Chuck Close Self-Portraits
In this lessons students learned about the artist Chuck Close and his two different styles of painting. Through lecture and Powerpoint presentations they learned about Chuck Close's life and the traumatic event which left his as a quadriplegic. The paintings which he did prior to the incident were large scale photo-realistic images he could no longer do because of his lack of motor control. Instead of giving up on painting he picked his brush back up and continued painting, but in a new style. As a class we discussed how overcoming life changing challenges like his aren't a detriment to your life, but can be overcome and used to your benefit.
We discussed pattern and refreshed what was learned in elementary school concerning repetition, pattern and light and dark colors. Students were given worksheets that challenged them to come up with several unique designs that could be used as a pattern and used dark, medium, or light colors. These patterns would be used in their final image.
Photos were taken of students, preferably with a unique expression to liven up the image. These photos were printed in black and white and students were shown how to use a grid system to enlarge the image from their 8 x 10 photo to a 12 x 18 in sheet of drawing paper. The grid was left on the final image and used to place the patterns they had created. Where light colors in the photo appeared, light colors in the patterns should be used, and so forth.
We discussed pattern and refreshed what was learned in elementary school concerning repetition, pattern and light and dark colors. Students were given worksheets that challenged them to come up with several unique designs that could be used as a pattern and used dark, medium, or light colors. These patterns would be used in their final image.
Photos were taken of students, preferably with a unique expression to liven up the image. These photos were printed in black and white and students were shown how to use a grid system to enlarge the image from their 8 x 10 photo to a 12 x 18 in sheet of drawing paper. The grid was left on the final image and used to place the patterns they had created. Where light colors in the photo appeared, light colors in the patterns should be used, and so forth.
Note: The first two images in the album above are my teacher examples.