Klimt Pattern People

This is the third time I have taught this project and usually the students love it. This time it was weird. They seemed to like it but it was like they didn't care. Having students not care is not unusual for a middle school but it is something I don't usually encounter with this project.

For this project the students are introduced to the art of Gustav Klimt and a basic introduction of the Art Nouveau art movement. The main focus is on line, pattern and design. What is really interesting is how the students handle a new medium -- white charcoal on black paper. usually everything we do starts with white paper and pencil. This use of the white drawing on black paper works well and I feel challenges the students a bit.

I am excited to see what the other students say about the artwork. Usually the rest of the school loves to look at these drawings and comment of the patterns, the models/celebrities and the fashions drawn.

Mandala Radial Design

I absolutely love the way these mandala's came out! some of the students had a problem with lining up their pie slices so parts of it are not completely symmetrical or even radial in balance but they still look amazing.

I gave the students a choice between markers and colored pencils. most of the student, however choose the makers (first time I have had good markers in my room in two years). But I still like the way the colored pencil ones came out.

Mandala Radial Designs

7th grades for the second semester focus on design for our first unit. Mandala Radial designs is the first and really only project I will be doing in the design unit this semester. 

we talked about symmetry as well as asymmetry (when things are not equal). They really seemed to like the work.

Once they completed their symmetrical designs, we turned them into radial designs using the pie slice as part of an 8 slice circle. 

I am really excited to see how they come out in the end with all the color.

Personal Narrative Drawings

As one of the first studio projects of the semester I like to have the students complete a drawing dealing with who they are and what they like. The Personal Narrative Drawings seem to work the best. I got the lesson from The Incredible Art Dept. I love this site and get a lot of good inspiration from it.