Port Allegany High School Art
WELCOME!!! 
The following lessons/activities/projects are taking place this week:
WEEK 1
Students will receive a copy of a homework assignment called The Picture File and we will dedicate 2 entire classes to this task. What is not completed during this time will become the students' responsibility. This is a collection of images each student is excited about. These images will be our visual references throughout the semester. The homework assignment may be submitted whenever the student has completed it, but the final deadline will be one week after it the assignment has been distributed.
Students will receive information about signing up for Remind. This paperwork should be passed onto their parents. It is a terrific tool for parents to stay abreast of project deadlines and upcoming assessments.
Students will spend 1 class period working from a Still LIfe so I can assess their ability at the beginning of the semester, and gauge their progress.
WEEK 2
Students will practice using a Grid system to develop drawing skills by recreating accurate proportions. They will learn how to apply the Grid system to enlarge proportions as well. Students may also use other "tools" including "windows", sub-dividing their grid boxes into smaller portions, or rotating their images 180 degrees so they are viewing it upside-down. Students will submit their "Picture File" assignments by Wednesday and will begin enlarging one of the images they have chosen by using the grid to accurately locate the edges of the objects and lines in their images.
WEEK 3
The beginning portion of the week will be a continuation of our proportional line drawing. Students should be demonstrating improvement and mastery using the grid. Toward week's end students will study the difference between positive and negative space, contour and outline, by interpretting an image in a more simplified yet beautiful way. If time permits, at the end of the week they will create a "wash" by blending an analogous color scheme to represent a sunset.
WEEK 4
During the past few weeks, students have explored how LINE can be used in a variety of ways to tell a story. The beginning of this week we will complete our project studying outline, and move into an exploration of calligraphy, being introduced to its history across other cultures and learn how to use traditional tools Later in the semester we may have time to explore it in a more contemporary style in which the students will be creating original letter designs/fonts in the style of Robert Indiana to spell out their name or an important word by designing at least 4 different characters to visually define the selected word.
WEEK 5
We are finishing up our study of LINE (the first of the Elements of Art) by completing our calligraphy introduction at the beginning of the week and by reading the Textbook (Art Talk) while working on the Chapter Review toward week's end. We will finish the week by taking our first of several chapter tests.
WEEK 6
Moving into a study of SHAPE, FORM, and SPACE, we are embarking on a week of daily still life studies. As the week progresses, we will practice transforming a flat shape into a three dimensional form by depicting LIGHT, depicting SHADOW, and creating a variety of VALUES. Also known as CHIAROSCURO, it is the study of light and shadow. Students will practice this technique while exploring a variety of media including colored pencil, pencil, and charcoal.
WEEK 7
After completing a series of value drawings last week (still lifes) the students will continue to develop their shading skills by working on a charcoal shading; students will use the grids to draw proportionally at the beginning of the week, and will be using charcoals to recreate light and shadow at the end of the week.
WEEK 8
We will explore Graphic Design for the rest of the week. Students will watch a video about Shepard Fairey and his work. He is a contemporary graphic designer who is also a pretty interesting character. If you look him up on the internet, you will certainly be familiar with one very famous piece! Students will be working in the style of Shepard Fairey to design a portrait. This project will be painted, so good attendance is essential. If students must miss class, they should provide small lidded containers so paint can be transported home.
WEEK 9
Students are continuing to explore Graphic Design this week by creating a stylized portrait, realistic in proportion but simplified in details. They musht choose from an Analogous or Monochromatic color scheme, using only 3 colors: a light, a medium, and a dark. Pending the speed of the class, we may take a look at one-point linear perspective on Friday. The first grading period ends mid-week. The Graphic Design project is the final project of this quarter.
WEEK 9B
Students are exploring one-point linear perspective this week. They will be exposed to the traditional use of a vanishing point through the presentation of videos. Students will practice turing geometric and free-form shapes into forms by using a vanishing point. Students will then design an interior using the concepts they've been exposed to through video and practice page. Finished projects should utilize the six key points: Low vs. High, Large vs. Small, Detail vs. Ambiguity, Overlap, Bright vs. Dull, and use of a vanishing point.
WEEK 10
We will be completing our one-point linear perspective hallways on Monday. For the remainder of the week we will spend time in our textbook, Art Talk, preparing for the test on Chapter 6: Shape, Form, and Space.
WEEK 11
Students will practice mixing tints, shades, and secondary colors this week as they begin painting a design comprised of primary shapes that overlap to create new mixtures.
WEEK 12
Students continue mixing colors to complete a design creating the illusion of transparency. Students are practicing creating tints, shades, neutrals, secondaries, and intermediate colors by mixing the primaries, white, and black.
WEEK 13
Students will be introduced to the concept of "arbitrary color" by using color to control the viewer's emotions. They will be applying this concept to their Week 3 Cartoon project, using tempera paints to mix the emotional colors of their choices.
WEEK 14
Students will explore "optical color" by using pastels to recreate colors as they actually appear.
WEEK 15
Students will complete their "optical color" porject by using pastels to recreate colors as they actually appear. Students will prepare for and take the Chapter 7 exam. If time permits, students will also select projects from the semester for the Spring Art Show, adding borders and title cards.
WEEK 16
During this week the students will be introduced to textures that may be used to shade using pen & ink or markers. These textures include stippling, parallel lines, crosshatching, and invented textures. The students will practice each of these textures on a small series of shadings.
WEEK 17
Students will be exposed to art from another culture by completing a Native American Dreamcatcher.
WEEK 18
Students will prepare for their chapter 7 test on COLOR and select projects for the Spring Art Show as well.
