Lesson Plan: Album Covers
Subject: Drawing and Painting (Beginning - Advanced)
Grade: 9-12
Description:
Students use watercolors and black ink pen to explore the style of illustration in the making of an album cover. The subject is based on symbols representing a moment where the student felt they overcame a challenge or accomplished a goal. The idea connects to the story-telling aspect of illustration and how musicians use stories from their life to write songs or even for inspiration for their album artwork.
Student work:
Grade: 9-12
Description:
Students use watercolors and black ink pen to explore the style of illustration in the making of an album cover. The subject is based on symbols representing a moment where the student felt they overcame a challenge or accomplished a goal. The idea connects to the story-telling aspect of illustration and how musicians use stories from their life to write songs or even for inspiration for their album artwork.
Student work:
California State Standards for Visual and Performing Arts:
Artistic Perception
1.5 Analyze the material used by a given artist and describe how its use influences the meaning of the work.
1.6 Compare and contrast similar styles of works of art done in electronic media with those done with materials traditionally used in the visual arts.
Aesthetic Valuing
4.5 Employ the conventions of art criticism in writing and speaking about works of art.
Learning Objectives:
Students will:
- Compare and Contrast Illustrative art and Realistic art.
- Compare and Contrast Illustrative art done with traditional materials and done digitally.
- Understand how Illustration plays a part in student lives.
- Analyze several Illustrations and derive meaning from their imagery.
- Analyze the album artwork of the musician Jon Bellion, artwork done by David Ardinaryas Lojaya.
- Understand symbols and how to use them to tell a story.
- Create a composition that includes at least three symbols.
- Tell a story through album artwork.
- Practice watercolor techniques.
- Utilize line and texture with the addition of black pens.
- Practice utilizing text to communicate the title of the album.
- Understand how to combine text with imagery in an interesting way.
- Talk about various artworks, utilizing art criticism conventions, during class discussions and critiques.
Assessment:
Formative -
Calling on students randomly during initial presentation and discussion to check for understanding.
Checking of Planning Packet which includes scaffolded brainstorming questions and four thumbnail drawings.
Checking of final sketch on watercolor paper before allowing student to proceed with painting.
Walking around classroom, talking to students and checking for understanding throughout project.
Summative -
Final assessment of finished drawing with rubric.
Class Token Critique
Vocabulary:
Illustration, watercolor techniques (wet on wet wash, wet on dry wash, glazing), drawing techniques and textures (line, hatching, cross hatching, stippling, scribbling, value)
Materials:
Samples of Album artwork (printed or real samples), Power Point to introduce lesson, printed planning packets with self-critique rubric attached, watercolor paper, watercolors, paintbrushes, paper towel, water cups, salt, masking tape or artists’ tape, plastic wrap, sponges, black thin sharpies or other felt tip black pens, white gel pens (optional), tokens for token critique.
Instructional Strategies:
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Student Activities:
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Aesthetic Exploration:
Aesthetics will be analyzed from the very start of this lesson with the group activity – choosing the best album cover. Students will be looking at what visually pleases them and makes them want to purchase or listen to the album. During the making of the album covers, students will make their own aesthetic choices while they create a composition and imagery that tells a story yet still draws the viewer in.
Closure:
Class token critique. Students will receive a number of tokens based on different categories such as: best use of felt tip pen, best watercolor craftsmanship, best story-telling, etc. The artworks will be displayed throughout the room and students will walk around the classroom quietly choosing their winner for each of their tokens. Once an artwork is chosen, the student will place the token next to the artwork. Once all the tokens are passed out, class discussion about the winners will take place. This closure allows students to reflect back on the criteria of the assignment and think critically about how each artwork fulfills or does not fulfill the criteria.
Aesthetics will be analyzed from the very start of this lesson with the group activity – choosing the best album cover. Students will be looking at what visually pleases them and makes them want to purchase or listen to the album. During the making of the album covers, students will make their own aesthetic choices while they create a composition and imagery that tells a story yet still draws the viewer in.
Closure:
Class token critique. Students will receive a number of tokens based on different categories such as: best use of felt tip pen, best watercolor craftsmanship, best story-telling, etc. The artworks will be displayed throughout the room and students will walk around the classroom quietly choosing their winner for each of their tokens. Once an artwork is chosen, the student will place the token next to the artwork. Once all the tokens are passed out, class discussion about the winners will take place. This closure allows students to reflect back on the criteria of the assignment and think critically about how each artwork fulfills or does not fulfill the criteria.