Students practice a variety of basic comic-style illustration techniques and observe the presence of story in comic strips, comic books, and graphic novels. Students create an autobiographical comic strip and use their newly acquired illustrations skills to tell true, exaggerated, and/or embellished stories about themselves.

For project details, samples, standards, and essential learning outcomes, please contact: c.grabhorn@gmail.com

Students study the creation of abstract art and mindsets of abstract artists. Students create a distinction between representational and abstract/non-representational works of art. Students then browse a variety of media and choose a representational subject to be "abstracted". Students re-imagine their representational reference images in an abstract manner and are challenged to alter the lines, shapes, colors, etc. (elements of art and design) to form original compositions.

For project details, samples, standards, and essential learning outcomes, please contact: c.grabhorn@gmail.com

Students study and discuss the self-portraits of historical artists and begin to identify these artists' use of symbols to describe their lives and experiences. Students create self portraits that include autobiographical visual elements to tell their personal stories.

Students also complete a mini lesson on drawing correct facial proportions and facial features.

For project details, samples, standards, and essential learning outcomes, please contact: c.grabhorn@gmail.com

Students study the uses of masks in a variety of cultures throughout the world. Students examine the materials used to make these masks and identify their unifying properties, like symbol, symmetry, and pattern. Students create their own masks by using pre-made or custom-made forms, then applying plaster and additional additive forms. Students are challenged to consider symbolism as they construct their masks.

For project details, samples, standards, and essential learning outcomes, please contact: c.grabhorn@gmail.com

Students observe works of art that utilize a variety of media. Students then begin to identify different types of media and how they are utilized in pieces of artwork to convey messages. Students are challenged to explore a given theme through a mixed-media project. This project gives students the freedom to explore many materials and encourages them to understand the implications of choosing specific types of media with intention.

For project details, samples, standards, and essential learning outcomes, please contact: c.grabhorn@gmail.com

Students are introduced to relief/reductive printmaking processes including woodcut, linoleum, and foam-plate printing. Students practice the technical processes of printmaking and are encouraged to create a variety of versions/iterations of their print block by exploring different colors, compositions, and formats during the printing process.

For project details, samples, standards, and essential learning outcomes, please contact: c.grabhorn@gmail.com