Middle School

Vincent Van-Cat and His Cone of Shame, teacher sample by Melody Weintraub.

The Essential Question
How can students demonstrate knowledge of an artist by reflecting that artistʼs style in a new work?

Objective
Students will illustrate and title a cat portrait in the style of a favorite artist.

Materials
2 ½ x 3 ½" (6 x 7.5 cm) trading cards or card stock, pencils, colored pencils or colored medium of choice, fine-point pens (.05 to .08), references of artistsʼ work

Procedures
1. Show lesson sample (the front of this ClipCard) to students, then demonstrate how to draw the face of a cat in correct proportions. Students could also choose to draw a pet or a different animal.
2. Ask students to research a favorite artist.
3. Distribute the trading cards or card stock. Ask students to select a self-portrait of their artist to re-create as a cat portrait on the card provided.
4. Students creatively title their finished portraits to reflect the artist. Students can then exchange the trading cards with one another if they wish.

Assessment
Students will be assessed by the effort and skill they use in drawing, the demonstration of knowledge of their chosen artist, and completion of the assignment.

Melody Weintraub is a retired middle-school art teacher and art education adjunct at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.