Artist Pages - Grade 9

From time to time I have students research an artist prior to beginning a project and record their understanding of that artist and their work by making an Artist Page.  They are encouraged to arrange all the relevant information in a manner that represents or connects back to the artist.  This gives me the opportunity to see if they are ready to begin the project.  This was their very first one on Rene Magritte/Surrealism before they did a surreal collage using Magrittes artistic devices - transformation, scale, levitation, juxtapostion, transparency and dislocation.

Random Sketchbook Drawings

Just some loose ends of quick sketchbook activities that students have done throughout the year in their spare time.

Quick and Easy Year End Activities #5

Monster doodles are fun and once again keep the creative muscles stretched and hands moving.  For some reason I only have a few photos.

Quick & Easy Year End Activity #4

This is a collaborative drawing exercise where you give specific instructions and then afterwards students are instructed to rotate sketchbooks to the right and then draw the next set of instructions and pass books to the right ... you get the idea.  Three to five minutes for each round is usually sufficient.  I think for this one the first round they had to draw a body part - eyes, nose, leg, ear, intestines ...  Next rotation was to draw another body part not joined to the first body part.  Next rotation to draw another body part but this one had to be joined to one of the previous drawings. Next drawing was a man made object - ladder, egg beater, headphones, engine, antennae etc. joined to one of the body parts. Next was to attach an animal part and the last rotation was to create an environment - interior, exterior, outer space, underwater etc.  By the time the sketchbook returns back to the rightful owner there is always a bit of a chuckle.

Quick and Easy Year End Activity #3

I gave a styrofoam cup to a student who was finished early and I think I'll develop it further for next year.

Quick and Easy Year End Activity #2

Each student is given a meatball size of plasticine and they need to make a miniature sculpture.  If they haven't a clue what to make I usually recommend having them make a head with lots of detail, texture, facial expression.  The only tools they can use are their ten fingers and one toothpick.  This seems to amuse all ages and special need students.  *Hint - the less plasticine you give them the better the results.