Everyone loves a good portrait lesson right? We just wrapped up a huge Leonardo Di Vinci unit. The before drawing were done before the kiddos learned how to grid.

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LESSON TITLE: ¾ portraits with Leonardo

GRADE: Middle School 8

CONCEPTS, KNOWLEDGE, & SKILLS to be covered in this lesson: Grid Drawing, Value, Realism

SUPPLIES: 1 sheet poster board per student, access to a printer (b&w), a variety of drawing pencil (or a #2 if that is all available), one 2”X24” strip of poster board per student.

OBJECTIVES:

1.The students will draw pre assessment portraits

2. The student will Enlarge a photograph of themselves using the grid method

3. The students will add value with a variety of pencils

4. The students will explore the art of Leonardo Di Vinci including what makes the Mona Lisa so famous

ASSESSMENT:

1. The teacher will use a written assessment about the Leonardo and his paintings

2. The teacher will evaluate gridding technique

3. The teacher will evaluate correct value techniques

TEKS for Visual Art:

8.1 (A) The student is expected to illustrate ideas from direct observation

8.2 (A) create artworks integrating themes found through direct observation and personal experiences

8.4 (B) The student is expected to analyze artworks by others to form conclusions about formal properties, historical and cultural contexts, intents, and meanings.

Interdisciplinary Connections: History

4 KEY PHASES:

1. Connecting/Motivating: Students will need to complete a pre assessments without any instruction if possible. Students will be introduced to Leonardo’s Mona Lisa via a short youtube video. Discussion Questions: Who was the Mona Lisa most likely? What are some theories on her identity? How was the ¾ pose revolutionary? What intrigues you about the Mona Lisa?

2. Teach, Model, & Demonstrate: Students will compare two Leonardo paintings and evaluate how art advanced in the Renaissance via PPT (attached). Students will be introduced to grid method and teacher will demonstrate grid worksheet. Teacher will also model how to grid a photograph and a poster board. (1 45 minute class)

Gridding a portrait the easy way: Student will use a 1” wide ruler and line it at the top of an 8 1/2 X 11 vertical photograph of the student’s portrait. Draw a line underneath the ruler with pencil. Slide the ruler down and line it with the first pencil line and draw another line under the ruler. Repeat step until you reach the bottom. Repeat steps horizontally on the photograph as well. Next, use 2” strip of poster board and line it at the top edge of the poster board vertically and draw a line underneath. Repeat step down vertically, then horizontally to form a grid. Count the rows of boxes on the photograph and trim down poster board until the photograph and poster board have the exact same number of boxes.

3. Try It-Tests-Practices: Students will complete grid worksheet individually while a designated student (or teacher) photographs class members in ¾ pose. Students need to make sure they display any jewelry or other objects that may symbolize their identity.

4. Create: After checking student’s comprehension of gridding by evaluating practice worksheet. Instruct students to outline main facial contours with a bight colored pencil to help them see the lines. Students will then begin to work independently to enlarge their photograph to the poster board. (2-3 45 minute classes)

Once basic contours of the face have been drawn, students will begin to add value with a pencil. Remind students to push values (use value chart). (3-4 45 minute classes).