For this unit students learned about Georgia O'Keeffe and were inspired by her stylistic paintings. Using a seashell to directly observe students were given the challenge of touching all four sides of a piece of paper to draw large such as O'Keeffe. Instead of paint students used oil pastels to achieve a smooth blended look. Working with complimentary colors students had to figure out their dark versus light areas and see past the realistic colors of the shell to a more abstract work. 

For this unit students had to create their own Tessellations to fill the space of their colored paper. Using their creativity and imagination they looked at their tessellations and had to find the shape of a creature within their work. Using various elements and vibrant construction crayons they then made each of their ten creatures unique. 

For this unit students learned the history of Silhouettes and color theory. Students let their imagination soar designing their own tree to fill the space of the paper cropping at edges. Deciding to use warm color values to depict a sun or cool colors to emulate a moon students took the choice of what was to be in the background of their work. Drawing a grid system using a ruler students had to make sure they were drawing 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch squares then filling them so no same color value shared a side. Their work is absolutely stunning. 

For this unit students learned about symmetry, design, pattern, texture, color blending, sectioning, and wax resists. Through this unit students applied these objectives into their own cactus creations showing off their own unique styles. The outcomes are quite different from one another with the same idea in mind. I can't help but notice students pulling inspiration from past learned projects, and building upon newly acquired skills. 

For this unit students jumped into the world of Optical Illusions and color theory. Following a challenging video on how to create the illusion of woven paper students then had to make seven different patterns, one for each piece of woven paper that continued even though overlapping occurred. Students then chose one color to work with which would be their Monochromatic color. One color, several values. This project involved problem solving, shading, and creativity.

For this unit students learned about the American artist Jasper Johns, who is still alive and creating to this day. Students got inspiration from a very specific Jasper Johns work that was an abstract work of a painting named 0-9. In this painting students got to play detective figuring out where the numbers were located. Finding their own path of numbers students chose only 5 to design from 0-9. Objectives included overlapping, block numbering, varying size and spacing, border outlining, watercolor techniques, colored pencil techniques and sectioning. 

For this five week unit students learned about the very popular movement of Street Art. Seen in cities and towns across the world Street Art takes into account the outdoor environment making human interaction a novelty...and what is more photo worthy than a picture in front of wings to give you flight? Students learned about symmetry, sectioning, warm versus cool tones, staggering and so much more to create their own Street Art. 

For this unit students learned about Pablo Picasso and the art movement Cubism. Students were instructed to chose a creature and create their own cubist style while incorporating texture, vibrant colors and patterns. Students then had to cut out their creatures into four equal parts and reconfigure them into abstract pieces of art. 

For this unit students learned about the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos, which translates to the Day of the Dead. A long standing three day tradition that celebrates the deceased of loved ones. Students watched a video of the ofrendas (offerings) families make for loved ones that include food, photographs, flowers and skulls...or calaveras. Students were given the challenge to create their own Calavera taking into account design, proportions, symmetry, asymmetry, bordering and themes. 

For this unit students learned about Contour line and how to draw their own hand in the contour style. Students had to follow the lines of their hands in a chosen position making sure to create the form of their hand with one simple line. Inspired by the artist Sedef Yilmabasar, a woman born in Istanbul who finds art in textures, color, symbols and all her cats students created their own Yilmabasar patterns in the backgrounds and applied vibrant solid color to fill them in. On their hands they found the small spaces to work with while keeping the majority of the space of the hand white paper.