Year 8 Units
Autumn/Spring Term
Unit 1 – Famous Portraits
In the spring term students will learn to accurately draw the proportions of the face by producing a self-portrait using tone. They will then research and investigate portraits by Paul Klee, Vincent Van Gogh, Amedeo Modigliani and Pablo Picasso, analysing their techniques as they progress and manipulating their own photocopied portraits. Students will review and refine their portraits and decide on the technique that they feel best suits their personality. They will then produce a high quality portrait of their own in the style of their chosen artist.
Spring/Summer Term
Unit 2 – Can I believe my eyes?
“Can I believe my eyes?” is a surreal scheme of work, which begins with students being introduced to the work of Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali. Students then investigate various ways of creating ideas for their surreal painting. One example of this is to illustrate a well known saying such as ‘It’s raining cats and dogs’ or ‘Pigs might fly.’ We also look at ways of illustrating double meaning words such as ‘Burger King’ or ‘Hot dog.’ Students are then introduced to collage and create surreal collages using images from magazines, newspapers or the Internet. Again students will further develop their analytical skills, researching Surrealism and working as a group to prepare a resource that will help to teach other students about the work of the Surrealists.
This unit has been a real hit with students! They have enjoyed this opportunity to be really imaginative and have created some very successful paintings. Many based on their own dreams!