Animals in Charcoal
Through careful observation, create a drawing that realistically represents an animal.
SCHOOL: Blue Heron Middle School
TEACHING ARTIST: Martha Worthley
GRADE: 6
Lesson: Students use contour line, values for shading and texture to draw large scale realistic animals in charcoal.
Target learning: Identifies and uses line to show surface texture.
Criteria: Draws straight, curved, zig zag and interrupted lines that reflect the surface texture of an animal.
Target learning: Identifies and makes values using charcoal drawing techniques.
Criteria: Learns to use smudging, smearing, different pressure in drawing with the charcoal- and erasing- to create distinct dark, medium and light areas of shading and pattern.
Target learning: Accurately represents shape, form and surface of animal in scale with the size of the paper.
Criteria: Carefully observes animal: Uses contour lines to describe shape, shading to show form, and texture for surface.
Target learning: Draws to scale of paper.
Criteria: Makes animal image that fills the entire 2 foot by 3 foot page.
Vocabulary (click here for the glossary)
contour
form
pattern
shading
straight, curved, zig zag, interrupted lines
texture
value
Resources
Examples created by teacher and former students
Magazines and books with pictures of animals
Xerox copies of animal images
Rembrandt Elephant and Rubens Lion drawings
Materials
Large butcher paper, 24” x 36”
Charcoal
Gum erasers
Resources introduced and creative process
Teaching artist:
Displays and discusses several 3 foot by 5 foot charcoal animal drawings and smaller drawings created by former students prior to demonstration.
Demonstrates how to practice with the material; shows a variety of ways to make marks with charcoal, using the tip of the charcoal to create dark lines, light lines, curved and zig zag lines. Students observe results of using varying pressure on the charcoal stick.
Demonstrates using the sides and edges of the charcoal stick. Smudges and smears some of the lines and areas on the page showing ways to get different color values, uses the eraser to create other, lighter values.
Demonstrates careful observation of a printed image. Demonstrates using “‘whisper” lines or light guidelines to place the animal on the page large scale. Shows how to use contour lines and shading to create an accurate representation.
Students create one page of experiments with charcoal, learning about the different qualities they can produce with the material
Student drawing: Students make a 2 foot by three foot charcoal drawing of an animal using charcoal and butcher paper
Assessment
As we look at the drawings what kinds of lines stand out? What shading techniques seem particularly effective? How was it done? What elements of line and shading contribute to the accurate portrayal of an animal?
Check for:
Kinds of lines to suggest texture
Explores tools and techniques for light, medium and dark values
Describes shape with contours
Shows form with value
Shows surface texture with line
Draws to scale of paper
Essential learnings
Arts 1.1 concepts: line, shape/form, value, texture
Arts 1.2 skills and techniques: observational drawing
Arts 4.2 connection to other disciplines: science