The grade 9 and 10 students are currently working on the unit Identity.

The GRASPS for this unit are:

• GOAL: Create work that expresses your unique identity through visual means
• ROLE: Visual Artists
• AUDIENCE: Museum curators and the museum visitors
• SITUATION: you have been asked to create an exhibition that explores identity and diversity by the Bern Kunst Museum as part of a pre – Museum Nacht event at ISBerne
• PRODUCT: You will create an artwork that explores identity 
• STANDARDS: A Investigation, B Developing, C Creating, D Evaluating

This exercise focuses on:

• Criteria B Developing:  “students practically explore ideas to inform development of a final artwork or performance”, students experiment with different media, styles, and techniques while practicing observing their own facial features.
• Criteria D Evaluating: “students reflect on their development as an artist”, students reflect on how the exercise went, how they felt while working, and how they improved by making multiple small works

Purpose of the exercise:

I initially had planned this as a warm up exercise, before moving on to measuring the facial features and discussing the structure of the skull. However, once the students got started they were very engaged and said they needed this today.
This exercise helps students to loosen up as the media and technique can be unpredictable. I encourage the students to embrace what happens on the paper, to be curious and to not focus on the final outcome. At the end of the lesson they take some time to reflect on how they have improved while making three or four drawings.

Materials:

• Indian ink
• Brushes and dip pens
• Cartridge paper
• Water
• Palettes or dishes

How it works:

I have a document camera so students can easily see my demonstration.
I make several washes of different values by mixing ink in water on my palette. Then starting with the lightest wash, I create a head shape, working to darker values while looking at a photograph or mirror. Finally I use pure ink for the core of darkness and the dip pen to add lines.

I work quickly on two pages to give washes a change to dry and while pointing out different effects and how the media responds.

It turned out the be a rather meditative exercise. Some students started out being very critical of their work, but by redirecting some of the self talk they were able to see how they improved and what went well.