“Nub” Self-Portrait Drawings

After creating pre-instruction diagnostic drawings, students learned about the formal proportions of the face as well as characteristics of each feature.  Students also researched and discussed the expressive qualities of portraiture.  They then applied their knowledge in order to respond to the following prompt, in a media of their choice:

When you start drawing with a brand new pencil, you have plenty of material to use; both graphite and eraser.  Gradually, as you draw, your pencil point wears down and requires re-sharpening.

Your eraser is eventually used and completely gone, and your pencil gets whittled down to a very small nub; barely usable, barely graspable.  You may think that these are obvious statements, and in truth they are.  But what if you think of the pencil as a metaphor for….yourself?

When you get worn to the very center, when everything that is surface and superficial and unimportant has been worn away, what is your core?  What ideas, values, beliefs, and principles are you left with as a person?  What makes you who you are? 

Visual Puns

Memory Vessels

Vessels can take many different forms and fulfill many different purposes.  One such form is that of a reliquary; a vessel that contains an object that has historical value and cultural significance.

Project Prompt: 

    What is your most precious memory?  What about this memory makes it so special, unique, and invaluable?  Create a vessel that will contain and protect your memory.  The exterior of your vessel should reveal its interior contents, giving clues to the viewer about what is contained inside.

Personal Hero Monument

hero: 1.) somebody who commits an act of bravery or has shown admirable qualities such as great courage or strength of character.  2.) somebody who is admired for outstanding qualities or achievements.

Who is YOUR personal hero?  Who in your life has influenced you in a positive way with their words, actions, and overall character? 

Create a monument for this person using symbolic imagery to illustrate their importance to your, as well as the qualities that make them your personal hero.

Narative Still-Life

What is a symbol?  How can we use objects to symbolize qualities or characteristics about ourselves?  After researching artists who use objects to tell stories (narrative), students were asked to consider the following:  “If you were places on a deserted island with your classmates, and had to survive by relying on each other, which one of your character traits would be most important to your survival?”  Students chose an object that would represent their character trait and contributed that object to a group still life.  Students then applied their knowledge of observational drawing in order to create a realistic drawing of their group’s still life.