8th Grade Project: Value Unit 4 - Black and White Painted Portraits

For their final project the 8th grade works on a black and white acrylic self portrait. This assignment represents the culmination of the students work in the value unit.

Students begin this project with a grid drawing of their face. This grid drawing is laid in on the canvas the students will paint on.

After the work on their grid portrait is finished the students will begin the painting by working in the large flat tones such as skin, hair, shirt, and background. After their flat tones have been laid in the next step will be to add value to these flat tone areas.

This project is a time consuming one, the students will often be painting for at least 6 class periods - but even this amount of class time does not represent much time in terms of painting. The students adapt though and truly do a very good job even in this shortened time table.