Branciforte Middle School Art

Art 6/ Wheel is a 12-week introduction to art at B-40 that is included in the Exploratory Wheel. Students complete projects that focus on the basic elements of art: line, color, form, value, shape, texture, and space. Students explore various media and art forms and learn how to appreciate and evaluate art by learning techniques of analysis and aesthetic perception.

Elements of Art (2D emphasis) is a semester-long course appropriate for artists of all levels from beginning to experienced. Students will explore different styles and types of art through a variety of mediums including drawing, painting, printmaking, and digital art making. Our focus on the elements and principles of art and design will expand students' visual arts literacy and serve as a foundation for lessons and projects. Lessons will emphasize technique, expression, historical and multicultural influences. Students will learn to reflect on their own work and further develop their techniques of analysis and aesthetic perception.

Ceramics and Sculpture (3D emphasis) is a semester-long course appropriate for students who are interested in clay and 3D art. Students will create functional clay pieces using the hand building techniques of pinch, coil, and slab. Students will learn surface decoration techniques and glazing methods to add texture and color. This class will also focus on 3D drawing techniques and create sculptural pieces with a variety of materials including paper, wire, and textiles.  Increased emphasis will be placed on craftsmanship and the application of the elements and principles of art and design with a focus on historical and multicultural influences.  Students will learn to reflect on their own work and further develop their techniques of analysis and aesthetic perception .

Projects may vary, but some we've completed in the past are:

• Line/shape/space: 3D op art name portfolio (optical illusions)

• Line/shape: Zentangles

• Line/shape/space: 1, 2, or 3 point perspective name portfolio

• Line/color/shape/value: Vitruvian selfie (proportional drawing, figure drawing)

• Line/texture: printmaking

• Line/color/shape/value/texture: digital selfies

• Color/value: color wheel (paint mixing and basic color theory)

• Color/value: creative color wheel (paint mixing and basic color theory)

• Color/value: monochromatic landscapes (paint mixing and basic color theory)

• Color/value/shape: watercolor torn collage (watercolor techniques, color theory)

• Color/shape/value: sunflower paintings (paint mixing, color theory)

• Color/texture/value: pastel dragon eye

• Form/texture/space/color: clay pinch pots (shaping, adding embellishments, glazing)

• Form/texture/space/color: animal vessels (shaping, adding embellishments, glazing)

Click on the Art Gallery tab to see examples of some of these past projects.