Unit Plans and Essential Questions
Art I, 2017-2018
In Art I, students learn the fundamentals of makership, the importance of art in our world, and what a successful composition entails. We frame these explorations through full emersion in a studio-culture critique space and in depth study of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design.
Introduction - "You In a Box"
A mixed media mini-book describing you!
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Essential Questions:
How do we express ourselves through makership? Does art contain meaning before, during, or after it is made? Does art need meaning?
Line - "Contour Wire Portraits"
Learn how to sauder and create a copper portrait using contour line!
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Essential Questions:
Where can we find line in our world? Where can we find line in art? How does line inform your composition?
Shape - Botanical Minimalism
Get collossal with magnified nature and learn to draw using only shape!
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Essential Questions:
Where do we find shape in nature? How can we break down complex objects into simpler shapes? Why is shape important for artists? For other fields?
Value - "Charcoal, Graphite, and Ink, Oh My!"
Observation labs and still life's aplenty...with highlights and shadow.
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Essential Questions:
What is the difference in a composition with value? What are the scales of value and value methods for each medium?
Form - "Paper Sculpture"
Begin working in 3d, creating an abstract vessel armature and coils.
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Essential Questions:
What is abstract, organic ,and inorganic form? What is a vessel and how does it illicit "form"? What is the difference between shape and form? How does media manipulation yield different forms?
Texture and Color - "Biomorphic Watercolor"
Water! Salt! Rubber Cement! Wax! What do these things have in common?
Essential Questions:
How do we include different techniques into paintings? How do these technniques illicit texture? How do we mix watercolors to create many different hues, tints and shades?
Space - "Perspective Cities"
Explore cities in 1-pt, 2-pt, and 3-pt perspective via ink drawing and an installation
Essential Questions:
What are the different ways we can create depth and space in our work? How do we adapt these perspectives between mediums?
Pattern + Variety - Kusama, Gray, and DuBuffet Sculptures
Similar and different: we will leave no stone (or polkadot) unturned with these modern masterpieces!
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Essential Questions:
How do we define pattern and variety in art? Can two contrasting principles create compelling art?
Emphasis + Contrast: Negative Space Compositions
I am positive you'll love this india ink project!
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Essential Questions:
What is emphasis and contrast in art? How might one use these principles to organize a composition? Is there any art that doesn't have contrast or emphasis?
Rhythm + Movement - "XXL Mural Panels"
Is that wall moving!?
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Essential Questions:
How can we create rhythm and movement in a still piece of art? How can we tell when a piece of art has these qualities? What artists typically use rhythm and movement as a central device?
Balance - Lino Block Prints
How will you create equality in a world of difference?
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Essential Questions:
What is propaganda art? How do we create a political voice through art? What is balance? How do we spot balance in artwork?
Proportion - "The Eye Project"
Heads, and shoulders, knees, and toes...how do we draw those?
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Essential Questions:
What are the proportional rules of the human body? How do we use our EoAs to realistically render body parts? What is proportion? How is proportion useful in art?
Unity - A Sticky Note Portfolio
Make your mini mark on Brays Oaks. Learn to use gesso, develop your artistic voice in a portfolio, and show off your creative talents for all to see.
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Essential Questions:
How do we achieve unity in art? How might we curate an art show to convey unity? How do we convey unity in a single art composition?