Grades 9-10

Chalk Pastel Portraits

Chalk Pastel Portraits

Grade Level 9-10, 11-12 Duration 6-8 weeks total, meeting 3 periods a week (one short block 40 minutes and two long blocks 85 minutes) Materials toned pastel/charcoal paper (finished size 12×18 or 16×20), chalk pastels Rembrandt https://amzn.to/3INa8Y5 or Prismacolor NuPastel https://amzn.to/3RKQobx , fixative Media Chalk pastels Lesson Objectives The student will… Learn about proportion in […]

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Greek Sculpture Paintings

Greek Sculpture Paintings

Grade Level Duration This was a 15-week project (2 lessons a week, 1hr each) with all the preparatory work, responding tasks, and final cumulative artwork. The final artwork execution took about 6-7 weeks Materials A4 sketchbooks ((8.5″ x 11″), pencil, black and white acrylic paint, chalk pastels, MDF board Media Acrylic Painting Lesson Objectives The […]

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Split Self Portrait

Split Self Portrait

Grade Level Duration 4 weeks; Block schedule – seeing students 2x a week for 90 mins and 1x a week for 50 mins. We spend the first week planning and creating sketches and drafts. We also peer critique in class before starting the final.  Materials Students select which medium to use for their pieces after […]

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Wild Beast

Wild Beast

Grade Level , taught in an Art I class at the HS level Duration 3-5 weeks with 4.5-7 hours of art in a week in a block schedule Materials black ballpoint pens or fine-tip Sharpies, quality colored pencils (Prismacolor was used for this project), large drawing paper Media India Ink, Color pencils Lesson Objectives The […]

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Zentangle Inspired 3D Slab Initial

Zentangle Inspired 3D Slab Initial

Grade Level Duration 6-8 classes, 50-minute periods Materials Clay, basic clay tools, slip, India ink, sharpie, gesso, spray sealant Media India Ink, Sculpture, Ceramics Lesson Objectives The student will… Display foundational techniques for making handbuilt ceramic work. Create a slab-built pottery. An awareness and appreciation of letterforms. Explore decorative surface treatments that explore a variety […]

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Basquiat-Inspired Mixed Media Artworks

Basquiat-Inspired Mixed Media Artworks

Grade Level Duration 5 periods, 50 minutes each Materials Oil pastel, acrylic paint, blender (this teacher used odorless, non-toxic turpentine to blend colors, but other options include linseed, oil, and baby oil with a q-tip or even just used water-soluble pastels like the Crayola Portfolio Series Oil Pastels), paper (this teacher used 80lb 13″x20″ paper […]

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Michael Murphy Inspired 3D Portraits

Michael Murphy Inspired 3D Portraits

Grade Level Duration 3 weeks, 1.5 hour class periods Materials Cardboard, cutting tools such as a Canary box cutting knife ( like this one), tempera black and white, large and medium size flat brushes, wood skewers (like these) Media Tempera, Mixed media Lesson Objectives Lesson Objectives For the student to: ● Become familiar with the […]

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Scratch-Off Zentangle Landscapes

Scratch-Off Zentangle Landscapes

Grade Level Duration 5-10 class periods, periods are 1.5 hours in length Materials Black Tempera Paint, Crayons, 9×12” Drawing Paper, Toothpick/Thumbtack/Something pointy, Zentangle reference sheets Media Mixed media Lesson Objectives The student will… • explore mark-making and pattern • understand foreground, middle ground, and background and be able to display the concepts in their landscapes […]

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Sonia Delaunay: Orphism At Its Best

Sonia Delaunay: Orphism At Its Best

Grade Level Duration Ten classes (50 minutes) Materials 12×18 white paper, pencils, erasers, rulers, protractors, compasses, circle templates, tempera paint, paint brushes, water cups, newspaper Media Tempera Paint Lesson Objectives The student will… Introductory Activity Before embarking on this project, the teacher talked a lot about craftsmanship and how it can make or break an […]

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Graphic Landscape with Tempera Resist

Graphic Landscape with Tempera Resist

Grade Level Duration Eight class periods total. Class periods are 87 min. Breakdown: 3 classes to brainstorm/sketch/sharpie, 4 to paint, and 1 to ink/wash Materials White paper (thick paper is a must), Fluorescent Tempera Paints (this lesson used Nasco brand), Indian ink, brushes, landscape photos, running water Media India Ink Lesson Objectives Students will • […]

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Autobiographical Still Life Drawings

Autobiographical Still Life Drawings

Cupboard Grade Level Duration Six weeks, 47-minute periods meeting every day Materials Cardboard, glue guns, glue sticks, Elmer’s Glue, tape, mat knives, bull clips, erasures, sketch paper or sketchbooks Any of the following can be used to execute the project: Graphite powder, pencil sets (the type that comes with a range of pencil hardness, such […]

