top of page

2D Design

2D Design is a high school course. It's overall objective is to study, in depth, the elements of art and the principles of design. Students complete both individual and group projects that explore creativity on a flat picture plane. Students also experiment with a variety of media forms including graphite, watercolor, acrylics, charcoal, pastels, photography, mixed media, and less conventional media also. You can view the art rubric HERE.

Week 1: Elements of art

In the first week of 2D design, students received their syllabus for the course (first file). This should be signed by both parents and students. Students will also be keeping a daily sketch calendar to get them thinking creatively as they enter the classroom. These are due monthly. Also, you will find two presentations. The first is an overview of the elements of art. The second is several famous art pieces. Please use the attached form to identify where these artists used the elements of art in their pieces.

Class Assignment: Create a composition using all of the elements of art OR a collage showing all of the elements of art.

Homework: Return Signed syllabus.  

Key Vocabulary: Line, Color, Shape, Space, Form, Texture, Value, Composition

Sketch Calendar Prompts: Tuesday-A symbol of hope, Wednesday-Fill the square with a design featuring 3 different types of lines, Thursday-draw something that shows texture (not just dots).

Anchor 1

Week 2: Line Study

During week 2, students will spend some time studying the element of line in detail and it's effect on a composition. Students will learn about Sol LeWitt, Leonardo DaVinci, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Vincent van Gogh, and Joan Miro. Class activities will include a recreation of a Sol LeWitt piece, a study of the emotional qualities of line, and an in-depth study of Sol LeWitt and his "instructions for art". Students will create their own "instructions for art" and try to create artwork from these instructions of their fellow students.

Class Assignment 1: Sol LeWitt re-creation

Class Assignment 2: Instructions for Art assignment

Class Assignment 3: Collaborative Serial Project

Homework: Return Signed syllabus.

Key Vocabulary: Contour Line, Horizontal, Vertical, Diagonal, Zigzag, Curved, Implied Line 

Sketch Calendar Prompts: Monday-draw a geometric pattern, Tuesday-create a contour line drawing of something in the room, Wednesday-create a pattern using organic shapes, Thursday-create a pattern using only line.

Anchor 2

Week 3-4: Form & value study

During week 3, students will complete their Sol LeWitt inspired serial project and present. Students will then begin their study of the element of value in art (highlights, shadows, and all of the shades in between). Students will demonstrate their understanding of value by creating drawings of objects of their choice in black and white using hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling.

Class Assignment 1: Value Scale Creation Worksheet 

Class Assignment 2: Drawing of a Sphere

Class Assignment 3: Painting of a Sphere

Class Assignment 4: Hatch, Cross Hatch, and Stippling Drawings

Key Vocabulary: Hatching, Cross Hatching, Stippling, Shadow, Highlight, Reflected Light

Week 3 Sketch Calendar Prompts: Monday: draw a shape and fill the space with hatching. Tuesday: create a shape and fill the space inside with cross-hatching. Wednesday: Create a shape and fill the space inside with stippling. Thursday: Create a shape and demonstrate the value scale within your shape.

Week 4 Sketch Calendar Prompts: Monday: No School, Tuesday: Create a shaded sphere, Wednesday: Create a shaded cube, Thursday: Create a shaded cone.

Anchor 3-4

 

Week 5-6: Value & Line Study

During week 5, students complete their value study drawings. They then start working in groups to create a large tape art composition that ties together value and line along with our social justice theme.

Class Assignment 1: 3 Thumbnail sketches of composition ideas that are tied to a social justice theme.

Class Assignment 2: Finished Tape Art Composition

Class Assignment 3: Artist Statement & Presentation

Key Vocabulary: Craftsmanship, Directional, Mark Khaisman, Erika Iris Simmons.

Sketch Calendar Prompts: Monday: Draw of sketch of a social justice themed image, Tuesday: Draw another sketch of a different social justice themed image, Wednesday: Create an decorative design of the first letter of your name, Thursday: Sketch your hand in any position.

​

Week 5 Anchor

 

Week 7: Space & Shape

Interview: Kara Walker

During week 7, students are learning about the element of space in art. Students are learning about artists Kara Walker and Beatrice Coron and their use of paper cut silhouettes to create art.

Class Assignment 1: Create a paper cut composition that shows symmetry and the use of positive and negative space.

Key Vocabulary: Kara Walker, Beatrice Coron, Positive space, Negative Space, Foreground, Background, Figure/Ground Relationship.

Anchor week 7

 

Week 8-9: Color Theory

During week 8, students are learning about color theory and color schemes. Students will be learning how different colors interact and that colors have both physiological and psychological effects on people and animals. Different colors evoke different emotions and artists can use this knowledge to create the intended impact in their art.

Class Assignment 1: Create a color wheel using only primary colors in tempura paint.

Class Assignment 2: Tryptic art using 3 different color schemes.

Class Assignment 3: Monochromatic skeleton painting using watercolors.

Key Vocabulary: Hue, Tint, Shade, Tone, Monochromatic, Analogous, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Complementary, Split Complementary, Triadic, Andy Warhol.

Anchor Week 8-9

 

Week 10-11: Midterms

Week 10 all classes will be going over the midterm exam topics to prepare for their midterm exam which will take place during week 11. All students will be given a study guide during week 10 to help them to prepare for the exam.

Anchor Week 10-11

 

Week 12: Texture

Week 12, students will be exploring the element of texture in art and how it can be used to create impact in pieces. Students will learn the difference between actual texture and implied texture and will create pieces demonstrating an understanding of both.

Class Assignment 1: Create a textured composition using materials provided or brought from home that features texture.

Key Vocabulary: Composition, Actual Texture, Implied Texture

W12 Texture

 

Week 13: Social Justice Art

Students will be introduced to the idea that art has and continues to be used, to motivate social change throughout history. A visit to the Wadsworth Atheneum will include a tour of pieces that have impacted society throughout history and how artists have used their art to inspire change and understanding. A second field trip will be to Real Artways where students will view a film and tour the gallery addressing the issue of government surveillance and privacy.

W13 SJ Art

 

Week 13-18: Final project

Brainstorming Worksheet

Weeks 13-18, students will be researching, creating, and displaying their final projects in preparation for their final exams and presentations in week 19.  For the final exam, students will be working either independently or in a group to create a one of a kind art piece that expresses a social injustice in our society today or in the past. Students will have to research artists who worked in the student's medium of interest and social justice art pieces. Students will brainstorm and create a research paper as well as an artist statement that will be put on display with their finished art piece(s). Students are expected to incorporate their knowledge of the elements of art in their art piece and explain how these helped to strengthen the meaning of the piece. A calendar of expected due dates and planning is attached to help guide students through the process.

Class Assignment 1 (Week 13): Brain storming worksheet due 4/10.

Class Assignment 2 (Week 14): Research week. Research data worksheet due 4/17. 

Class Assignment 3 (Weeks 15-17): Project Creation time. Final project due 5/8. 

Class Assignment 4 (Week 18): Artist statement due 5/10 (must be typed). Display art in the school by 5/12. 

W13-18 Final Project

 

Week 19-20: Final exam

Weeks 19-20, students will be presenting their final art projects and artist statements. Students will also be participating in a full critique of their peer's artwork. Students will reflect upon their projects and the experience. Students will look over their portfolios and reflect on their learning over the course of this art class.

​

Final Exam will take place on Tuesday May 16 with makeups on Wednesday May 17

W19-20 Final Exam
bottom of page