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Image by Debby Hudson

Fundamentals

Tools, Materials and Studio Etiquette

Students explore the use of paint, brushes, and various materials, along with techniques for preparing a canvas. They also discover how to arrange their artwork by considering color, value, form, and shape. Whether creating still lifes, landscapes, or figures, students can choose to work in either representational or abstract styles. Additionally, they gain an understanding of studio etiquette and learn to evaluate both their own creations and those of their peers.

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Paint Tubes

Students will learn about the key aspects of a strong logo and the steps to creating a logo design.

 

Students brainstorm ideas for an industry then create a logo based on industry standards/

 

They will learn how the psychology of shape, color, and fonts are integral to the success of branding.

Color Theory

Unexpected Use of Color

free

Propaganda played a key part in the United States’ war effort. Although much more subtle, propaganda was as much a weapon of the war as manpower and ammunition.

 

Students will create their own propaganda poster based off of the 7 types of posters.

By examining propaganda posters from WWII students will increase their knowledge of propaganda tools and develop an understanding of the specific goals and strategies used by the U.S. government and OWI during WWII.

Mixed Media

Experimentation with Materials

Image by Birmingham Museums Trust

Grisaille Technique

Underpainting Approaches

Students will learn the artist INTENTIONALLY uses the elements and principles of art to create the artwork. 

It is the student artist job to lead the viewer into and around a composition and intentionally create a focal point, create mood, and give directional cues that will help the viewer navigate the artwork.

Wheat Field with Cypresses

Neutrals

Lack of Saturation

This project covers the American painter Chuck Close. He suffers from prosopagnosia (face blindness) and by painting massive-scale portraits of himself and his friends he is better able to recognize and remember faces.

 

To create the paintings, he works from a gridded photograph and a gridded canvas. Then he slowly builds the portraits with layers of color per square. Our version will be using Prismacolor Colored Pencils.

Working on Computer

Black squares are used to create designs based off of carefully chosen vocabulary words.

Portfolio Prep

Adobe Photoshop

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Your personal study is where you:

  • Generate your own ideas

  • Research artists and art styles

  • Keep a sketchbook of drawings and notes

  • Experiment with materials and techniques

  • Develop and refine your work

 

The goal is to create 1 piece of artwork that  is something you care about—like sports, animals, nature, video games, or your community. Everyone's personal study will be different because everyone has their own artistic voice.

Personal Study

Your Voice 

portrait

Art writing is about clearly explaining your thoughts about artwork using simple but interesting language. 

  • It's a writing piece about an artist, art movement, or artwork

  • Share what you actually think, not just facts

  • Share how this research affects your own art

  • Connect it to other art or important events

  • Focus on either the techniques, visual elements, context, or ideas

  • Make your writing worth reading with interesting connections

Writing for Art

Enhances History and English Writing

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