Art 7: Initial Tags and Progress of Sketchbook Tags

Woohoo!  Check out what I finally got for my classroom!  My computers!  Just in time too because we're starting our next unit in my elective class, which is based on Ben Heine's Pencil vs. Camera series.

Here are the Art 7 student's initial tag designs and the rubric I used to grade them.  I saw a really great display on the Art Teacher Facebook page a while back where the teacher created a fake brick wall to attach the tags too.  Originally I thought I would have them tag their portfolio and their sketchbook, but after I saw that post on Facebook, I changed my mind.  I made a similar brick wall and had the students do their tag first on paper, cut it out and place it on the wall.  Students used markers, colored pencils and the Crayola Marker Airbrush pumps I purchased last year from Nasco with grant money.  (Unfortunately, between the constant use and students not taking care of them very well during this project, I think I am down two out of six air brush pumps...not sure if it's really because the students were rough on them or if it's the quality of the pumps themselves...)

I passed back the graded rubrics and asked students to reflect on their tags.  Their last homework assignment was to finalize and redraw their tags using my feedback from their rubric.  For example, some students used their first name and didn't brainstorm an actual tag nickname...others only used letter text and did not have any flourishes, symbols or arrows.  Here are the final sketchbook tags in progress (these are aiming to be more of a "piece" than just a tag) as well as the rubric I will be using to grade them...students have spent two days so far and as of today, I have four that are finished...they will all get one more day and then the unit test for graffiti.  Then we'll FINALLY be able to move onto the next unit, which will be perspective!

Just wanted to share my bulletin board display of fall artwork...I decided to display the fall birch trees and pastel pumpkin patch drawings together!

Next Up in 4th Grade...a Portrait Unit!

Alright, it has to be said that drawing people/portraits is not one of my strong suits.  It's not something I've ever really enjoyed doing, especially in college!  But, I decided to stretch my limits and do a portrait unit with my 4th graders.  It fits right in with my theme of drawing from real life so here is what the plan is.

I took the first day to go through the proportions of the face.  No, I don't expect the students to remember everything about the proportions, but I had hoped that what they would take away is that they eyes fall half way down the head, your head is 5 eye lengths across, and the ears and nose are the same length.  I just did a Yahoo! search to find some good diagrams to create a power point (for some reason, I couldn't find my handout from high school that I have tucked away somewhere).  After the presentation, I handed out practice paper and mirrors so the students could practice observing their features and trying to draw them.

For our first project, we are doing pop art self-portraits in the style of Roy Lichtenstein. I gave a presentation about Roy Lichtenstein and then we started line drawings of ourselves.  I think the kids are excited to take a break from using value, but it's not far behind!

Here's my example!  I still need to finish my background...I don't like the white background...I think I'm going to do some pink dots...

The self-portrait in my power point is one I found through a Google search.

Originally, I was going to have the kids use Q-tips to add the dots, but I think I like the Sharpie marker better.  Plus, I'm starting to get a little sick of paint!  I have so many classes painting right now and I think the marker looks nice.

I'll have more to share once we get a little farther along.  It will be interesting to see how these turn out!  I'd say I'm about 60/40 with the amount of students who actually tried to draw themselves through the mirror versus the number of students who just drew circle faces, with circle eyes, and carrot noses....