Grade 10, February 22-25, 2011

Self portraits are the challenge. We have used a grid to enlarge and transfer information about our images to the pastel paper. We have selected our colors and now... Grade ten is moving in on the features. They are looking closely in a mirror at the anatomy of their features and seeing what is really there as opposed to what they think is there. Watch out for "magnifying eyes".

Grade 8, February 22-25, 2011

Grade 8 students have gone through the steps of creating a composition from the under water- life elements they drew. Now they will add the tonal rendering and some colored pencil to introduce color to the values. Soon they will be ready to add their creative touch to the library coral reef mural.

Grade 10 - February 14 - 17, 2011

The second project in the portrait unit continues this week. Students are creating a self portrait using a grid much like Albrecht Durer used in 1550’s. They are working on tinted pastel papers with their choice of pastel pencils, Prisma colors, charcoal pencil or graphite

Grade 8 - February 14-17, 2011

To add a finishing touch to our sumi-e painting exercises students carved a personal “chop” - a carved block artists used to sign their names. We used square gum erasers and carved into them with a variety of tools.

Next we go under the sea! Students are sharing their treasures from the ocean so that we can create a complex still life composition. We will experiment with different approaches or methods for developing a composition. We will use the Grisailles pencil technique to tint our tonal renderings.

Advanced A/P Grades 11-12, Janaury 31 - February 11, 2011

Steady progress is being made toward our portfolio goals. Students have been making time lines and exploring media and materials. This week will be a sketch book review. We will be looking for evidence of exploration, research and development of ideas and reflection on the process in the sketchbook.

Grade 10 - January 31 - February 11, 2011

Students have completed their graphic design unit and the posters created for playwright, William Shakespeare are hanging in Mr. Fenn’s English room. We have started a unit on portrait drawing. This week we will finish our study of proportion and features and next week we will be taking a look in the mirror and creating a self portrait.

Grade 8 - January 31 - February 11, 2011

Mark making, controlling the pencil, exploring a variety of draw materials and media! We have completed our tonal renderings of stuffed animals, experimented with charcoal and used sharpie pens to draw still life and landscape. We started our first color experiments by photocopying the landscape and using pastel, marker or colored pencil to add color to the compositions. Next week Sumi-e painting – controlling the brush, using Sumi-e ink. Following the principles of this ancient Chinese and Japanese tradition will be the foundation for using the brush with all painting mediums and techniques.