Pittsburgh Obama 6-12: 10th Grade Art One

Class Description: This is a group of 24 tenth graders that have art every day for 50 minutes. The class is an "Art One" class meaning that this is the first art class that students can take at a secondary level.


Monochromatic Self Portrait Unit
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The objective of this project was for students to understand what a monochromatic color scheme is and to be able to apply it in their own artwork. Throughout this project, students gained a better understanding of color value and hue, as well as contrast. Students also learned about scale, and how a grid can be used when creating a self-portrait to create a more accurate ratio in their artwork. 

Day One:
Students were introduced to the concept of a monochromatic color scheme. As a class we discussed how an artist can create depth and volume in their work by only using one color. Then, students were asked to create their own value scale to experiment with monochromatic color. As students did this, I came around and took their picture for their final self-portraits. 

Day Two:

Students learned about "gridding" and how a grid can be utilized to find relationships between shapes in their artwork. Students then gridded out their photographs.

Day Three- Six:
Students continued to grid out their self-portraits and transfer their images onto their final projects. As a class, we continued our discussion about scale, and breaking down their faces into shapes and lines.

Day Six - Ten:
After students finished sketching out their faces onto their grids, we reviewed what a monochromatic color scheme is. Then, students were asked to choose one color to do their portrait in, along with white. As a class, we looked at other work by artists who work in monochromatic color schemes, and how they are able to achieve contrast in their work through different color value.

Day Eleven:
Students completed a final critique and assessment of their finished work. Students also learned about artist statements and created their own artists statements to accompany their finished pieces.













Perspective Unit

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Students were introduced to one and two point perspective, and as a class we looked at examples of one and two point perspective in everyday life. Then, students drew their names in one and two point perspective in their DW's to gain a better understanding of perspective and line.