Currently I teach at High School level art at LPA in the Bronx. I teach Intro to Visual Arts for 9th Grade and Studio Art for 12th Grade. Students in both classes are exposed to assignments using traditional mediums like paint and clay as well as a long term digital portfolio assignment, and more. Below are a selection of lessons from both classes and the accompanying lesson plans.
Intro to Visual Arts (9th Grade):
Cultural and Traditional Sculptures: Students were given the task of creating clay sculptures based on cultural or traditional foods that they ate at home. Students were also given the task of writing and explanation to why they chose this dish and the importance behind it.
Student Work, Cultural and Traditional Food, Clay, 2023
Self Portraits: Students spent the week practicing how to draw realistic portraits before creating their own self portrait and a background for their work. Students practiced drawing facial features in their sketchbooks before moving onto the final drafts.
Realism Portraits: Students researched an artist of interest who drew or painted using realism. They were then tasked with creating realistic portraits of anyone they wanted to using the techniques and styles of the artist they had researched.
Student Work, Realism Portraits, Studio Art, 2023, 11x15