Exaggerated Drawings

 

This is actually a project I did in high school. I still have my original believe it or not.

It's a very valuable drawing assignment great for practicing value and shading.

This is a technique used quite a lot in advertising and design: scale exaggeration. You could also discuss the design principles; this one relating to proportion and how artists can manipulate and exaggerate proportion to express moods and experiences.

Here are the directions: Find an appropriate image in a magazine: you're going to cut off part of the image and visually 'stretch' the missing part using pencil. Using figures tends to be quite popular but it can be anything, really. If students can only find colour images, then just photocopy them so they have a black and white image to work with. Glue the magazine image onto a piece of drawing paper and then you're ready to go. The key is to make them match the photo in terms of accurate shading.  You want to fool the eye.

Grade 10-12 finished artworks:

this is Boris Johnson, lol

Celtic Knot Drawings

This is a lesson I taught to my Grade 4-6 art class on St. Patrick's day. It is the simplest of Celtic knots, known as the triquetra. A triquetra is an ancient symbol that consists of three overlapping and interconnected arcs that creates a tri-pointed symbol. Essentially, the symbol resembles a three-cornered knot, as all internal arcs look as though there is no beginning or end.

We first watched a video about the ancient Celtic people and then a video about Celtic knots HERE.

I demonstrated how to draw one for my students then they did a small practice one first. 

They really enjoyed the challenge! I also demonstrated how to shade it, so this is a great lesson on value and form.

Some finished Grade 4-6 drawings:

 

Origami Observational Drawing

 

This is another observational drawing project that I've taught my high school students for a number of years. They create an origami paper sculpture of their choice then they have to draw it from 3 different angles/views from direct observation. I always love the variety of results and how my students push themselves every year, adding different media and unusual backgrounds. 

Some finished results- these are a mixed class of Grade 10, 11 and 12 students: