The sixth graders have created new art work now displayed in the Lower School art cabinet.

The assignment began with students using a mirror and measuring techniques to draw pictures of themselves with special attention to proportion. They were asked to paint a Van Gogh-inspired self-portrait that demonstrated a specific emotion using only textures and colors that match that emotion. They were not allowed to alter their facial features to help with conveying the emotion and the face had to have correct tonal values. Colors could have been more creative.

Lower school art teacher,  Malia Urie, said, “I think they enjoyed creating the texture using different colors because they got to experiment and play around with different ideas. There was no right way for them to finish the project. They just had to give the illusion that if one was to touch it, it would have a raised surface.”

The main objective for the assignment was for the students to learn how to draw facial features with correct proportions by looking carefully and measuring with a pencil. It was also to gain an understanding of the difference between texture and pattern, how colors can demonstrate emotions and the values of colors. Because the art was Van Gogh-inspired, students also learned about the artist himself.

Urie said, “I wanted them to do this assignment because it was a challenging project that allowed them an opportunity to gain a sense of accomplishment after working so hard on it for 10 weeks. It was interesting and fun to see how they grew from the beginning to the end of the project.”