Teacher Reflections: Chuck Close Paintings

I can honestly say I have no idea what happened to this week. It seemed to zip by in a blur. So, I'm only able to talk about the latest assignment with 8th graders.

Looking at Chuck Close and his styles, students split up into groups and designed large paintings from photographs that they took. We used iPads for cameras and their photo needed to show a body part from each person of the group. Then, we used a grid technique to transfer the image over.

When it came to painting, they divided their warm colors from cool colors and chose which color group to place in the background and foreground. I place a stipulation on their painting by challenging the students to alter their colors every time the grids change. On top of the grids, they'll apply their own designs onto their grids.

The more successful paintings were the ones with smaller grids. One perspective I didn't anticipate was how impersonal the students are feeling about this project. They had just come off of 3 or 4 projects where their personalities were applied into making art meaningful, and I feel like they are distant from these art pieces. If I approach this project again in the future, I need to get them to find meaning in this.

#teachingreflections #jrhigh #chuckclose #painting