Recycled Bug Sculpures inspired by contemporary artist Lonnie Holley. This three-day unit encourages students to transform everyday junk-drawer recyclables into imaginative modern art bugs. Students problem solve, manipulate, and creatively construct a small hand-held sculpture. 

Slideshow presentation and photos can be found here. 

Students will explore abstract expressionism and contemporary abstract painters, examining creative processes and techniques. Through discussions and hands-on practice, students will learn to build layers of paint, experimenting with composition and mark-making. Using the Feldman Method of art criticism, they will reflect on their work and engage in constructive feedback, allowing them to edit and refine their pieces as they discover their own unique artistic journey. 

Slideshow presentation and photos can be found here. 

Students learn how to construct forms from 2D shapes using value to create a cube design based on observation. Differentiated instruction allows students to explore accelerated op-art options. 

Link to slideshow and photos can be found here. 

The Essential Importance of Drawing Instruction: Examining Evidence of Its Impact on Learning.

This 20-page paper explores the critical importance of drawing instruction, highlighting evidence-based research that demonstrates the connection between drawing and enhanced learning. It emphasizes the significance of developing the ability to see and observe the visual world, a skill that offers far-reaching benefits beyond the confines of the art classroom. By examining how drawing enhances cognitive functions, visual literacy, and critical thinking, this work underscores how drawing fosters skills applicable across various academic disciplines and everyday life.

Contemporary Critique of Kara Walker and Amy Sherald