Name of Project: Still Life Observational Contour Drawing
Classroom, School: Clara Barton Open School
Cooperating teacher: Meri Gauthier
Grade Level: 3-4 Grade
Presenter's Name: Marco Suemnick
Subject : Drawing
Lesson Intent:: To make observational drawing welcoming at any level of entering ability.
Overview of Project
During this two-part project we will work with still life arrangements and observing them. After showing examples of still life drawings I will introduce the view-finder and its purpose. On a colored paper I will have them do observations at their tables using pencils. On the second day of the project we will look at depth of field and defining it by coloring the background in a warm or cool colors and the foreground in the opposite color group.
Essential Question(s)
- How do I use contour lines?
- What is a contour line?
- What makes a good composition?
- What colors (warm or cool) represent distance in the foreground and in the background?
Subsidiary Questions
- Where should I sit to draw a good composition?
- How do I use color to show my audience distance?
- What kind of line am I going to use?
Prior Knowledge
The week before, Molly, the student teacher used contour lines in a lesson plan she had taught the class. Although it was blind contour they should have a understanding of the process.
Materials
Drawing paper, still life arrangements, colored pencils, and pencils
Procedures - Part 1
Show all examples in a backwards direction starting with the full contour drawing with the color applied that will show depth.
Show examples of pencil on paper contour drawing. This drawing will use contour line showing the entire still life.
Show examples of the single object that is subtracted from the still life arrangement.
After showing the pre-made examples I will show in class the first two steps of the contour drawing lesson.
Do a drawing of a single piece of the whole contour arrangement.
On a larger grayed piece of paper do a larger scaled drawing using the viewfinder. While doing the examples talking about composition, how to use the viewfinder and more about the line made by contour drawing.
After examples I will let the students go to their tables to start the first segment, a warm up contour drawing, pulling from the still life arrangement pick a single unit to draw using contour lines. After completing and checking with a leader / adult in the room they will begin part two.
Using the viewfinder to get an idea of their composition and where the objects actually are placed. They will draw the still life with contour lines for the rest of the period.
Procedures - Part 2
Set aside some time in the beginning and talk about how warm and cool colors work. Referring to the examples that I will have created. After that time for the rest of the hour have them create depth in the contour drawings using the colored pencils. I will allow the students to group the warm in the background and cool in the foreground, or the cool in the background and the warm in the foreground. I will have examples of both outcomes so that they can see the effect before doing the color placement.
I will reflect on the work at the end of the lesson by having people talking about
everyone's out come and what they thought worked and what did not. Having a critique
on the work asking different questions. I will have them place the work up so the
class is able to view the process, progress, and out come of the classes work.