"Figurative Departures from Realism" - art project - Brief Article

Arts & Activities, May, 2003 by Joyce Slack

by Geri Greenman, October 2002

Wow, what an inspirational lesson! What a great lesson to help start the year ... mixed media, abstraction, dark and light values, proportions and cropping. I knew my eighth-graders would love this. I was a little apprehensive at first as figure drawing at this level can be a little intimidating. Once we started I set a few guidelines, draw big, then bigger, and no facial features (that would come in later lessons). After a couple days of figure drawing on 9" x 12" manila paper, students selected their largest drawing to enhance with watercolors and conte crayon. This change from the original lesson led students to cut out and mount their paintings on water-colored newspaper. The final results were outstanding, and even award-winning in a student show sponsored by the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art. The goal is always to reach every child and Arts & Activities is helping to raise the standard. Special thanks to Geri Greenman, whose lesson really worked for my students.

Joyce Slack, Young Middle School, Pembroke Pines, Fla.