Project 1: Creating abstract line drawings in response to sounds

For this first assignment, in order to familiarize students with abstract line work, they will be given a song to listen to and be asked to create a drawing in response to it. Students will be given pencil for this activity as well as construction paper to add other abstract shapes to their drawings.

Students work: the class listened to Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd

Project 2: Abstract watercolor painting in response to a contemporary issue

Students will be asked to create an abstract work in response to a contemporary issue they feel passionate about. The paintings should not be representational, but rather emulate the feelings/ thoughts they have about the particular issue.

Student work: Anxiety and depression

Student work: Over consumption and living in excess

Student work: Greed, consumerism

Student work: Water pollution

Project 3: Collage using old magazines based on a chosen quote/song lyrics

Students will be asked to choose a particular quote or song lyrics that speak to them, then create a collage with represents that quote to them. They will also be able to incorporate paint into their collages if they choose to.

Student work: Chose the lyrics “living is easy with eyes closed”

Project 4: Sculpture in response to our digital world, and more specifically social media

Students will be asked to create a sculpture using corrugated cardboard. They can draw on the cardboard, paint on it, and even incorporate collage if they want to.

Student work: used triangles as building blocks for their sculpture. The sharp angles represent the difficulty our generation has with communication.

Project 5: Creating their own dream world

Students will use a combination of a landscape photo (nature or cityscape) and creating a sort of utopia through drawing and painting. The photo chosen will be replicated with a drawing, then later the dream world or utopia will be created as a foreground. Using a photo of reality in combination with a drawn/painted fantasy world will emulate the duality between the two. Corrugated cardboard may also be used in this project to combine 2D and 3D.