Project Blogs

Master Monday Instructions: Read the short article and  underline any unfamiliar words . Then answer the questions in  complete sentences . BYOB:  Retrato de la Artista Primavera 2020 , 2020 Fridman Gallery Lucia Hierro,  Sufrir o Sofreír , 2019 Courtesy of the artist Lives and works in New York City The title of Lucia Hierro’s series of digitally printed still lifes  “Bodegón”  (2015–present) refers to both the Spanish term for “still life” and the small New York corner shop

Introduction In this unit, you will develop your colored pencil skills  by working on black paper . This process is different from drawing on white paper because you begin with the darkest value  and slowly build light, color, and detail  on top. This project focuses on creating strong contrast and emphasis  while exploring how artists choose specific materials to communicate ideas and emotion. Learning Goals During this unit, students will: Develop skill and control using co

(Approx. 2–3 Weeks) Introduction Animals have been an important subject in art throughout history. Artists have created paintings of animals to show emotion, personality, symbolism, and connection . There is even a specific genre called equine painting , which focuses on portraits of horses. In this project, you will create a close-up animal portrait  using monochromatic watercolor techniques , inspired by contemporary animal portrait artists. Learning Goals During this lesso

Introduction: Mandalas A mandala  is a spiritual and ritual symbol used in Hinduism and Buddhism  to represent the universe. Mandalas are typically constructed using circular and geometric shapes  and are designed with radial balance , meaning the design repeats evenly from a central point. In many spiritual traditions, mandalas are used to: Focus attention Establish sacred space Support meditation and reflection Teach spiritual concepts In this project, we will explore manda

Introduction “Zoomed-in” or close-up still lifes are a theme many artists explore as part of their creative process. Instead of drawing the entire arrangement, artists crop, zoom, and focus on details, allowing ordinary objects to take on new meaning — and sometimes even become abstract. By changing the viewpoint, artists can emphasize shape, color, texture, and movement in unexpected ways. Essential Question Can a zoomed-in viewpoint of a still life take on new meaning or be

Each day, you will have 30 minutes to complete a sketchbook activity from the following list. You get to choose which activity you want to work on. The prompts are organized by category; you are responsible for labeling each activity with the corresponding category and prompt number. You are accountable for finishing your sketchbook activities if you are absent or do not finish them in class.  Quick Drawing Prompts A grouping of seashells A single flower with all its leaves,

Materials Vine charcoal, compressed charcoal (if available), charcoal pencil, blending tools, kneaded eraser, and paper towel. Stage 1 — Practice (Skills Lab) A. 1-minute gestures (10 mins) 10 gesture drawings of faces or figures (loose, fast) B. Value scale (10 mins) 7-step scale using charcoal (practice pushing DARK) C. Subtractive drawing (20 mins) Tone the page with charcoal. Lift lights with a kneaded eraser. Add darks back in with compressed charcoal. D. Portrait featur

Big Idea Graphite is about control, value range, and realism . Your goal is to make your drawing look 3D  and intentional. Materials Graphite pencils (2H–6B if available), blending stump/tissue, kneaded eraser, regular eraser, ruler (optional), drawing paper. Stage 1 — Practice Assignment (Skills Lab) ✅ REQUIRED Title:  Graphite Control + Value Bootcamp Due:  Before thumbnails Step-by-step A. Value Scale (10–15 min) Draw a rectangle divided into 7–9 boxes . Box 1 = pure white

📘 Introduction to Shape As defined in Discovering Drawing  (3rd edition) by Sallye Mahan-Cox , a shape  is a two-dimensional area created when a line meets itself or another line. There are two main categories of shape: Geometric Shapes Circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, and other regular forms Precise and structured Often described as man-made  or mathematical Can suggest order, stability, control, or structure Organic Shapes Free-flowing, irregular shapes found in na

Find 1 artist in your new-to-you medium (or closest hybrid). Choose 1 specific artwork and bring 1 clear image + simple caption: Artist, Title, Year, Medium, Dimensions, Source link (museum/official site preferred). Write 5 quick notes: 3 visual features (layering, texture, color, scale, repetition), Meaning/context (whose past? what story?) Echo of the past (how time is made visible) Technique to adapt (name the process) Where it goes in your piece (which layer/area) Holmes

Use the following to research Artists to inspire your quarterly projects: National Gallery of Art (USA) — A vast online collection; over 60,000 works are freely downloadable under open‑access terms. National Gallery of Art+1 The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) — Provides nearly 500,000 public‑domain images from their collection, free for use. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Art Institute of Chicago — Over 50,000 images available under Creative Commons CC0 (public domain).

