Lesson #4: Adding value to enhance a composition
ebony pencils, erasers, student sketches of abstract still-life, teacher-made sketch of still-life, conte crayon or black wax crayon
Juan Gris' Breakfast or other abstract still-life collage
Students will use their ebony pencils to fill in the shapes in their small abstract still-lifes, making sure to create contrast between shapes, unity through repetition of similar values, and balance through placement of dark and light values.
Students should post their shaded sketches in front of the room or place them on a large table for all to see.
- Which sketch demonstrates a wide range of values?
- Select a sketch that illustrates unity. What did the student do to unify the composition?
- Select a sketch that shows excellent balance. What did the student do to create balance?
Bring in three to five swatches of colors that look very similar but are not exactly the same color. These can be cut from magazines, fabrics, or can be paint samples from a hardware store.
STRANDS ADDRESSED:
Art Making: adding value to a sketch
Literacy: looking at and discussing art; developing visual arts vocabulary