5th Grade Chalk Pastel Portraits of Classmates

5th Graders have been working on a drawing unit. They began the unit by exploring chalk pastel (see previous post!), then spent two classes figure drawing with charcoal sticks. In figure drawing, artists draw from a live model and focus on capturing the gesture (pose) of the figure, as well as the model's proportions. Students created multiple drawings in each session, drawing each pose the model (Ms. Westerberg!) did for only about 3-5 minutes per pose.

Joaquin, 5-308

Matthew, HC-316

Amanda, HC-316

Liana, HC-316

After considering the whole figure, students turned their attention to portraits. Students looked at portraits by Kathe Kollwitz, Edgar Degas and Vincent Van Gogh. Students made various observations about the work (how they thought the subject was feeling, what the artist was thinking about, what they liked/disliked, how the art made them feel, etc.). They learned that portraits generally just show the head (sometimes the neck and shoulders) of a subject and when drawing portraits, the artist tries to capture the expression and likeness of the model. Students were then matched in pairs and spent the next two classes taking turns drawing each other posing. Students concentrated on portraying and capturing various emotions (happy, sad, excited, tired, etc.). Students began these portrait drawings with graphite sticks. The following weeks, students added color and value in chalk pastel. They finished their drawings by adding details and definition with black conté crayon. Please enjoy 5th grade's portraits!

Alysha, HC-316, "Happy XinChen"

Dafne, HC-316, "Joselyn Happy"

Hailey, HC-316, "Ms. Westerberg is Dreamy" 

Liana, HC-316, "Shayla is Glad"

Andy, HC-316, "Jordan Surprised"

Shayla, HC-316, "The Happy Liana"

Michael, HC-316, "Zhiwei the Sleepy One"

5th Grade Abstract Chalk Pastel Explorations

5^th Graders have been learning about abstract expressionism. Abstract expressionism was an American Post-World War II art movement. The abstract expressionist movement was characterized by expression of the artist’s emotions and feelings through color, shape and line. The paintings are abstract, so they do not depict recognizable forms, like people or places. 5^th graders learned about two abstract expressionists in particular, Hans Hofmann and Sonia Delaunay. 

"Song of the Nightingale", Hans Hofmann, 1964
Image from www.hanshofmann.org

"La Prose du Transsibérien et de lat petite Jehanne de France", Sonia Delaunay, 1913
Image from www.moma.org

After looking at, and discussing, multiple works of art by these artists on the Smart Board, students considered how they could use different elements of art (line, shape, color, volume) to compose a work of art.  Students were directed to choose one shape to fill their paper with in any way they wanted. Some students chose to draw a 3-D shape, others chose to overlap their shape to create new shapes.

HC-316 students in-progress

Michael, HC-316

Students used graphite sticks to create their compositions, then worked on filling in the shapes with color using chalk pastels. Students focused on adding value by blending and layering the chalk pastel to create the illusion of volume in their compositions. 

Please enjoy their beautiful compositions!

Joaquin, "The Magic's Triangles", 5-308

"Mixed Colors", Andy, HC-316

"A Triangle Party", Lucy, HC-316

"Square's Colors", Vanessa, 5-308

"The Crazy Squares", Xinchen, HC-316

Paige, 5-308

"The Moving Shapes", Adam, 5-308