Grade Level
9-10Duration
8-9 blocks, 85-minute blocks
Materials
white copy paper, black construction paper, camera/cell phone, computer, printer, graphite pencils, blending stumps, kneaded erasers
Media
Graphite
Lesson Objectives
For the student to:
• learn and implement fundamental compositional rules.
• apply value accurately to create form and space using a full range of values.
• demonstrates good craftsmanship in all steps of creating the still life.
Introductory Activity
Day 1:
Create a still life at your table with your classmates, using forms and origami you create.
To do this:
• Use the provided printed templates.
• Go to templatemaker.nl to find a different form template. Ask the teacher to print the template.
• Go to this site, or this one, for origami directions on different forms you can create.
• Create your forms – a lot of them!
• Be patient and work together
• Consider those compositional tools – will certain forms give you more compositional options?
• Remember the Principles of Design – what forms and compositions will help you visually create 1 or 2 Principles.
• Everyone must make a minimum of 3 forms
Look at your still life from a variety of viewpoints and angles.
Make sure you arrange the objects into a strong composition.
Light the still life with a table lamp or camera flashlight so it displays highlights and shadows.
Pay attention to the background.
Day 2:
Finish your forms. Share with other tables if you would like.
Create your table’s still life and set it up with a clear directional light source.
a. Use the paper provided for backgrounds
b. Move the light, your camera, flashlight, and/or the forms around to create interesting highlights and shadows.
c. Consider those compositional tools
d. Remember the Principles of Design
Take several photos of the still life and crop to a SQUARE FORMAT!
a. Look for an exciting composition. Take as many photos as needed to get at least 4 or 5 suitable compositions.
b. Remember those compositional tools!
c. Make sure your compositions use at least one Principle of Design.
d. BE PREPARED TO SHARE WHICH COMPOSITIONAL TOOLS AND PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN YOU ARE USING.
Edit your most successful photo reference by cropping to a square and turning black & white. Be sure your photo:
• Is in a square format
• Is in black & white
• Is in focus
• Uses at least one compositional tool
• Uses at least one Principle of Design (NOT just proportion or unity)
• Shows a full range of values, including good highlights, shadows, and mid-tones
Share your best photo(s) with your teacher for approval. Be prepared to share the compositional tool and Principle of Design you used. Your teacher may send you back to try again…
AFTER photo reference is approved, AirDrop or Email
Lesson Process
Day 3:
Prepare your final drawing paper by taping the edges and lightly drawing in grid lines.
Using a gridding technique, create a very light contour line drawing of your chosen still-life composition on 9” x 9” drawing paper.
Your contour line drawing should define the edges of objects and value shifts in your composition.
Day 4:
Begin adding value… START WITH THE BACKGROUND
Using your graphite pencil chart, determine the values to place in the negative space and use the correct pencil to achieve each area of value.
Subtract value with an eraser to lighten areas and layer more graphite to darken values.
Use good craftsmanship to carefully blend transitioning values.
Day 4:
Continue working from background to foreground and from general to specific.
Pay attention to the relationships between the different values of each object in the still life.
Use the darker values to create the edge between the dark and light contrasts rather than using your contour lines.
To prevent smudging, use a scrap piece of paper as a shield between your hand or arm and the artwork’s surface.
Day 4+
REFINE! Make it your best!
Can you see the implied form through your use of value shading?
Can you see a full range of value with areas of highlight, midtones, and shadows?
Can you see clearly defined edges between the subjects in the composition?
Are you done?
Vocabulary
value, form, space, Principals of DesignResources
3D Template Maker
Origami Sites, HERE and HERE
Graphite Value Still Life Project Slide Show
Author & Website/Blog
Shawn Milne Duckworth
Supporting Images
