Elementary

Artwork by Hanna Grace B., grade five.

The Essential Question
What challenges are faced while illustrating glass? How can we illustrate glass showing values?

Objectives
Students will create a still-life drawing of three light bulbs, focusing on values and capturing reflection, and add a surreal element to their design.

Materials
sketchbooks, pencils, color media, colored construction paper, light bulbs (various sizes, three per student), still-life examples featuring glass

Procedures

1. Show students still-life examples featuring glass. Emphasize how the artists illustrated value.
2. Distribute light bulbs. Ask students to arrange their own glass still life and create small thumbnail sketches. Students also practice the drawing techniques of hatching, crosshatching, and stippling. Students then use their imaginations to add a surreal element to their designs.
3. Students take suggestions from peers before they arrange their final still life and draw their design in pencil on colored construction paper. Remind students to focus on reflection and value.
4. After completion of their pencil drawings, students use their color media of choice to create value through hatching, crosshatching, and stippling.
5. Students post their final designs to our online virtual platform for peer review and feedback.

Leigh Drake is an art teacher at Old Donation School in Virginia Beach, Virginia.