Find one artist working in your chosen medium (or the closest related). Include in your paper: Artist’s name, short bio (4–5 sentences) 1–2 images of their work Caption: Artist, Title, Year, Medium, Dimensions, Source link 5 written notes: Visual features (color, form, rhythm, scale, texture) How the work expresses reflection, rest, or renewal What techniques could you adapt or reinterpret Why their approach resonates with your theme Where or how you’ll show their influence i

Art can be a powerful way to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with a sense of calm. In this project, you will create a visual “Happy Place”  — a space that helps you feel relaxed, grounded, or secure. This does not  need to be a real place. It can be: A real location (a beach, a bedroom, a grandparent’s house) An imagined or fantasy space (a castle, forest, cloud world) A metaphor (sunset, ocean waves, floating shapes, a cozy room) There is no right or wrong happy place  — i

Introduction to Color Theory Color Theory is both the science and art of using color. It explains how humans perceive color; and the visual effects of how colors mix, match or contrast with each other. Color theory also involves the messages colors communicate; and the methods used to create every color in the universe. Essential Question How do artists use color to communicate ideas and express emotion? Mark Rothko was an American abstract painter who revolutionized the de

Introduction to Value Introduction: This week, we will focus on the Element of Art: Value  — the lightness and darkness of tones or colors. In art, creating value is often called shading . Mastering value is essential for creating depth , dimension , and realism  in your work. Learning Goals By the end of this week, you will: Understand what value  means as an element of art. Observe how artists use value to create contrast and depth. Practice shading by creating a 5-point va

#1 Master Monday: Frida Kahlo Frida Kahlo is among the most famous Mexican artists of the 1900s. She was known for her powerful, often unsettling self-portraits that include skulls, daggers, and bleeding hearts. Born Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón  in Coyoacán, Mexico, on July 6, 1907, she contracted polio at age 6, leaving her with a limp, and later survived a devastating bus accident at 18 that caused lifelong pain. Encouraged by Diego Rivera (whom she married in

Introduction to the Element of Art: Space Space  in art refers to the distance or area between, around, above, below, or within objects. It helps artists create depth, perspective, and relationships  between shapes and forms. “In a drawing, space refers to the work’s two-dimensional surface area, or picture plane. Because the picture plane is two-dimensional, perspective systems allow artists to mimic how we see and create spatial relationships.”— Discovering Drawing , 3rd Ed

Master Monday: Underline words in the text you are unfamiliar with. Then answer a couple of Questions. Sketchbook Activity 1 Artists - Pablo Picasso and Keith Haring Line drawing has been everywhere for the past couple of years. When you open Instagram, for example, you are almost guaranteed to see minimalist line art tattoos, illustrations, and home decor. While the aesthetic of line art may seem inherently contemporary, it has a rich history that goes back many centuries. T

💡 What This Project Is About For this project, you’ll design your own Graffiti Portfolio Folder  — a creative and personal way to store your artwork for the rest of the semester. This will be your very first mixed-media piece of the year! You’ll learn the basics of graffiti lettering , explore personal symbols , and design a bold cover that represents your identity as an artist. This project combines creativity, organization, and personal expression — all in one. By the end,

💡 What This Project Is About In this project, you’ll create your own Sugar Skull Watercolor Painting  inspired by the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos  ( Day of the Dead ). This tradition celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed away — not with sadness, but with color, memory, and joy. You’ll learn about the meaning behind Día de los Muertos , explore color and symbolism, and design a sugar skull ( calavera ) that honors someone important to you or celebrates l