January- Chalk Fruit Drawing

objective: to learn to create illusion of dimensionality using color and shading. To learn techniques of working with colored chalk pastels

materials:

-variety of fruit, at least a few pieces per table

-black construction paper, 8 1⁄2 by 11” or similar

- pencils (optional)

-chalk pastels

-paper towels for blending

- art prints depicting fruit

Process:

- begin by discussing displayed prints: ask what colors they see in a given piece of fruit,ask them to look at the work close up and see if they find any surprising colors, ask them to describe how artists made the fruit look 3-d

-look at real fruit on table, put fruit on colored paper to best show shadow: discuss light source, and how this forms a highlight and a shadow on each object

- discuss creating tints and shades with chalk

-demonstrate how to sketch first with light color chalk ( they can use pencil if they are not comfortable with not being able to erase, but chalk is preferable,) how to build up layers of color, how to blend, how to create highlight and shadow. Also talk about complementary colors, and that when shading with chalk, blending in a little of the complementary color is very effective.

- each student will then choose one piece of fruit to sketch, and begin sketching. Encourage them to make the fruit larger than life, filling a large portion of their page. They can color the rest of the paper the color of their choice, but should leave a thin line of black showing around their fruit to make it pop.

-display work on board gallery style, and if you have time discuss how they felt about process, and have positive critique of work.