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Shirt Drawings

Shirt Drawings

Duration One week per drawing. In this instance, the teacher required three drawings total, so three weeks. Materials Pencil, charcoal pencil, colored pencils, and other media as required (students are given the choice of media) Media Drawing, Charcoal, Mixed Media Lesson Objectives The student will: • Practice observational drawing and rendering, including shading light and […]

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Resist Pumpkin/Gourd Drawings

Resist Pumpkin/Gourd Drawings

Duration  20 class periods, periods are fifty minutes Materials Real or fake pumpkins and gourds, black foam core boards, tape, drawing paper or sketchbooks, Sharpie marker, paper cut to 5.5″ x 7″, bristol board cut to 11″ x 14″, access to a copy machine to make enlargements, pencils, graphite paper (also called transfer paper), oil […]

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Yarn Painting

Yarn Painting

Grade Level Duration Three weeks to work on the assignment. The school arts program operated on an A and B schedule. The class time was 90 minutes. Materials Tacky glue or Elmer’s glue, 20”x16” cardboard or canvas panel, toothpicks/chopsticks, practice paper, pencils, erasers, scissors, assorted color yarns, and multicolor yarn Media Fiber Arts Lesson Objectives The […]

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Slab Boxes

Slab Boxes

Grade Level Duration This teacher’s school has a modified block schedule. Over the course of the week, the students have Ceramic classes for 45 minutes one day and then two more days for 80 minutes. This project took about three weeks. Materials Clay and basic clay tools, glazes and underglazes, transfer paper, 4×4 templates out […]

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Cut Out Color Match Paintings

Cut Out Color Match Paintings

Grade Level Duration 4 class periods, periods are 45 minutes long Materials Printer and paper, acrylic paints, small brushes, pencils, eraser, canvas paper cut into circles. Media Acrylic Paint Lesson Objectives For the student to: understand tones, tints, and shade. to apply accurate color matches to a portion of a photo. Introductory Activity Students were […]

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Painted Papers: Rubber Cement Resist

Painted Papers: Rubber Cement Resist

Grade Level Duration 20 class periods, periods are 50 minutes long Materials 140 lb watercolor paper, watercolor sets (Prang is recommended), board/cardboard, fine tip Sharpie, rubber cement Media watercolor, mixed media Lesson Objectives For the student to: explore the element of the art of line and color. understand how to use watercolor and resist as […]

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Negative Space Watercolor Painting

Negative Space Watercolor Painting

Grade Level Duration 20 class periods, periods are 50 minutes long Materials 140 lb watercolor paper, small paper (like card stock), masking tape, pencil, scissors, salt, plastic wrap, watercolor sets (Prang is recommended), India ink, or acrylic paint Media Watercolor Lesson Objectives For the student to: Explore the element of art of shape. Practice repetition […]

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Mapping our Identities: Conté Self Portraits

Mapping our Identities: Conté Self Portraits

Grade Level (ideal for 10/11) Duration 20 class periods, periods are 50 minutes long Materials maps, premium heavy-weight print paper, black and white conté crayon, computer and printer Media Drawing, graphite paper Lesson Objectives For the student to Explore how identity is connected to geography Appreciate maps as a design form and artifact of human […]

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Lace Drawing

Lace Drawing

Grade Level Duration 15 periods, periods are 40-minute periods Materials black railroad board, white colored pencil, white ink, or white gel pen, pencil, sketchbook Media Drawing Lesson Objectives For the student to Use observation skills to make a drawing of lace Explore line and line weight while drawing. To consider composition when developing their […]

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Celebrity Reduction Prints

Celebrity Reduction Prints

Grade Level Duration 12-15 periods, periods are 40-minute periods Materials Photoshop (or similar program), printer, Speedball Speedy-Carve Block Printing Carving Block (or similar material, or linoleum), benchbook/ink plate, speedball ink, 90lb paper (cut to 9×12 to match the size of blocks), brayer (roller), lino cutters, printing press or hand, wooden spoon and/or baren for hand printing. Media […]

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Wild Life Conservation Pen and Ink Composite Drawings

Wild Life Conservation Pen and Ink Composite Drawings

Grade Level Duration 15 days- Block Schedule 73 min long class periods Materials 12 x 15-inch paper, Prismacolor ink pens, computers or iPads with access to Photoshop or comparable programs, printer Media Pen and Ink Lesson Objectives Main Objective For the student to: Create an Ink drawing about animal conservation locally. Secondary objectives: Examine the […]

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Figure Study

Figure Study

Grade Level Duration several 10 minute sessions once a week over 7 weeks plus three class periods Materials This is a mixed media project. Use different media each week. Media may include: Graphite, pen, and ink (or permanent markers), markers, crayons, acrylic paint, watercolor, oil pastel Media Mixed media Lesson Objectives For the student to… […]

