High School

Drawing by Ranaya H-J.

The Essential Question
How do life experiences influence the way you relate to art?

Objective
Students will use a reference photo to draw a large-scale family portrait.

Materials
ebony, eraser, 90# white sulphite drawing paper, grid, blending stump, black tag board, rubber cement, white charcoal pencil

Procedures

1. Students bring a reference photo of their family to class.
2. Students use the grid system (2 x 2" [5 x 5 cm] squares) to create a 24 x 18" (46 x 61 cm) realistic large-scale portrait.
3. Students incorporate a five-point value scale to their pencil portraits and focus on the use of contrast and implied texture.
4. Students mount their final drawings on black tag board.

Frank Juárez is an art teacher at Sheboygan North High School in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.