My junior high students are expected to keep an art journal while in art class. They are asked to create at least one drawing/ painting/ collage/ creation per week. The independent project could be of anything as long as it:
- has color or shadow
- includes a background
- takes at least 10 minutes of time to create
- is created during free time, or at home
I told the students that I like to start a fresh book out with a picture of my hand, as you always have one with you to observe and draw. Here are some examples of my 7th and 8th graders creating a picture of their hand in a unique way.
Some other ideas include:
- draw your room
- color a drawing with non-realistic colors
- copy or enlarge a comic strip
- redesign your favorite album cover/ brand logo
- create a monster
- sketch out your favorite outfit
- draw your favorite vehicle
- cut out pictures of what you ate for dinner
- create a coat of arms for your family
- use alternate supplies to paint/draw with (tea, coca-cola, berries, make-up)
- self-portrait
- draw or paint your pet
- cut out a picture of a face, and draw the body and background to complete it
- cut out half a picture of an object and draw the other half
- draw yourself in a video game
- make a flip book
- finger print value drawing
- create a perspective drawing from an interesting view point
- sketch where you are
- turn your name into a design
- draw with tape
- glue fabric scraps to paper to create part of an image
- illustrate poems or quotes
- create a zentangle
- find textures from around you and apply them to new things through drawing or rubbings