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3D Bending Planes

3D Bending Planes

Grade Level Duration 2 weeks Materials 8.5 x 11-inch computer paper, X-Acto knives, and plenty of fresh blades Media Paper cutting Lesson Objectives For the student to… learn the art of paper cutting by creating a spontaneous cut design using geometric or free-form shapes. Think how the 2-D design can be manipulated, without folding, to […]

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Zentangle-Inspired Triptych

Zentangle-Inspired Triptych

Grade Level Duration variable Materials 12×18 inch tag board, micron pens, Sharpie, pencil, ruler, paper, and colored marker Media Mixed media Lesson Objectives For the student to… Explore line, pattern, and visual texture Experiment with “breaking the frame” or “bleeding off the page” compositional techniques to build more complex arrangements of the subject. Introductory Activity […]

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Giuseppe Arcimboldo inspired Food Faces

Giuseppe Arcimboldo inspired Food Faces

Grade Level Duration unknown Materials White drawing paper, pencil, Prismacolor color pencils, reference photos of fruit and vegetables Media Color pencils Lesson Objectives for the student to… learn about, explore and understand the ART ELEMENTS: Lines, Shapes, Form, Color, Texture, Space, and Value learn about, explore and understand the PRINCIPLES of DESIGN: Proportion, Variety, Balance […]

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Steampunk Sculpture

Steampunk Sculpture

Grade Level Duration unknown Materials Cardboard, cardboard, wire, scissors, glue (yahoo liquid glue), masking tape, steampunk embellishments found, scavenged, or bought (you can buy in bulk at Amazon (https://amzn.to/399d0AE, https://amzn.to/3LiqK9P), plaster bandage OR paper mache (wallpaper paste or glue/flour mixture), bowls, gesso, newspaper, brushes, variety of acrylic paint colors, including metallic. Media Mixed media Lesson […]

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Art Nouveau Portraits

Art Nouveau Portraits

Grade Level Duration Approximately 5-6 periods, 90 minute periods Materials 18×24 watercolor paper, pencil, sharpie (fine and extra-fine point), erasers, pan watercolor set (Reeves preferred), *metallic paint Art Noveau visual resources Media Mixed media Lesson Objectives To be able to reflect an understanding of art nouveau through creating an original portrait in Art Nouveau style. […]

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Radial Print

Radial Print

Grade Level Duration Duration 7-10 periods, 60 minute periods Materials • Linoleum, Either a roll or flat 36” x 36” linoleum sheets in Battleship Grey or Golden Wonder Cut, cut down into 4” x 4” pieces for students. • Paper for sketching out potential designs • Paper cut down to 9” x 17” pieces of […]

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Faceless Vector Portraits

Faceless Vector Portraits

Grade Level Duration Approximately one 45-minute period and two 90 minute periods total Materials Computer with Illustrator or Gravit Designer (free vector art alternative). Media Digital Lesson Objectives For the student to… achieve proficiency with a vector-based drawing program including using the pen tool and understanding layers. for the student to understand the concept of […]

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Cut Paper-Inspired Biomes/Environments

Cut Paper-Inspired Biomes/Environments

Grade Level Duration 10 days- Block Schedule 73 min long class periods Materials Adobe Illustrator, Teacher created Youtube Videos, Computer Lab, Computer, Wacom Boards, Internet, Worksheet, TAG Worksheet, Sketchbook, Pencil. Media Digital Lesson Objectives Idea Objectives: • Investigate what makes an environment recognizable • Consider, “How can I incorporate those shapes into a project?” • […]

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Personal Polynesian Inspired Coil Sculpture

Personal Polynesian Inspired Coil Sculpture

Grade Level Duration 3 weeks for construction with an every other day 90 minute block schedule, 1 additional week for glazing Materials Clay, clay tools, access to a kiln for firing, underglaze, glazes, brushes Media Clay Lesson Objectives For the student to… understand the concept of cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation. understand the history of […]

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Cell phones for Art: Window to another world

Cell phones for Art: Window to another world

Grade Level Duration 7 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials printer, paper, digital illustration media like Illustrator, solid-colored sheets of paper or board to act as a background, access to personal cell phones (can be faked by photoshop if there is a firm no phones policy) Media Mixed media Lesson Objectives For the student to… […]

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Good Enough to Eat: Photo Realistic Color Pencil

Good Enough to Eat: Photo Realistic Color Pencil

Grade Level Duration 10 classes, 90 minutes Materials Good quality color pencils like Prisma Colors (https://amzn.to/3tiX6f1) or Faber Castell (https://amzn.to/3tiX6f1), odorless turpentine (I suggest a safer alternative such as Citra Solve, https://amzn.to/3ncmcsg), rubbing alcohol, q-tips, 300 gsm or 140 lb paper such as Bristol paper is traditional for color pencil (some color pencil artists like […]

