Art Lesson Plan: Descriptive Drawings

Submitted by: Kimberly Sheek, Montezuma-Cortez High School, Cortez, Colorado
UNIT: Drawing - Art with Text
Lesson: Descriptive Drawings - Pen and Ink - Art with Text
Grade Level: High School

BASIC PROJECT DESCRIPTION

You will complete a pen and ink drawing using words to determine values. By choosing a picture to work from with high emotional content and then using a thesaurus to select words that describe the picture's content, you will help ensure the success of this project. Words should be placed together tighter, made bolder etc. to achieve darker values.

Click images for larger views

DESCRIPTION:

STEPS – This instructs you step by step on the procedures to follow so you may successfully complete this project. 1) Select a picture that creates a feeling of emotion in you when you view it. The stronger you feel about the subject matter or theme, the better. If the picture is not black and white, a black and white copy should be made. In this stage, you will work on your thumbnail sketch. You may crop, enlarge, reduce, add details, leave out some details, create a composite thumbnail of several images, etc. 2) Complete a light line drawing of the picture. Be as accurate as possible. The finished product is never better than the original drawing. 3) This step is inter-changeable with step 2; using a thesaurus, compile a list of at least ten words that describe the feelings or emotions of the image. 4) Beginning with the darkest areas first, start laying in your words, obviously change the words as you go along, rather than repeating the same word over and over. Make the words tighter, more condensed, etc in the areas that need to be darkest. Spread them out as you get lighter. This is very much like stippling or pointillism, only you are using words instead of dots. 5) Complete the entire picture using words to define the picture and its different values. 6) Complete the self-evaluation portion of your SMARTEE sheet. Use all the terminology introduced with this lesson.

Materials used:

Pencils, Pen and India Ink (or permanent ink pens), Drawing Paper, thesaurus

ART TERMS – value, composite, stippling, pointillism, thumbnail sketch

REQUIREMENTS:

Check this often to make sure your project includes all of the requirements. 1) You must choose a picture that brings about an emotional response when viewed. 2) You must work from an approved thumbnail sketch. 3) All lines, shading, etc. are done with words only. 3) A full range of values must be present in the completed drawing. 4) The finished drawing will be completed in pen and ink. 5) The self-evaluation portion of the SMARTEE sheet must be completed.

TIME FRAME – Approximately 8 blocks

EVALUATION:

Student evaluation and assessment of the project: This section must be completed by the student. It is expected that the self-evaluations be done honestly. In this section you write directly about your work. You should talk about the strengths and weaknesses; things you could do better; things that are done exceptionally well; you must also use all of the new art terminology correctly in your self-evaluation. It must be legible, both in terms of the actual writing as well as the intended meaning. Spelling is also important. This is a paragraph that tells me about your artwork and what you think about it. Defend your statements. Just writing phrases such as, “I like it.” is not good enough. Why do you like it? You must also give yourself a written grade. You should use the rubrics provided to help you determine what grade you deserve.

Teacher evaluation: Most comments will be given on the rubric.

Resources: - Micrography (*standard 4)

Hebrew Word as Art - online images. Also see this page.

Micrography - defined by Wikipedia

Micrography and Photoshop CS4- This is a great lesson on creating art with text with Photoshop. (Photoshop can be bought at the Adobe Education Store.)

See IAD's ASCII art section that shows how to make digital designs using text.

Micrography: Text Art and Typography- This page is an excellent gallary of text art.

Book: Hebrew micrography: One thousand years of art in script (Cat) - There was only one copy of this book left on Amazon. If it is sold out you might find a copy by doing a Google search.

Book: Art and Text - This book has illustrations of artwork created with text.

ASSESSMENT FOR EVALUATING YOUR ARTWORK

"Craftsmanship"

Exceeds the Standard

Craftsmanship: 4

The finished project is exceptionally clean and undamaged.
The edges always depict the way the edges really look, smooth where they should be smooth; rough where they should be rough, etc.
The light source is obvious and works consistently throughout the picture. The transitions from light to dark are smooth. Because the light source works so well, the forms/objects that have been drawn possess the illusion of being three-dimensional.

