Elementary

What is an imaginative drawing? Why is it important for artists to draw from imagination?

Students will create a fantasy-style scene based upon random elements to make a completed design. Students will reflect on drawing from imagination and its importance.

• sketchbooks
• pencils
• color media
• drawing paper
• reference photos of surreal artworks

Step 1
Discuss the surrealism movement and show examples.

Step 2
Share the objectives, then explain to students that they will randomly pick elements to incorporate into a larger composition. The catch is that students will only pick one element at a time and cannot add the next item until the first element is at least blocked in. This exercise will test students’ problem-solving skills as they work to add various items to their imaginative work.

Step 3
Have students create a list of twenty items that they would like to draw. Emphasize that it is important for them to pick items that they find interesting. Ask them to think of a variety of nouns (people, places, and things) as they add to their list.

Step 4
Have students number the items they have written down from 1 to 20. To begin the drawing, call out a number for students to start with. Students will draw that numbered item. Next, choose a student to pick the next number and work that item into their composition, repeating this process until they have five to nine elements incorporated.

Step 5
Encourage students to include at least three different drawing media to add even more variety to their surreal piece. As they work, ask them to contemplate what kind of a background would add to their design.

Students will write a reflective artist statement explaining their piece and process of creating. They will also write an imaginative story about their scenes and reflect on their peers’ drawings by providing feedback.

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