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Wire Portraits

Wire Portraits

Grade Level Duration unknown Materials Drawing paper, pencil, Twisteez brand wire, colored sheets of paper (or board) for mounting, optional: pliers Media Sculpture Lesson Objectives Students will… create a wire portrait inspired by the work of Alexander Calder. learn to properly and safely use wire and tools appropriately to create their artwork. Introductory Activity This […]

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Landscape Painting

Landscape Painting

Grade Level Duration 10 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Variety of acrylic brushes, variety of acrylic paint (bottles are more practical) in basic colors, paper appropriate for acrylic paint (I like Strathmore 400 Series Acrylic Pad, Linen Finish, 9″x12″ Glue Bound, sold in pads of 10 Sheets), water cups, brush cleaner, painter’s tape, cardboard […]

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Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Inspired Self Portrait

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Inspired Self Portrait

Grade Level Duration 10 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Paper, drawing pencils, blending stumps, rulers, colored pencils Media Pencil, Color pencils Lesson Objectives For the student to… learn about how art is used to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. to create their own Calavera design. understand how to use a grid to assist in […]

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Drawing on a photo

Drawing on a photo

Grade Level Duration 4-5 classes of 45-minute length (depends on how familiar students are with digital media) Materials A program that you work on layers and draw digitally, like Photoshop and a drawing tablet like the Wacom Intuos Media Digital, Mixed media Lesson Objectives For the student to: become familiar with digital media including resolution, […]

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Big Head Project

Big Head Project

Grade Level Duration Six weeks, 50 minutes periods Materials 5-gallon bucket/round trash can, cardboard, masking tape, x-acto knives, plastic grocery bags, newspaper, art paste (flour and water also work for paper mache), paint, and anything else you may want to use for hair and eyes (we used softball-sized whiffle balls). Media Sculpture Lesson Objectives The […]

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Patterned Animals

Patterned Animals

Grade Level Duration 10 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Adobe Illustrator Media Digital Lesson Objectives For the student to… understand making using Adobe Illustrator’s pattern maker. understand how to approximate a pattern’s value. to use original and found patterns to collage digitally an illustration of an animal. Introductory Activity This project assumes some intermediate […]

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Biomorphic Polychromatic Paintings

Biomorphic Polychromatic Paintings

Grade Level Duration 4-5 70 minute class periods Materials 9×12 canvas board (or railroad board), heavy body acrylics, variety of brushes, palettes Media Painting, Acrylic Lesson Objectives For the student to… • listen, observe, and research concepts and content to develop an idea for the project. • express information, feelings, and/or ideas visually within the […]

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Form Action Figures

Form Action Figures

Grade Level Duration 10 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Toned paper with some tooth, white pastel sets, white charcoal pencils, wood figure manikins for drawing and/or basic forms Media Chalk pastels Lesson Objectives For the student to… • understand how to shade to create form. • understand that all objects can be simplified to […]

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Found Object Assemblage Inspired By Louise Nevelson

Found Object Assemblage Inspired By Louise Nevelson

Grade Level Duration 7 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Collect objects that are discarded. You can ask students, parents, and other teachers to bring in objects appropriate to the scale you wish to work. cardboard, scissors, utility knives, hot glue, wood glue, glue, tape, spray paint, paint, paintbrushes, found objects, rulers Media Painting, Recycled […]

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Pinch Vase and Bottle

Pinch Vase and Bottle

Grade Level Duration two week project to build two of them. (90 minute block classes) Materials 3 to 4 pounds of clay Needle Tool A tool for scoring Ribbon Tools Wooden carving tools A bag to store your clay A bag to store your work. Slip or Vinegar Sketches what you are going to create […]

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Charles McGee Inspired Sculpture

Charles McGee Inspired Sculpture

Grade Level Duration 10 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Matboard (ask local framing shops for their scraps), scissors, black and white acrylic paint, acrylic brushes of varying size, glue Media Sculpture Lesson Objectives For the student to… Create varying levels of depth To explore line, shape and pattern Practice 3D composition skills Introductory Activity […]

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Collaged Winter Landscapes

Collaged Winter Landscapes

Grade Level Duration Five 45 minute classes Materials watercolors, watercolor paper, brushes, glue, salt, plastic wrap Media Watercolor, Collage Lesson Objectives For the student… to create various watercolor techniques on watercolor paper. to improvise a landscape through layering the ripped and torn paper Introductory Activity The student will be introduced to watercolors. Teacher should demonstrate […]

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Nature monoprints with gelatin plates

