Kluender- Art 8 B4 block

Printing, printing, printing! Our Linoleum Reduction prints will be done very soon!!!!!! Stay tuned for finished images...we are very excited!

Kluender-Art 8 A2 block

Craving, Carving, Carving.... Students began their last carving for the linoleum reduction prints!

Kluender- Art 8 (B4)

Art 8 is carving, carving, carving out all of the white areas in their linoleum block. Their test prints will be due next week before we leave for Thanksgiving Break!

Kluender- Art 8

Art 8 students have been working on their linoleum reduction prints. Right now, we are finishing up carving out the WHITE areas of our selfie images. 

Once students think they are done carving, they are printing a TEST PRINT. This will help them see if the areas they have carved out is crisp and clear and if they have carved out deep enough. 

Once happy with the test print, this will be turned in for a progress grade so I can evaluate how they're doing so far.

Kluender- Art 8

Art 8 is beginning a printmaking lesson! We will be doing reduction linoleum block printing. Students were asked to send me a photo of themselves (or I took one here at school). We used an Adobe Photoshop filter to reduce the photo into black, grey, and white values.

Students will learn how to use the linoleum carving tools and printing tools to create these images in several steps. 

Parents should have received a permission form for students to use the linoleum carving tools. We will go over IN GREAT DETAIL all of the safety procedures and expectations before using these tools. I included a list of these on the permission form. Any student who is not behaving in a manner that is safe in class, will be asked to do an alternate assignment. This will be a PowerPoint research presentation on an artist that works as a printmaker. 

Stay tuned for "in progress" posts to see students in action throughout the printmaking process...

Kluender- Art 8

Art 8 students have completed their second OBSERVATIONAL DRAWING! We discussed SYMBOLISM in artwork. Students were asked to bring a small personal item from home to draw from. The object was to represent something about themselves or hold personal meaning: a symbol to represent a part of themselves. 

Then, we discussed color symbolism. They got a handout with different personality traits as they refer to color symbolism. Students chose a colored paper that fit them: another symbolic representation.

We learned how to mix and blend HUES, TINTS and SHADES using Prismacolor pencils. This helps to create VALUE when shading.

Then, students had to choose between a MONOCHROMATIC or COMPLEMENTARY color scheme to complete their drawing. 

A monochromatic color scheme uses tints and shades of one color. For example, if a student chose blue paper, their drawing would be done in all values of blues.

A complementary color scheme is two colors across from each other on the color wheel (opposites). For this example, students who chose a blue paper, would complete their drawing in all values of oranges.

When turning this project in for a grade, students were asked as part of their self assessment, to explain how they used symbolism to represent themselves in their artwork. Hopefully, this process will begin to have them think about using symbolism when planning future artwork. 

Here are some student examples. See if you can determine which color scheme was chosen in each piece. 

Kluender- Art 8

Art 8 has finished their first major project of the year! They are learning all about OBSERVATIONAL DRAWING. 

Students had to look at a picture to work from. They had to include a large range of values in their artwork using the drawing pencils and tools provided. Then, we discussed adding contrast to the artwork by using a less predictable material, watercolor to add color to their artwork. We discussed many different approaches to add the watercolor, but students really liked the "blow" watercolor effect.

Check out some of our finished work below:

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Next, students will be working with value in color. We will be discussing SYMBOLISM in artwork. Students were asked to bring a personal object from home for homework. This object will tell something about themselves. We will also be discussing color symbolism.

Students will be creating a colored pencil drawing that uses value in a MONOCHROMATIC or COMPLEMENTARY color scheme.

Kluender- Art 8, B4

Students are finishing up their observational drawings with watercolor elements. We discussed finishing techniques, such as colored pencil, sharpie, additional drawing, collage, etc....They are encouraged to be creative to finalize their masterpiece!

Kluender- Art 8

Eek! Just look at these Art 8 students drawings coming together! I am beyond excited to witness their effort in drawing from observation and creating value with the drawing pencils. It's not easy...and they may be a little annoyed with me for making them go back and add more shading....and then even more shading....but, WOW, it's worth every pencil stroke!

We had a little watercolor exploration and practice this week to help students feel more comfortable with the watercolors. We learned how to "drop in" color to a waterery wash, how to keep lines neat, and how to blow, drip  and splatter the paint in a controlled fashion. 

I also wanted them to start thinking about their options when adding watercolor to their pencil drawings...will they add color around the drawing? Will they make the drawing appear to be "draining" color out of it? Will they overlap two or more techniques? How much white will remain on the paper? Will they add drips or splatters? What colors will they use? So may artistic choices to make!