High Tech High

School: High Tech MiddleAuthor: Shani Higgins Subjects: ArtGrade Levels: 8th

How do we create values using only one color and black and white?
For their first project this semester, Shani Higgins’s eighth grade art students at High Tech Middle created “Larger than Life” Monochromatic Self-Portraits. They practiced by painting smaller monochromatic pieces inspired by Vassily Kandinsky’s abstract paintings. To start the process, Ms. Higgins took pictures of each student in the class. Students then used PhotoShop to alter images of their faces and used the altered images to create large drawings. Students projected their faces and traced the altered images from the wall. Working with acrylics, students chose their favorite color for the monochromatic study. Each face is at least 18 x 24”. They worked from light to dark, first painting the light areas and gradually adding small amounts of color and black. It was important that students paid close attention to line, value, and detail.In addition to the extenuated size, another unique aspect of this project is that the Art classes worked with the technology classes to make audio recordings of the artists talking about their work. We will have all of the work on display during Exhibition Night on March 23rd, 2006. Visitors will be able to sit down at computer stations, put headphones on, click on a web image of each student and listen to them talking about their work. As an audience, you be amazed at the kind of artwork these middle school students are capable of. Also on display during Exhibition Night will be sample work by every sixth and eighth grade student at HTM.

What Will Students Be Able To Do:

Alter images on PhotoShop. Paint image using acrylic paints and use a monochromatic color scheme for self-portrait.Recognize and create different values using one color and black and white. Talk about the process and reflect on their work.
What Will Students Know (content covered):