Nature monoprints with gelatin plates

Grade Level Duration 2-3 classes of 45 minute length Materials gelitin plate (homemade or commercial), inks (I used Speedball) or paints, brayers, newspaper, paper, leaves, ferns and other plant material, and texture plates or textured materials Media Printing, Monoprint Lesson Objectives Students will… create and original monoprint applying concepts of shape, pattern, and texture understand […]

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Ink Monsters

Ink Monsters

Grade Level Duration 2-3 45 minute class periods Materials Black India Ink. sharpie, micron pens, white smooth cardstock, scissors, glue. air spray canister (check and see if your tech folks have some to share) or straws, color pencils (optional) Media Pen and Ink, India Ink Lesson Objectives For the student to stretch their imaginative thinking […]

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Nature Themed Collagraph

Nature Themed Collagraph

Grade Level Duration 10 classes, 45 minutes Materials For making the collagraph plate: Thin cardboard (like cereal boxes), thicker card to mount on, corrugated card, string, hot glue, white glue, Shellac (to seal) For printing: water based inks in red, blue, yellow, brayer, plexiglass for inking, printing paper, printing press (alternative, use a baren) Media […]

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Masks

Masks

Grade Level Duration 7 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials This project was done with clay but could be done with paper mache. Student collect recycled material to create an armature from (cereal boxes, egg cartons, etc. Basic clay tools like a knife, rolling pin, sculpting tools, etc. Media Clay Lesson Objectives For the student […]

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Day of the Dead (dia de los Muertos) Illustration (using vector art)

Day of the Dead (dia de los Muertos) Illustration (using vector art)

Grade Level Duration 7 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Computer with the Adobe Illustrator program Media Digital Lesson Objectives The student will… Learn about the geometric concepts like radial patterns and symmetry. Will learn a variety of Adobe Illustrator tools including the rotate, reflect, pathfinder options, and blend tool. Introductory Activity Talk about the […]

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Let Them Eat Cake! Pop Art Ceramics

Let Them Eat Cake! Pop Art Ceramics

Grade Level Duration 13 classes, 45 minutes Materials I used clay but this could also be done with paper mache Media Clay Lesson Objectives For the student to… Understand form and how to construct basic forms using slabs Gain undersstanding and appreciation for Pop Art and artists Introductory Activity For this project I introduce students […]

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Abstract Soap Sculpture

Abstract Soap Sculpture

Grade Level Duration 3-4 classes of 45 minute length Materials Bar of soap, small kitchen knife, potato peeler (optional), newspaper Media Lesson Objectives For the student to… become familiar with the life and work of Jean Arp. to understand subtractive sculpture and work subtractively in creating an original sculpture to understand and display biomorphic abstraction […]

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In Your Face! Clay Pot Lesson

In Your Face! Clay Pot Lesson

Grade Level Duration 12-15 classes, 45 minutes Materials Clay, Slip, Carving tools, Metal Rib, Needle Tool, Clay knife, Scoring tool, sponges, bowl for slip, canvas, spray bottle, water Media Clay Lesson Objectives Objectives: Students will: Be exposed to the history of African face pots, Create a face pot that incorporates both text and natural inspiration, […]

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Zentangle Inspired Designs

Zentangle Inspired Designs

Grade Level Duration 7 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Pencil, eraser, Ultra and Fine tip sharpies or Micron pens (Black, 01, 03, 05). Ideally, permanent markers so it doesn’t smudge or bleed. I purchased heavy 8.5x 10 inch cardstock and cut it to 8 inch squares. White out pen. Media Markers Lesson Objectives For […]

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Neurographic Art

Neurographic Art

Grade Level Duration 3-4 classes of 45 minute length Materials Brushes, heavier paper, gouche paints, sharpie marker * can be done with markers, watercolor, etc. Media Gouache, Markers Lesson Objectives For the student to understand art as a therapeutic tool. For the student to understand the process of creating neurogenic art. For student to use […]

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Text Figures and Portraits

Text Figures and Portraits

Grade Level Duration 10 classes, 45 minutes Materials Access to a program like Illustrator. Alternatives include online program Vectr , https://vectr.com/, or downloadable Inkscape. Media Digital Lesson Objectives The student will… Create a portrait or figure out of text. Be exposed to and explore a wide range of text choices Understand how to work with […]

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Positive Negative Symmetrical Animal Designs

Positive Negative Symmetrical Animal Designs

Grade Level Duration 8 classes, 45 minutes Materials Paper, Pencil, tempera paint *I have also occasionally done this lesson in Illustrator/Photoshop (either, or a combo) Media Painting, Graphic design Lesson Objectives For the student to… Understand how to identify simple shapes to draw to build more complex forms. Identify and utilize symmetry, reflection symmetry, and […]

