I agreed to fill an immediate need for an art teacher position opening at Winfield Middle School in Jan/Feb 2023. My life's journey is (and always has been) episodic. I've been an advertising man, a marketing leader and and an educator. Five years ago I completed a Master of Arts in Teaching at Fontbonne University. I've been a Special Education teacher and I've worked with students from Middle School and High School. (My certification with the state includes cross/cat, elementary ed and art k-12.)
So when Winfield Middle School needed an Art Teacher to fill an immediate need, I was thrilled to step in for a month or so at the beginning of 2023. I managed three classes back to back for sixth, seventh and eighth graders.
The expectations were clear at the onset. Mr. Morgan believes everyone is an artist. The goal is for each and every one of my 60+ students to become a “better” artist. As with anything (sports, academics and art) it takes practice.
The introduction to the class included a discussion of the GOAT. Mr. Morgan lead a discussion about who might be the Greatest of All Time in Art. He suggested it might be Pablo Picasso (1881-1973).
Instruction included a series of short practice assignments:
Assignment 1 - Contour Line Drawing - without lifting your pencil from the paper do a contour line drawing of a still life set up in the classroom.
Assignment 2 - Source Image Drawing - using what you have learned about contour line drawing, draw a picture based on a magazine image provided. Add color limited to the tools provided (a limited number of colored pencils).
Assignment 3 - Present your work - Follow this presentation format: a. What was your challenge? b. What did you like about your piece? c. What will you do differently, given a similar challenge in the future?
Assignment 4 - Charcoal Drawing - using only charcoal, what you have learned about contour line drawing and composition/design/layout create a work of art based on still life set up in the classroom. You may also use a kneaded eraser to create highlights.
Assignment 5 - Value in Shades and Tints - shading and tinting in tempera paint. Using only one Hue (color) and black and white paints, work in small groups to create a value strip showing how your hue changes with careful application of black (to create shades) and white (to create tints).
Assignment 6 - Monochromatic plan and execution - using the value skills you have practiced thus far and following a work plan developed in class create a monochromatic tempera painting on a primed square surface provided - a 5 1/2 X 5 1/2 square. 60+ works were on display in the hallway bulletin board for discussion about what worked and what might be changed in future efforts. (This public showing allowed students to see the merits of peers in all three classes).
Assignment 7 - Using only the color markers and tool provided (i.e. compas, ruler) and applying what we've reviewed in the text about geometric shapes create a composition and be prepared to discuss your results including color theory.
Assignment 8 - Cursive Dexterity - Students are challenged to copy the alphabet in script while carefully paying attention to the flow of lines and finding a steady way to hold and manipulate the writing tool (pencil, pen & ink or even ball point).
Assignment 9 - Gallery Walk. Students are invided to comment on samples on display on bulletin boards in the classroom and hallway.
Test - 10 questions - multiple choice, true/false and open ended short answers. (examples - What are the primary colors? Isaac Newton developed the Color Wheel: True or False? What is a composition that uses only one hue (color) and tints and shades: Is it a. abstract b. monochromatic c. cubism or d. none of the above?
C
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