Lane Tech Art Studio : Visual Journals

Students in both Honors Painting and Honors Art 1 are engaging in bi-weekly homework assignments called Visual Journals. Myself and other art teachers at Lane got the idea and format from the IB (International Baccalaureate) art curriculum. The assignment asks students to use a two-page spread in their sketchbook to respond to a theme in any way they choose.

Response to the theme "Childhood"

Before we got started on the Visual Journals at the beginning of the year, I asked students to explore some materials and techniques in their sketchbook, without a plan. I set up the room so that each table was a different materials station. The students tried blowing ink with straws, how pastels and watercolor reacted to each other, black-out poetry with found text, using tape as a resist, altering old photos from a yearbook, and cutting out an image and then using the reverse as a "surprise" image.

The hope was that students would use some of these techniques to address visual journal themes in their sketchbook. I also have Visual Journal process/technique ideas posted in the classroom.

Visual Journal responses to the theme Childhood:

Students are given points using 4 criteria:
1. Did the student respond to the theme in a way that is apparent to the viewer?
2. Did the student completely use the space of both pages in the sketchbook to respond to the theme?
3. Does the student's work demonstrate an investment of time and care?
4. Did the student use at least more than one material (mixed media) in a sophisticated way?

Response to the theme "Everyday"

Responses to the theme "Everyday"

Responses to the theme "Dreams"

Visual Journals about "Secrets/Hidden"

I wanted to highlight this ongoing sketchbook exploration because my students seem able to express their ideas and they are so creative in their responses. I will continue to post more sketchbook examples of Visual Journals throughout the year.

I am learning a great deal about my students through these sketchbook entries. It is really wonderful to see how everyone interprets the theme differently, making it their own, and applying diverse materials in unique ways.

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Students engage in a "Gallery Walk" to observe and appreciate the Visual Journals made by their peers

Visual Journals about "Obsession"

This theme produced some really powerful journals. Students explored so many different approaches and relationships to the theme. Very different obsessions such as video games, body image and disorders, personal crushes, and even a love for chocolate were represented.

Visual Journals on theme of "Location"

Visual Journals on the theme of "Contained"

Visual Journals about "Portrait"
I thought it might be interesting for the students to further their understanding of what a portrait can be, as they completed a traditional portrait in pencil during class time. Many literal and non-literal solutions came to fruition including a portrait of a specific person, a portrait of a moment, a portrait of a sport, a portrait of a relationship and general explorations of identity.