Year 7 Art unit titled "Material Things"

The Year 7 unit titled “Material Things” focuses on developing students’ drawing skills, particularly in observing and depicting texture. Through a combination of photography, drawing, and visual analysis, students explore the formal elements of art such as texture, tone, and line, using fabric as a central subject matter.

Key Objectives:

Exploring Texture: Students will be introduced to different types of texture, both actual and implied. They will study examples from artists like Leonardo Da Vinci, exploring how folds in fabric are represented in art across different time periods.
Photography Techniques: As part of their learning process, students will take primary source photographs of fabric, experimenting with scrunching, folding, and layering to capture interesting textures that will later be used for drawing.
Drawing from Observation: The unit emphasizes careful observation of texture, form, and tone. Over several lessons, students will create large A3 observational drawings from their photographs, using pencil to capture the intricate details of the fabric.
Developing Technique: Students will practice using varying pressures with their pencils to create depth and tone in their drawings, filling the entire page to encourage dynamic and immersive compositions. Extensions are available for students to continue working on their drawings at home to refine and improve their work.

The project fosters an understanding of texture and the ability to translate visual elements into art through both photography and drawing, helping students build foundational skills in observation and representation.