Zentangle Still Lifes

For our Drawing Artwork in Quarter 1, we created Still Lifes with soft pastels, sharpie and zentangle designs in the background with markers.  They all look the same because we drew them with pencil first following my lead, then we added the soft pastels to the fruit while adding a light source.  Some added stippling for extra value and shading.  We also learned about line, movement, pattern and rhythm with the zentangles in the background.

Some students appreciate the Follow Me and Simon Says activities because they feel "accomplished" and able to "do it right".  However, some students would like the freedom to "do whatever" and make their own creation.  As an art teacher, I'm torn sometimes between the ones that want to follow and build confidence versus encouraging the "process, not the product" and fostering creativity, not "do as I do" artworks.  I know parents also want to see a nice product in the end, but doesn't our world need creative and innovative thinkers?  Not lemmings?

As I reflect on this, I ponder changing my curriculum (yet again) to encourage, build skill and technique and let little artists be little artists.  Yes, in the grand scheme of things, 8th graders are still little artists.  I'm 35 and still think of myself as a little artist.  Grand scheme people, grand scheme.

Here are some of our Still Life artworks.  Enjoy!