Black and White Photography: What makes a great photograph?

 Black and White Photography students are working in groups to come up with a list of characteristics that make up a great photograph. To do this, they are analyzing images and placing them in order from best to worst. They are describing what makes each a good picture and what would make it even better. Each group also presented the order in which they put the images and elaborated more on 2 images of their choice.

Painting: Landscape Practice (Glazing)

Painting students created a series of 3 landscapes by glazing or layering the watercolor paints. Each student created one with 4 layers of a single color, one with 4 layers of one color plus black, and one made of 6 layers using any 2 colors. Some examples of these were provided and students could choose to create the scenes shown or make up their own landscape. 

Black and White Photography: Composition Books

Black and White Photography students have spent the 1st week of the semester analyzing terms related to composition and locating examples of these in magazines. They are using these images to create "Composition Books". Some of the things they learned about were rule of thirds, symmetrical balance, high/low key, light angles, panning, and close ups. Below are some examples of images students included in their books. An example of a close up, high light angle, harsh light, silhouette, stop action, framing, and contrast of texture are pictured.

Painting: Watercolor Technique Practice

Painting students are working on different watercolor techniques. They created watercolor washes, overlapping forms, gradients, and explored the options of added materials including salt and cling wrap, along with many others. Below are close up images of wet paint on dry paint (used to create detail), a detailed pattern, the effect of cling wrap on wet watercolors (after being allowed time to dry), and removed pigment (using a tissue or paper towels to lift up the paint and create texture).

Animals in Art: Zentangles

The 8th grade Animals in Art students have filled their drawings with patterns and started adding color to both the animal and the backgrounds. Students used watercolor pencils to color in their designs and have the option of using watercolor paint sets or colored pencils for their backgrounds.

Painting: Tree Practice

Painting students are continuing to explore various color combinations to achieve different results. The images below show students painting their trees using yellow, orange, and blue. We followed along with some practice videos in order to create the different types of trees. 

Animals in Art: Animal Zentangles

Animals in Art students are starting the Quarter off with our Zentangle Project. We started out by practicing creating different patterns and learned about transitioning from one to another. Next, we practiced drawing different animals together with step-by-step instructions. Students were then able to choose any animal and began to draw. We worked on filling each animal or their surroundings with various patterns and are in the first stages of adding color using watercolor pencils.

Painting: Blending Colors

Painting students have just started the semester and are beginning to work with watercolor paints. Before starting their first project; they are working on mixing colors and creating different values. They will be completing a series of practice paintings throughout the week to learn some techniques they may be interested in using to achieve various effects.

Below are examples of the grids students created to explore some of the various colors they can create by mixing their paints. Each student listed their 8 colors along the left and the top of their grid. Where each color meets they mixed the two to create a toned down or intensified version of the color. 

Mixed Media: Collaborative Frida Kahlo Portraits

Mixed Media students have been working on their final projects as a group. They did some research on Frida Kahlo's life and her artwork. Before beginning the actual project, students practiced using the different mixed media materials. Each group then got copies of the portrait to split up so that each student was in charge of one section. Below are all of the projects completed in our classes (Including a couple that aren't quite done, but are close).