6^th Grade Visual Art 

Cranbrook Kingswood Middle School for Girls

Alternating Days Semester Class

 

 

PURPOSE:

 

The purpose of 6^th Grade Art is to introduce art fundamentals (Elements of Art and Principles of Design) to aid in the development of student skills.  Students will explore new mediums, techniques, and apply those skills and knowledge to achieve desired effects and ideas.  Students will connect personally to their work as most projects are individual responses to subject matter which is often interdisciplinary and incorporates Art History as well.

 

CORE CONCEPTS:

 

• Use of Creative Process
• Brainstorming
• Divergent >Convergent Thinking
• Concept Mapping

 

• Elements of  Art
• Form
• Line
• Shape
• Color
• Texture
• Space
• Value

 

• Principles of Design
• Emphasis
• Balance
• Harmony
• Variety
• Movement
• Rhythm
• Proportion
• Unity

ART HISTORY

 

Use of Art Historical Examples to teach art technique, intent, and history may include the following Artists and Art Movements/Time Periods:

 

• Classical Mediterranean Art
• Middle Ages / Gothic Art
• Renaissance Artists
• Asian Art
• Impressionist Artists
• Latin American and Native American
• Contemporary Artists/Designers

 

ART PRODUCTION

 

1. Ceramic Vessel (glazed coil pot)

Before we begin our coil pots, we like to visit the Cranbrook Institute of Science to see how early people’s used clay to make useful and beautiful containers.  We will use some of the same techniques. Mr. Cameron Wood also showed us a video on Maria Martinez, a Native American potter. Hands of Maria, Part One: https://youtu.be/7AhX1MhvAG8

Vocabulary:  Form, Line, Shape, Color, Texture, Space, Balance, Rhythm, Proportion, Unity, Clay, Slip, Score, Fire, Glaze, Kiln, Function, Silicate(s), and Anthropology.

 

• Native American, Ancient Mediterranean, and Contemporary Art Historical References
• Attaching, smoothing, burnishing, techniques
• Textures, Patterns, Embellishments
• Glaze
• Function and form - what will our coil pot be used for?

 

2. Drawing Unit

Vocabulary:  Line, Mark-making, Space, Value, Variety, Proportion, Composition, Rule of Thirds, Perspective, Vanishing Point, and Horizon. 

a. Introduction to Drawing including discussion over types and uses for drawing including references to Mary Cassatt, Leonardo Da’Vinci and Rico LeBrun

b. Self Portrait (pencil or charcoal)

• Proportions
• Contour and introduction to shading

Note:  You will have 3 choices on how to finish your drawing. 

1. You may use pencil and include shading or
2. You may use ink pen and make a black and white contour line drawing or
3. You may use colored pencil and create a completely colorful portrait where all paper has color.

In all options, you will be expected to think about including personalized clues to your background. Think about your “me” map and decide on color choices or imagery for the background with your personality in mind!

3. Identity Mask

Vocabulary:  Form, Shape, Color, Value, Emphasis, Balance, Harmony, Variety, Rhythm, Proportion, and Unity.

a.  Identity Mask

 

i. African, Japanese, Native American Masks and a Nick Cave Sound Suit will be used as Art Historical References

ii. Students will use found materials to populate a mask with artifacts that describe their identity.

4.  Painting Unit

Vocabulary:  Shape, Color, Space, Composition, Value, Emphasis, Balance, Harmony, Variety, Movement, and Unity.

 

a. Color Wheel Review (brief exercises)

• Color Mixing
• Tints and Shades
• Complements Neutrals
• Simultaneous Contrast

b. Flower Still Life Painting (acrylic on canvas)

• Georgia O’Keefe inspired natural form(s) http://www.okeeffemuseum.org/
• Georgia O’Keefe Bio Video https://youtu.be/3AY9rDB-WBk
• Vicki Earle Flower Paintings http://asba-art.org/member-gallery/vicky-earle
• Magnification of forms with emphasis on color mixing, value and transitions.

5.  Weaving Unit (If time allows)

a.  Introduction to tabby, rya, and soumak weaves (images below)

 

 

Mr. Thies uses this web site to organize information for Art.  Student specific information will be occasionally showcased on Mr. Thies’ CranNet pages.

 You may e-mail Mr. Thies at rthies@cranbrook.edu