Wayne Thiebaud Inspired Compositions

Jr. High students learned a little about pop artist Wayne Thiebaud and his colorful works portraying common objects such as pastries, hot dogs, and ice cream.  

The kids started with a grid and, using the rule of thirds, arranged pieces of candy in what they deemed the most pleasing arrangement.  They then hot-glued the pieces to the grid, taped off a sheet of mixed-media paper, and drew their candy following the layout on their grid.  After coloring their candies (and eating them :) the students experimented with oil pastels.

Here is the process (somewhat). . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 . . .the finished projects. . .

. . .and some close-ups

Overall, they were successful.  Some students loved working with the pastels, others will pass next time they're an option!  In the end, I think they all did a great job.

Thanks for stopping by!
Mrs. J

Georgia O'Keeffe Still Life

The high school students walked into class one morning to this . . .

I showed them a PowerPoint presentation about Georgia O'Keeffe and her "bone" drawings/paintings. Many know O'Keeffe for her large flower paintings such as these . . .

 

. . .but I wanted to focus on her skull drawings/paintings, such as these . . .

The students began this project by focusing on the still life props in the classroom.  They got up close, looked at the pieces from various perspectives, and chose to incorporate one element in a "rough draft" or sloppy copy as some call it.  Just a simple sketch to give them, and me, an idea of where they wanted to go with the piece.  Their instructions were to draw BIG and have one primary focal point.  Some details could be added:  a flower, a simple landscape, fencing, their imaginations ran rampant!  They also were limited to using drawing pencils and watercolor.  Most chose to stick with pencil while others ventured out of their comfort zones and dabbled in a bit of paint.  Here are the works in progress . . .

 

 

a few more . . .

 

 

 

After almost two weeks, here are the finished pieces. . .

. . .and here are some close ups-

I think they did a great job!
Mrs. J