Meets the Standard

Craftsmanship: 3

The finished project is basically clean and undamaged. There is very little evidence of mishandling, for example bends, tears, dirtiness.
The edges fairly consistently depict the way the edges really look, smooth where they should be smooth, rough where they should be rough, etc.
The light source is evident and works well. Transitions from light to dark are usually smooth. Most objects are believable as three-dimensional forms.

Nearing the Standard

Craftsmanship: 2

The finished project shows some signs of neglect. These may appear in the form of bends, tears, smudges and/or things spilled on the project.
The edges need more work to make them representational of the way they actually should look. More attention needs to be spent on drawing the edges with the characteristics one can observe when looking at the forms being drawn.
There is evidence of a light source but may be conflicting throughout the picture and seem to come from several directions rather than one direction only. It works in some areas but does not work consistently throughout the picture. Some objects appear to be three dimensional and some appear to be flat.

A Ways to Go

Craftsmanship: 1

The finished or possibly unfinished project suffers from neglect. It may be torn, dirty, bent and/or a combination of these things.
The edges appear to be laid in without really observing the form being drawn. There are few if any edges that actually resemble what the edges of the object or form being drawn looks like.
The light source has either been ignored or laid in so poorly that it is very difficult to detect where the light is coming from. Forms also suffer from the lack of a defined light source in that they mainly appear to be flat.

No. Score ______

Scoring Rubric:

RUBRIC FOR DESCRIPTIVE PEN & INK

Name

Shelf Number-

1) SMARTEE SHEET –

A) Completed –

B) Legible/does it make sense?

C) All terms are used correctly?

TOTAL = ______ (20 POINTS)

2) REQUIRED ELEMENTS –

a) Photo selection- Does the viewer feel connected to the image and/or feel some type of emotional response? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X 3 = ______

b) Is the shading and shadowing done in words only? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X 2 = ______

c) Is there a full range of values present? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X 3 = ______

d) Is the project completed in pen and ink? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X 2 = ______

e) Are the values correctly drawn in? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X 4 = ______

f) Is the original line drawing accurate and proportional?1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X 3 = ______

g) Is the final product clean and undamaged? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ______

FINAL SCORE = __________OUT OF 200 - Take your final score and multiply it by .50

A = 100-90 B = 89-80 C = 79-70 D = 69-60 below 60 = F

National Standards (depends on how much discussion you have)

1. Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes

Students apply media, techniques, and processes with sufficient skill, confidence, and sensitivity that their intentions are carried out in their artworks
Students initiate, define, and solve challenging visual arts problems independently using intellectual skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation

2. Using knowledge of structures and functions

Students create artworks that use organizational principles and functions to solve specific visual arts problems

5. Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work
of others

Students describe meanings of artworks by analyzing how specific works are created and how they relate to historical and cultural contexts (optional)
Students reflect analytically on various interpretations as a means for understanding and evaluating works of visual art

COLORADO VISUAL ARTS STATE STANDARDS

1) STUDENTS RECOGNIZE AND USE THE VISUAL ARTS AS A FORM OF COMMUNICATION.

2) STUDENTS KNOW & APPLY ELEMENTS OF ART, PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN & SENSORY & EXPRESSIVE FEATURES OF VISUAL ARTS.

3) STUDENTS KNOW & APPLY VISUAL ARTS MATERIALS, TOOLS, TECHNIQUES & PROCESSES.

4) *STUDENTS RELATE THE VISUAL ARTS TO VARIOUS HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS.

5) STUDENTS ANALYZE & EVALUATE THE CHARACTERISTICS, MERITS & MEANINGS OF WORKS OF ART.

SMARTEE SHEET – ASSIGNMENT: DESCRIPTIVE PEN AND INK

NAME:__________________

ART SHELF NUMBER:_____BLOCK:_____

TEACHER: KIMBERLEY SHEEK