Dear Parents,
In High School Beginning
Art we started with blind drawings which consist of looking at the object but not at your paper while you draw. It teaches
students to look at their subject rather than drawing what they (think they) know is true.
Negative space drawings enforce this idea,
further moving students to look at the shapes that create the subject rather than drawing a circle for a wheel and lines for
the spokes, Students look at the shapes created by the spokes and concentrate on what they are seeing, rather than what they
know. Gesture drawings are quick, 5 second, 10 second, 20 second and 60 second drawings that get students to express the movement
or essence of their subject.
Junior High Students have two choices for art this year, 7th Grade Presentation Graphics Class, and 7th &
8th Grade Arts and Crafts.
7th Presentation Graphics:
This is a one semester class (with 17 students!) in which we will be doing a series of projects
dealing with presenting ideas. We just finished using rulers, measuring and drawing straight lines, cutting with scissors
and stapling and embellishing. The result was a journal that they will use in their English class. Please ask your student
to see it; they are really great and turned out quite nicely!
7/8 Arts & Crafts:
There are 11 7th and 8th grade students in our Arts & Crafts Class. Currently
we are gesture drawing (quick 5 second and 1 minute drawings) and interpreting art in our textbook. This has been
fun as the students have taken turns to be the models that we have been drawing. We are going to move into Famous Faces in
History next! Yours could be one that we study! So smile! and be prepared for you student to snag a photo from your family
archives.
I’m
looking forward to a great year of Art with your student!
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 347-2411,
or e-mail me at rbarger@mvsd11.org.
Sincerely,
Ms.
Barger
