mixed media contour portraits Sticky post

Mixed Media Contour Portraits

Contour drawing is my all time favorite way to draw and to teach students to draw from direct observation. This year my students are trying out mixed media contour portraits. We are building on developmental skills while allowing students to get crazy with color and their own personal style. I have done this technique with a wide range of ability levels. From 6th graders to …

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How to Draw Basic Human Proportions Sticky post

How to Draw Basic Human Proportions

This drawing guide is the most basic of the basic! My students are starting their figure drawing unit and we are started at the very beginning (a very good place to start). We are studying basic human proportions by sketching out a figure using simple shapes and eight even sections. We used rulers, pencils and sketch paper to draw each simplified body part and where … Continue reading How to Draw Basic Human Proportions

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Soap Carving Art Lesson

This soap carving art lesson will show you how to sculpt an abstract design using Ivory soap. We focused on organic abstraction, negative space and how to create a sculpture that is in the round. I use this lesson with my mixed 9th-12th 3D Design course. There are quite a variety of student abilities in mixed together, so we practiced carving soap before we moved … Continue reading Soap Carving Art Lesson

Charcoal Skull Artwork Sticky post

Charcoal Skull Artwork

Skulls are one of my all time favorite subject matters. Skulls create eerie, yet beautiful, shapes and it is such a great tool for focusing on value and shading. It is also a great opportunity to explore symbolism. I teach in Oklahoma, and my students have always been very responsive to this subject matter too! I set up a still life with the variety of … Continue reading Charcoal Skull Artwork

Zentangle Art Lessons

This post shares my favorite Zentangle art lessons that are perfect for back to school or anytime throughout the year. I have taught the Zentangle method from 5th-12th grade and I love the individualized results. “Back to school” are my three least favorite words in combination. I love school and I truly love teaching, but as soon as I see the school supplies hitting the … Continue reading Zentangle Art Lessons