Submitted by: Judy Decker
Unit: Drawing - Surrealism
Lesson Plan: Surreal drawing integrating technology - colored pencils/pastels
Grade level: Middle School (7th Grade) 
Have some fun! Student could learn Greg Percy's song "Are You Serious?" (Dali)

Objectives:  The students will:  

1. Explore how artists express ideas, values through art (Artists: Rene Magritte, Giorgio DeChirico, Salvador Dali - student "Know the Artist" page)

2. Distinguish commonalties, characteristics of artistic styles of expression

3. Perceive the environment and develop personal ideas around a theme to create original works of art

4. Produce a work of art using established criteria:
    ·  Drawing: line to create value
    ·  Creating value by varying pencil pressure
    ·  Color planning: color to enhance mood and emotion
    ·  Use Digital images found on the Internet to construct a surreal composition (related to Ohio- you will want to change to your own state)

5.  Describe and analyze the distinguishing characteristics and qualities of art

6. Interpret the meanings, beliefs, themes, and moods perceived in arts forms

7. Evaluate art using appropriate criteria -- Recognize and compare the roles of artists, historians, critics, and aestheticians in evaluating art

8. Reflect on the nature and meaning of art - Create a surreal work with a personal message.

Instructional Resources:

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/surreal.htm  http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/ohio.htm
PowerPoint: Monsieur Rene Magritte
Shorewood prints:  Surrealism--Rene Magritte
Personal prints (color photocopies): Salvadore Dali  Book: Salvador Dali
Scholastic Art: Marcel Duchamp
Videos: Davis Productions- Elements and Principles of Design 
Teacher made handouts for Elements and Principles of Design videos
Assorted contour drawing of master artists (small art prints could be used)

Materials:                                                     

9x12 white drawing paper 9x12 manila grid paper (if available) various photographs of Architecture Digital images from the Internet (3 1/2" floppies) Ultra fine point Sharpie markers pencils, erasers, Seral transfer paper

Assorted plants and pictures of Ohio plants. Rulers colored pencils 12x18 drawing paper (assorted colors)    pen and ink soft pastels, cotton balls, manila paper

Procedures:  Week One

1. Note: This is my unit that I do at the beginning of a trimester. View/discuss videos -- Elements and Principles of Design (Davis Productions)

2. Answer and review video study guides

3. Draw hands using contour line (have hand holding something - pencil or other drawing tool. I had small animals, cars and trucks too. Place close attention to detail. These drawing may be added to final composition. Many students included the hand drawing in the surreal composition holding something - like an insect or car.

4. Right Brain- draw contour figure upside down (use various contour drawing of the masters - or small art prints) Block out all but a small section of the drawing - revel small sections at a time.

Procedures:  Week Two and three

1. Drawing techniques using grid--draw Ohio or local architecture --enlarge to 3:1 ratio. (one inch grid on photograph - 3" grid on drawing paper. Students found images on Internet or used digital photographs I had taken from the community. Students spend one class period searching the Internet for images and saving them to a floppy disk. They save them with their name - what the image is. Images are then printed off in the classroom as needed.

2. Draw plants from observation --basic shapes and contour technique presented. Artificial flowers and pictures of Ohio plants were also available.

3. Combine plants and architecture in an interesting, unusual way (on 12 x 18 paper - Use Seral Transfer paper) to show contrast of man-made things and nature.  Add hand drawing in a clever way if desired (placing building down, pulling up plants, Holding Ohio insect, tearing away the plant drawing page---use imagination)
   Focus: Artists convey cultural, social, and historical meanings in their works. Understanding of history can inform our interpretation of art, and works of art can inform our interpretation of history.  Composition should "tell a story" about Ohio.

4. Add additional elements to composition and outline with Ultra fine point markers. Create textures and value using various techniques demonstrated.

Procedures:  Week four

1. Continue pen and ink textures (simulated textures) on drawings.   Explore a variety of tools (pen points, micron pens and fine point markers).

2. Plan colors to convey a mood (peaceful, angry, warm/cool).  Create soft background colors using pastels and cut or torn paper stencils. Rub pastels off the torn or cut edges using cotton balls or tissues.

3. Enhance center of interest/focal point with colored pencils--develop values by changing pressure of pencil. Overlay colors for more interest and depth of colors.

Evaluation:  (See also student evaluation)

Preparation/worksheets        10        9          8          7          6          (other)
Hand drawings/sketches       10        9          8          7          6
Contour drawings                   10        9          8          7          6         
Architecture drawing              10        9          8          7          6
Composition                           10        9          8          7          6
Line/texture techniques          10        9          8          7          6
Color plan--pastels                 10        9          8          7          6
Colored pencil blending         10        9          8          7          6
Critique (writing)                     10        9          8          7          6

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