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Hockney Inspired Photomontages

Hockney Inspired Photomontages

Grade Level Duration 7 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Digital Camera (although can be done with an analog cameras as well) and photo editing software like Photoshop or web application like Pixlr Media Photography/Film/Technology Lesson Objectives The student will learn… About the process of artist/photographer David Hockney for his photomontages How to create their […]

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Edward Weston Inspired Photographs

Edward Weston Inspired Photographs

Grade Level Duration 3-4 classes of 45 minute length Materials Digital camera (phones are fine), simple editing program (https://pixlr.com/) Media Photography/Film/Technology Lesson Objectives For the student to… Recognize the work of Edward Weston Photograph ordinary things, and make it look extraordinary Learn about light, shadow and value as elements Practice composition, zooming in, and cropping […]

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Color theory with Fruit Forms

Color theory with Fruit Forms

Grade Level Duration 7 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Oil pastels (I use Crayola), Varied color construction paper (I like fadeless) OR varied colors of pastel paper. Working larger on lager sizes help students work with looser and more active marks I feel. Fruit (fake or real), spot light *Chalk pastels can be used […]

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Typography & Texture  Study

Typography & Texture Study

Grade Level Duration 2 forty five minute periods (size dependent) Materials Typing paper and one of the following: dark color pencil, crayon, graphite stuck or pencil Media Pencil, Wax crayons, Color pencils Lesson Objectives For the student… To find a variety of type and texture To create a collage of type and text through thoughtful […]

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Trashion

Trashion

Grade Level Duration 10 classes, 45 minutes Materials Any material that is available for upcycling goes. Nice to have would be a dress form but students can use their own bodies as well. Media Mixed media Lesson Objectives The students will… Exploring the social and environmental cost related to clothing and fashion Discuss and make […]

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Earthwork Sculptures

Earthwork Sculptures

Grade Level Duration 12-15 classes, 45 minutes Materials Materials will vary depending on student, emphasis on materials from nature Media Mixed media Lesson Objectives Students will… Create a piece of environmental sculpture in their own (or school environment). Students consider relationships between the environment and their sculpture. Understand the purpose of environmental art Introductory Activity […]

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Grid Drawings from Magazine Collages

Grid Drawings from Magazine Collages

Grade Level Duration 8 class periods, 45 minutes Materials Collage materials, and tools: magazines, colored paper, masking tape, feathers, etc., glue, scissors. Drawing supplies: pencils (be sure to have some soft lead pencils for dark values), rulers, viewfinders, paper Media Drawing, Pencil, Collage Lesson Objectives Students translate color into black and white values, learn to […]

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Interactive Drawing/Sub Plan

Interactive Drawing/Sub Plan

Grade Level Duration 1 period/ possibly a sketchbook assignment Materials Pencil, paper/sketchbook Media Pencil, Photography/Film/Technology Lesson Objectives For the student to… Practice creativity skills by combining every-day objects with simple illustrations to turn them into pictures of playful scenes. Introductory Activity Introduce students to artists to artist Victor Nunes and cartoonists Humaun Kabir Manik and […]

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Art History Valentines Day Cards

Art History Valentines Day Cards

Grade Level Duration 2 periods of 45 minute length Materials Students select the media they feel most appropriate. Media Mixed media Lesson Objectives For students to… Become more familiar with famous artists and artworks To become familiar with an artists style To show an awareness of matching font to their selected artist’s style Introductory Activity […]

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Jen Stark Inspired Drip

Jen Stark Inspired Drip

Grade Level Duration 4 classes of 45 minutes per period s Materials Adobe Illustrator or other comparable vector art program Media Digital Lesson Objectives For the student to… Recognize the work of Jen Stark Analyze her work for color usage. How would you describe her colors and color schemes. Foe the students to draw parallels […]

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Scannography Self Portraits

Scannography Self Portraits

Grade Level Duration 2 periods of approximate 45 minutes (I rotate students through scanner during while another project is on-going) Materials Scanner and editing program such as Photoshop Media Photography/Film/Technology, Digital Lesson Objectives For the student to: Understand how to use a scanner Understand the how a scanner is like and different from a scanner […]

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Paper Bag Perspective

Paper Bag Perspective

Grade Level Duration 3-4 class periods, 45 minutes Materials Brown butcher paper, color pencils (I have also done this lesson with just pencil and white conte and simple crayons could be another potential media). Media Color pencils Lesson Objectives For students to observe and apply fundamental perspective skills in drawing lunch bags. Introductory Activity Teach […]

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Clay Relief

Clay Relief

Grade Level Duration 10-13 classes, 45 minutes Materials Clay, glaze, a variety of clay tools (ribbon tools, fettling knife, needle tools, sponges, etc) Media Clay Lesson Objectives For the student… To Understand the difference between high and low relief. To visually create a sense of space in a low relief. To demonstrate subtractive carving. Introductory […]

