connections to the world of animation,cartooning,and especially action comic book hereos have been displayed and explored in class from Marvel comics.

1st Trimester 7th grade classes begin

For the 1st Trimester the 7th grade art students have reviewed the Elements of Art and the Principles of Art this week. Students have participated in art appreciation activities that integrate the terms or concepts with famous works of art.

In addition, the 7th grade students have begun a unit on the concept of contour line. Students are currently drawing a contour line study of their shoe in art class. Students will be integrating the concept of line,shape,form,color,value, and texture in their completed works of art.

Also, this week students will practice their cartooning and shading techniques with an interactive cartoon drawing video. Students will have the opportunity to create geometric solids and some advanced objects with the addition of value. The concept of accentuated line will be stressed in this work.

6th grade art ends this week....

This week students have been learning about color schemes and advanced watercolor techniques. In addition, 6th grade students have created various unique designs that show warm colors, cool colors,complementary colors,and neutral colors. Students will be bringing their finished matted watercolors home this week. The matted work is suitable for professional framing and display.

This blog shows some sample 6th grade watercolor artwork from third trimester art clas

Look for the Lakview Jr.High district website for additional images of 6th grade artwork in the near future.

Have an enjoyable summer and I will see you in the fall with more news about Lakeview Jr.High artists....

Watercolor Painting unit closes

This week Lakeview artists finished their Illinois inspired landscape watercolor paintings.

Students used various techniques to transpose a photo to the medium of painting. After practice sessions on test strips, students tried the wet-in-wet technique,graded washes,salt resist,wax resist,flat washes and drybrush technique to enhance the elements of texture and value in their works of art.

In addition, this past week we further explored the concept of color theory. Students worked on analogous color schemes with cool,warm,and complementary color schemes on their design worksheets.

Also, in the area of art history and art appreciation we studied the life and work of famous 19th-20th century painter named Winslow Homer. This American watercolor artist was best known for his landscape and seascape watercolors and oil paintings that frequently depicted the forces of nature and man's struggle with nature. Many outstanding examples of this artist's beautiful work can be viewed at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Watercolor and Color Theory Unit continues

This week the 6th grade artists painted their Illinois watercolor landscapes,seascapes or cityscapes.

Students have watched classroom demonstrations on several watercolor techniques and color mixing methods. Each student is required to incorporate three or more watercolor techniques in their Illinois painting. The 6th grade is using graded washes, wet-in-wet washes, salt resist, wax resist, sponge textures, and drybrush to bring out the nature of the state of Illinois.

We have explored the color wheel through the mixing of secondary and intermediate colors,in addition to tints and neutral colors.Students have created compositions based on the use of foreground,middleground,and background or the divisions of a landscape to enhance their illusion of space and linear perspective.

Watercolor and Color Theory Unit

This week the 6th grade artists have been learning how to paint a color wheel in the watercolor medium.

Students have learned how to paint primary colors,secondary colors and intermediate colors in proper position on the color wheel.

In addition,we will cover tints and shades and the neutral colors.
Students will learn various watercolor painting techniques and experimental techniques to enhance their painting project.

Our theme is an Illinois inspired landscape or seascape that shows a sense of distance and space through linear perspective and value.

For our art appreciation unit we will explore the life and work of American realist artist Norman Rockwell who was know for his illustrations,drawings,and paintings of American scenes of everyday life.

6th Grade Perspective Unit comes to a close

This week students have continued with their study of perspective. The 6th grade artists have finalized their colored pencil geometric solid drawing in one-point perspective.

Also,students have begun their unit on color theory and painting.

Currently, students are creating pencil layouts and sketches for their Illinois landscape painting which will be completed in the watercolor medium. Students will be using various Illinois state symbols in the creation of their layout which will use the concept of linear perspective and space.