I know still life units can feel a bit old fashioned, but it is such a great way to get students to work from observation and to get continue to hone their art analysis skills.

The first part of the unit is developing drawing and observational skills. We start each lesson with small timed warm up exercises such as blind drawing, continuous line drawings and value sketches. From there students create larger observational works such as still life collages and drawings focussed on different formal qualities such as value and pattern.

As part of their preparatory work, students investigate an artist and their work. I suggested Njideka Akunyili Crosby, David Hockney, Anna Valdez or Nicole Dyer, but students are free to choose their own artist as long as part of their practice they create still lifes. For the investigation students create a page spread including a formal analysis of one artwork, a brief bio and introduction and studies of two artworks or details of one artwork.

For their final work, students may use any technique or style after thoroughly planning their work by making sketches, identifying formal qualities, and explaining their rationale.