Creating a Still Life

September 14-16, 2015

Day One: Warm Up• At the top of a new page, write “Creating a

Still Life.”• Draw a horizontal line down the middle of

your paper.• Divide the upper part in half with a vertical

line.

Notes• In the upper left, write the name “Akira

Yoshizawa.”• Write the following:• 1. Artist during the _______ century.• 2. Considered to be the grandmaster of the

art of _________________.• 3. He said, “When you fold, the ritual and the

act of creation is more important than the final result. When your hands are busy, your heart is serene.”

Today’s Assignment

• Today, we are going to fold a small origami box.• The box will be used later in a STILL LIFE that you

will draw and shade.• Let’s start with an easy fold for practice: An

envelope with a tab• Directions found here:

http://assembleshop.blogspot.com/2013/01/crafty-project-junior-high-love-note.html#.VfbT-9JViko

Today’s Assignment Continued…

• That was pretty easy, right?• Now for something a little more

advanced—A paper cube.• Keep your folds sharp and precise. A

sloppy fold early on will lead to big problems later!

• Box instructions: <http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-box.html>

Day 2: Warm Up

• On the bottom half of your paper, write the following:

•1. Balance—–Symmetry—–Asymmetry—

Day 2: Warm Up

• Watch a short video on “Balance.”• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dOObq

RHkbM• How can we define these words after seeing

the video?• Balance is arranging elements so that no one

part of a work overpowers, or seems heavier, than any other part.

Discussion

• What are ways we could make an artwork SYMMETRICAL?• What are ways we could make an

artwork ASYMMETRICAL?• How can we keep an ASYMMETRICAL

design BALANCED?

Example

Activity

• Today, we are going to continue planning out our still life.• You will be using basic squares,

circles, and triangles in your final project.• Take a big sheet of drawing paper.

Divide it into four sections.

Activity

• Using multiple squares, circles, and triangles, draw two SYMMETRICAL designs.

• Using multiple squares, circles, and triangles, draw two ASYMETRICAL designs.

• Keep in mind your basic rules about a BALANCED composition!

Warm Up: Day 3

• On the bottom half of your notes, write the following:

• Chiaroscuro--the treatment of light and shade in drawing and painting.

Today’s Activities• First we will watch a 12 minute video on

shading.• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVDiDy5z

b5Y• Did he use techniques we have practiced

before?• Did he use a technique we haven’t practiced?• On the cylinder in your notes, try using the

side of your pencil—in small, circular motions—to shade from light to dark.

Today’s Activities• Today will be a catch-all day. • I will go from table to table to demonstrate

the box-folding technique we practiced on Monday.

• On your own, you will finish your Symmetrical/ Asymmetrical drawings (if needed).

• In your notebook, you will practice the shading techniques on the next slide.

Shading Techniques

Shading Techniques

Warm Up: Day 4• In the upper-right column of your notes,

write “Lubin Baugin (1612-1663).”• 1. Artist during the ____________

century.• 2. He is a French painter with few

surviving works.• 3. His “Still Life” painting features

excellent asymmetrical balance.

Baugin Still Life

Today’s assignment• Using your origami box and at least one

other small item, set up a still life on a sheet of white paper.

• Setting items on a white paper makes it easier for us to see shadows.

• On your drawing paper, begin to lightly sketch your objects.

• Pay careful attention to your “stage.” Your box is not a perfect cube—try to draw the wrinkles you see!

Day 5

• Today, I was absent.• Students will continue their still life drawings

on Monday.• They will work on a “grid drawing” puzzle

worksheet with the substitute.