8th Grade: From Representational to Abstract to Non-Objective

Bull V, Roy Lichtenstein, 1973

The Cow: 4 Stages of Abstraction, Theo van Doesberg, 1917

I am beyond excited to be starting this next unit with the 8th graders!  Students are learning about the differences between representational, abstract, and non-objective art works and styles of art that are umbrellaed under those types of art, including minimalism and cubism (both abstract styles of art).

When students first came into the classroom, they were instructed to draw a realistic animal of their choice.  The animal had to be drawn full-body from the side view and realistically with shading details.  The animal had to have distinguishing characteristics.

When students were done with their realistic drawings, we watched two Powerpoint presentations and we discussed the differences between representational, abstract, and non-objective art works and discussed artworks by Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso, and Theo Van Doesberg.  

Students were then instructed to draw a second picture of their same animal but to draw it with one goal:  to use as few shapes and lines as possible with the animal still being obvious to the viewer.

After some time was spent on this, they were then instructed to deconstruct their animal into shapes and colors and to create a more abstracted version of their animal so that it would not be obvious to the viewer what their animal was.

Next art class, we will be spending more time finishing up these three drawings and adding a 4th and final picture to their series.  Here are some sneak peeks of works in-progress: