O'Keeffe Still Life/ Mixed Media Bones

Georgia O'Keeffe is one of the most well-known female artists of the 20th century. She is most well known for her close up paintings of flowers but spent the majority of her later career painting desert landscapes and skulls. She belongs to a group of American artists who, in a time of pure abstraction, returned to realistic images. In this lesson, students learn about Georgia O'Keeffe's life and art. They will either create a still life drawing exploring shading and chalk techniques, or a mixed media bones drawing using a color scheme and contrasting colors.

Metal Tooled Abstraction

Abstract art has been created by humans for thousands of years by native cultures. However the term "abstract" didn't start being used to describe art until the late 1800's when European artists started to question whether art had to represent real life at all. Early abstract artists like Wassilly Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Hilma af Klint, and the Abstract Expressionists were the first to explore this inner world approach to art. In this lesson, students create a non-objective metal tooled design using copper and a compositional strategy.

Surrealism Independent Study/ Surrealist Eye Drawing

Surrealist Eye Drawing: The Surrealists are a group of artists from the early 20th century that focused on psychology and dreams as their subjects. They were fascinated with the work of Sigmund Freud and the unconscious mind. Artists like Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte often used juxtaposition and automatism to reference the randomness of the unconscious. Juxtaposition involves combining two objects that don't belong together. In this lesson, students will use juxtaposition in a drawing based on "The False Mirror" (a painting by Rene Magritte) by combining a realistic eye with a juxtaposed image within it.

Surrealism Independent Study: The "Methods of Surrealism" have been used by artist's since the movement took place in the early 1900's. Their strange techniques involve automatism, juxtaposition, scale change, and dreams. In this independent study, students find a way to address at least one "Method of Surrealism" in their own personal artwork. They have the freedom to choose what art medium they would like to use to best represent this theme.

Symbolism Independent Study/ Cubist Style Drawing

Symbolism Independent Study: Symbols have been used in art by cultures from all around the world for thousands of years. More recently artists have applied this concept to their work to tackle social issues or simply to use color in a more expressive way. In this independent study, students address the theme of symbolism in their own personal artwork. They have the freedom to choose what art medium they would like to use to best represent this theme.

Cubist Style Drawing: Cubism is a movement which played a key role in the development of abstract art. With Picasso as the pioneer, art from this movement looks like a fractured version of reality. This was also the period where collage became part of the mainstream art world. In this lesson, students will create a drawing using the 7 line method which creates a cubist effect, and focus on value in their finishing touches.