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Negative Space Still Life

Negative Space Still Life

Grade Level Duration 5 class – 45 minutes Materials Still life items with interesting shapes/silhouettes, paper, pencil, erasure For cut paper version: black paper the same size as the white paper, preferably color fast, x-acto knife, surface to cut on For resist version: white tempera paint, brushes, black indian ink Media Drawing, Paper cutting, Other […]

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Natural Abstractions

Natural Abstractions

Grade Level Duration 12-15 classes, 45 minutes Materials Surface to paint on (this could be canvas, canvas board, canvas paper, gesso covered board- in these examples it was gessoed paper and they did wrinkle a bit), acrylic paint (your budget- your favorite brand of tube acrylics or bottles), acrylic extender (such as Golden Acrylic Retarder, […]

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Explorations in Line:Plant Studies

Explorations in Line:Plant Studies

Grade Level Duration 6 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Variety of plant cuttings, watercolor paper cut into long verticals, watercolor sets, markers, brushes, watercolor cups An alternative method (purple example) was created in Photoshop with scanned sketches and would require a scanner, computer, and program such as Photoshop to execute Media Watercolor, Markers Lesson […]

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Paper Marbling, Origami Box and Bag

Paper Marbling, Origami Box and Bag

Grade Level Duration 3-4 class periods, 40 minutes in length Materials carrageenan found at https://www.dickblick.com/products/jacquard-carrageenan/, paper, a tray large enough to accommodate paper, jars, or droppers to hold watered-down paint, and acrylic paint, a blender if possible, and a large drying rack. For making the bag and box, glue sticks, scissors (or X-Acto knives if […]

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Symbolic Self Portrait

Symbolic Self Portrait

Grade Level Duration 10 classes, 45 minutes Materials Computers with Photoshop (or comparable image editing program). Nice to have, but not necessary, a drawing tablet. Might me possible to do portions on a tablet with drawing programs such a Sketchbook pro. Media Digital Lesson Objectives To develop photoshop skills in collaging images from difference sources, […]

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Coil Pot

Coil Pot

Grade Level Duration about 15 classes, 45 minutes long Materials Clay (I just used a basic white low fire earthenware clay), slip, surface to work on (I use canvas), basic clay handbuilding tools, particularly a clay fettling knife. Media Clay Lesson Objectives To create a symmetrical coil pot displaying good craft and a wide variety […]

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Type Animal Illustrations with Haiku

Type Animal Illustrations with Haiku

Grade Level Duration 7 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Adobe Illustrator Media Digital Lesson Objectives The objective is To create awareness of typographical forms To think creatively to create an illustration using the appropriate tools in Illustrator To layout a page of type and text Introductory Activity Teach the anatomy of type to students. […]

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Self Portrait  Value Books

Self Portrait Value Books

Grade Level Duration 10 periods, 45 minutes in length Materials Students were given access to a variety of materials including tempera, acrylic, pen and ink, charcoal. watercolor, micron pens, etc. Media Mixed media Lesson Objectives To create a self portrait using a different value for each of the eight segments. These pieces actually fold up […]

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Linear Shells with Suminagashi

Linear Shells with Suminagashi

Grade Level Duration 10 periods, 40 minutes long Materials Fine Tip Sharpies, Micron Pens. India Ink, paper, exacto knives Media Pen and Ink, Markers Lesson Objectives For students to practice line variation in creating pattern, value and form in graphic black and white illustrations of shells. To create a background reminiscent of water using sumigashi […]

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Still Life Composition

Still Life Composition

Grade Level Duration 9 classes total, one hour per class Materials – Graphite drawing pencils – Erasers – 9”X12” paper – 12”X18” paper – Objects of varying size and shape Media Drawing Lesson Objectives – To become a better observer – To learn what makes for an effective still life composition – To create a […]

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Abstract line design

Abstract line design

Grade Level Duration 3-4 classes of 45 minute length Materials Computers with Adobe Illustrator, Printer Media Digital Lesson Objectives To understand the blend tool in Adobe Illustrator. To create an abstract composition using line, line weight and movement. To use color effectively to create contrast and emphasis. Introductory Activity Introduce students to the blend tool […]

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Tunnel Book

Tunnel Book

Grade Level Duration 12 classes, 45 minutes Materials White and black cardstock (less black), a variety of media such as color pencil, acrylic paints, etc. craft glue, exacto knives, cutting matts Media Mixed media Lesson Objectives Student will understand how to create a foreground, middle ground and background Students will understand how to create a […]

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Positive Negative Still life

