How do artists use design elements and principles to create a work of art that portrays life, emotion, and expression of an era?

Alice Neel (1900 - 1984)

Jacob Lawrence (1917 - 2000)

Formative Investigation & Planning

Lesson 1
  1. Summarize the videos above.  Who are the artists and where are they from?  What is each artist's work about?  Why do they create?
  2. Make a personal, cultural, or societal connection to their work.  What is happening in your life or the world you live in that compares or contrasts with the lives of these artists?  
  3. Write a paragraph describing your own life, interests, passions, concerns, ideas, etc.  
Lesson 2
  1. How would you depict "the human condition" in our world today?  In small groups of 3 or 4, create a visual mind map of your shared ideas.  In the center, begin with the phrase, "The Human Condition".  Branch off from there.  How do you interpret that phrase through your own current experiences?  
  2. This map should drive your creativity and ideas for imagery, content and subject matter for your own drawing composition.  
Lesson 3
  1. Draw a pattern on a 2"x2" piece of vellum tracing paper.  Then, transfer the pattern to a  2" x 2" piece of printing block.  Carve and shave the surface around your pencil lines to reveal the pattern.

Summative Drawing Composition

Your Art Problem:  
Create a figurative composition (drawing with color) that depicts your interpretation of "The Human Condition".  Finish your drawing as a resolved and unified composition with colored oil pastels, printed patterns, ink and paint.  

Steps
  1. ​Draw a figure from a model on vellum tracing paper.  Use a graphite stick or pencil.  (Day 1)
  2. Flip over your drawing and transfer rub the graphite to a final drawing composition paper or illustration board.  (Day 1)
  3. Trace over your pencil marks with ink.  (Day 1)
  4. Next, use a small 2" x 2" piece of printing block.  Draw and carve a pattern into the printing block.  (Day 2)
  5. Block out sections of your drawing with tracing vellum paper in order to protect your drawing from the printed pattern.  Use the printed pattern as decoration and embellishment for your drawing illustration.  (Day 3)
  6. Print your block into a pattern onto your drawing illustration composition.  (Day 3)
  7. Add to your composition.  Draw background information, designs, extra drawing elements, etc. (Day 4)
  8. Finish your composition by adding color:  oil pastel, ink, paint, etc. 

Student Examples