To create these elegant gowns we copied details of natural textures from some pictures. In the classes of grade 6th we observed lots of textures, either natural than artificial and we analysed them in the colours and details. For an artist is important to be able to reproduce realistic textures, in order to give the feeling and perception of different surfaces and materials. After observing many … [Read more...]
Design a wall clock
March 9, 2017 by 1 Comment
We’ve already designed a chair and a table lamp in some previous lessons, and this time we deal with a new object: we have to design a wall clock, taking its specific functions into consideration before drawing it. In the grade 8th classes we discussed about the origin and evolution of design and we analysed the functional features of a wall clock. Some elements, as the position of hours and the … [Read more...]
Vortex of textures
February 27, 2017 by 1 Comment
A colored vortex of graphic textures have been created here by students of 6th grade, to test their creativity. Here we have the instructions to follow in order to realize this drawing with felt-tip pens: - on a square drawing paper draw a central point with a pencil. You don't need to measure, you can trust your eyes! - from this central point draw eight curved lines, bended toward right. The … [Read more...]
Double figures created with silhouettes
February 15, 2017 by 1 Comment
After reasoning about positive and negative space in the 7th grade classes, we designed a double figure, working on the relationship between couple of silhouettes. We observed the amazing images of Noma Bar, the great contemporary graphic designer, who creates figurative plays between the figure and its background. The task was to create a picture with two silhouettes logically … [Read more...]
Asterisk* with three ways to shade
February 9, 2017 by Leave a Comment
As in this previous lesson, we practiced three different ways to create value and shade with pencil. In this drawing, made with 7th grade students, we used artist tape on a square drawing sheet. We made an asterisk, being careful to stick the tape on any cloth before putting it on paper. In this way the tape becomes less adhesive and you avoid to tear the paper. With a soft pencil we drew the … [Read more...]
Like tissues at the microscope: shading exercise
December 29, 2016 by 2 Comments
In order to comprehend the shading effects in a drawing, it's very useful working on the perception of the depth. Adding shadows on a flat drawing helps our perception in seeing the three-dimensional effects of the depth. It's a sort of "magic": we can understand the different layers just if the shadows are in the right spots. I created this drawing with students of grade 7th. We started … [Read more...]
Mountains made up of lines
December 20, 2016 by 8 Comments
Lines can depict any shape; they can create tridimensional effects and give the perception of movement. I did this drawing with 6th grade students, in order to create a mountain landscape using just lines. Putting lines near each other, you can create the perception of threedimensional volume and our eyes see undulations, protuberances and hillside indentations. We started the drawing with the … [Read more...]
ART graffiti style
October 6, 2016 by 3 Comments
We started our activity in the Grade 8th classes with these writings in graffiti style. Every student wrote the word ART, taking inspiration from this previous lesson. Following one of the many tutorials we can find online, students drew the letters in accordance with the instructions we can see below. We 've found this interesting example on the helpful website GraffitiDiplomacy.com. In addition … [Read more...]
Still life on abstract background
September 28, 2016 by 8 Comments
In order to understand the light and shadow on a solid we drew the shades on a group of objects with a pencil. In this still life some students of 8° grade have also experienced shading with crossed lines (cross-hatching), showing some skill! The background was decorated with felt-tip pens, with an abstract design where everyone has expressed freely his style. This contrast between the still … [Read more...]
Landscapes with textures inspired by Karla Gerard
June 7, 2016 by 6 Comments
When I discovered the work of Karla Gerard I thought at once of my students and how much they would have loved this amazing artist. I showed a lot of works of Karla Gerard to my students, and they have been inspired by her shapes, her colors, her villages, her trees and textures. We used a graffito technique that you can also find in this previous post about colored Hippie Vans. We colored the … [Read more...]
