Students drew enlarged key sets, keeping as much detail as possible in the contour lines. They then divided the picture plane into geometric shapes using rulers. Students had the choice to do organic shapes as well. The challenge was to fill each shape within the keys and the background with a different colour. Students also chose to keep the keys the same colour and just alternate the background.

Materials: pencil crayons, watercolours

Adapted from Ken Vieth's project.

After studying Salvador Dali's famous painting, "The Persistence of Memory", students learned about the concept of 'parody'. With that in mind, they revisited the painting and created a comedic 'parody'. Choices were to change only the clocks (from the original painting) into new objects, change only the background and leave the clocks, or change both. The results are funny and creative!

Materials: 8x11 white paper, pencil crayons

Using a photograph of the back of their heads, students used scratch art tools to scratch into black scratch art paper. Having bright white areas completely scratched out and areas with fewer lines developed the highlights and shadows on the drawings.

Materials: 8x10 scratch art paper, scratch art tools

Students researched a famous person that has been an inspiration in their personal lives. They drew a large portrait in either tone or colour and inserted an inspirational quote onto the background of the drawing.

Materials: 18x24 paper, chalk pastels, mixed materials for quotes

Students used the grid technique to grid a black and white photograph of themselves. They then drew the outline of their image and filled in the space with a variety of text. Focus on light and shadows.

This project also works really well in a Media Arts class. I've used it during studies on Typography.

11x 14 Mayfair, pencils, sharpies, fine liners

Students used the grid technique on a black and white photograph of themselves making a silly face! They then drew the photo with a focus on tone and pencil shading.

The images below are from Grade 9 students!

Materials: 11x14 Mayfair, pencils, kneaded erasers, charcoal, photographs

A quick sketchbook activity to help students open up creative possibilities!

Materials: leaves, pencils, sketchbooks

Students used a full face magazine image to work from and learned the grid technique to practice drawing realistically with a focus on the use of tone.

The images below are from a Grade 9 class!

Materials: pencils, kneaded erasers, sketchbooks, magazines

Students collected leaves outdoors, chose 1, and grid it in their sketchbooks. They then created an enlarged version and divided it into 5 sections to focus on particular techniques - stippling with oil pastel, blending with markers, shading with conte, crosshatching with pencil crayon, and creating value with collage.

Materials: 18x24 Mayfair, oil pastel, pencil crayons, magazines, conte, charcoal, markers, paint brushes

Adapted from Ken Vieth's Book 'From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Art & Design Problem Solving'. Students were each given a No. 2 Pencil to study, they created an outline of an object and creatively filled it with pencil shapes: distorting, condensing, changing the width and length.

Materials: pencils, pencil crayons, sketchbooks, No. 2 Pencils