Middle School

Art by Melanie R.

The Essential Question
How can we create a focal point by creating a spot of color in a photograph?

Objective
Students will take photographs and print them as grayscale images, then determine and color the focal point in their image.

Materials
cameras, computers with photo-editing software, printer, paper, colored pencils and markers (or other color media), optional: references of ads to show how spot color may be used in advertising

Procedures
1. Ask students to photograph a subject that interests them.
2. Students upload their images to a computer and convert the color image to a grayscale image. Then they print their image on white letter-size paper (card stock is recommended).
3. Students choose the part of the image they wish to make stand out and color this area to create a focal point—the first thing the eye sees. Note: Using colored pencils or highlight markers will allow some of the image to show through and add more detail to the finished piece.
4. Students display their finished art on a wall and critique each otherʼs work.

Assessment
During the critique, students should be able to quickly identify the focal point of each piece by the spot of color that was added to the grayscale image.

Debra Cline is a digital art instructor at Manatee School for the Arts in Bradenton, Florida.