Positive Negative Still life

Grade Level Duration 10 classes, 45 minutes Materials Canvas board (or canvas paper), white and black acrylic paint, palettes, tabletop easels (if possible) Media Acrylic Lesson Objectives Become aware of how to observe negative space for the purpose of improving their drawing and painting skills Introductory Activity The teacher will set up an interesting still […]

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Printmaking and Paper Quilts

Printmaking and Paper Quilts

Grade Level Duration 5-7 (90 min block) class periods Materials 3×6 or any size linoleum scraps, lino cutters, printing inks, colored papers, poster board, glue sticks, scissors, rulers and a small press is optional. Media Printing Lesson Objectives Use printmaking to create a unique “paper” quilt. Introductory Activity INTRO ACTIVITY: I was inspired by Jim […]

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Repeat Pattern Designs for Textile & Fashion Designs

Repeat Pattern Designs for Textile & Fashion Designs

Grade Level Duration 3-6 classes Materials Watercolor painting materials or digital camera for photography, computer, scanner, color printer, software Adobe Photoshop (or similar), mounting board Media Paper, Photography/Film/Technology, Digital, Photoshop Lesson Objectives Create repeat patterns designs by rotating original images (watercolor paintings or photographs) to use as textile designs for fashions Introductory Activity Experiment with […]

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Paper Marbling

Paper Marbling

Grade Level Duration 3-4 class periods, 40 minutes in length Materials carrageenan found at https://amzn.to/3EOtdao, paper, a tray large enough to accommodate paper, (https://amzn.to/3vepsYq) jars or droppers to hold watered down paint, and acrylic paint, a blender if possible, and a large drying rack. Media Acrylic, Paper Lesson Objectives Students will be able to understand […]

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Claes Oldenburg Cardboard Sculptures

Claes Oldenburg Cardboard Sculptures

Grade Level Duration 15 classes, at 50 minutes per class Materials Cardboard, paste (half water, half elmers), tape and hot glue Media Lesson Objectives Students will learn how use scale and proportions skills. They will gain group and communication skills as well as creative thinking with others. Introductory Activity Claes Oldenburg photos, videos, readings Lesson […]

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Pointillism Lesson

Pointillism Lesson

Grade Level Duration 4 class – 90 minutes Materials Canvas (we used A4), pencil, acrylic or oil colors, pointed brush (number 4-8), palettes Media Acrylic Lesson Objectives Submitted by Eva. Students will be able to observe and draw colors and shapes correctly in relation to the light source. Introductory Activity Introduce students to the Pointillism […]

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Still Life on Gray Paper

Still Life on Gray Paper

Grade Level Duration 15 classes of 40 minute periods Materials Gray paper (with some tooth), black charcoal sticks, black charcoal pencils, white charcoal pencils, white charcoal sticks, blending stubs, variety of erasures, drawing boards or easels, working and regular fixative and a view finder. Still life items including white, black, and gray clothes. Media Charcoal […]

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Postage Stamps Illustration Design

Postage Stamps Illustration Design

Grade Level Duration 10 classes, 45 minutes Materials Computer lab, Illustrator Media Digital Lesson Objectives To develops a related series of images on a single topic To practice vector art skills, using the Pen Tool and showing mastery of layers To develop a person style and look in illustrative approach. Introductory Activity This would be […]

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Marbled Drape Pots

Marbled Drape Pots

Grade Level Duration 3-4 classes of 45 minute length Materials 2-3 varieties of different colored clay bodies with the same shrinkage rate, canvas, rolling pins or a slab roller, plastic bowls and vases for draping the plastic bag, scrap pieces of plastic Media Clay Lesson Objectives To understand a clay’s shrinking rate and successfully marble […]

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Value Self Portraits

Value Self Portraits

Grade Level Duration 12-15 classes, 45 minutes Materials Access to cameras, photo editing program. printer, old magazines, acetate, Elmer glue, acrylic glaze medium Media Collage Lesson Objectives For students to identify value accurately. For students to view areas of the photograph abstractly through shape and value. For students to lean how to utilize collage as […]

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Plaster Collages

Plaster Collages

Grade Level Duration 6 classes periods of 40 minute periods Materials Cardboard shoe boxes. foil or plastic garbage bags, wire for hanger to embed in the plaster, plaster, clay Media Plaster Lesson Objectives Students will learn to define and recognize a bas-relief (low relief) sculpture Students will cast a plaster relief from a mold created […]

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Cut Paper designs inspired by Molas

Cut Paper designs inspired by Molas

Grade Level Duration 10 classes, 45 minutes Materials Exacto knife, extra blades, scissors, stapler, fade resistant construction paper of a variety of colors (enough black for each student), glue (I prefer Elmer’s used sparingly) white color pencils, paper or sketchbooks for design development, pencil Media Paper Lesson Objectives Explore the connections between culture and art. […]

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