Grade 8

Sketchbook Assignment Term 1: Still – Life

You will be required to work on drawings in your sketchbook. These drawings are an
important part of your ongoing skill development in Visual Art Class. The purpose of the
sketchbook assignments is to make you look closely at objects/things, for you to use
your imagination, and for you to explore ideas and/or techniques that interest,
challenge, and stimulate you when you are drawing.

You will find that practice does pay off and your confidence in your abilities will
increase proportionally to the amount of effort and care that you put into your work.

You can choose the medium you wish to use, however if you are not experienced in
drawing, I suggest you begin with pencil drawings.

These sketches are to be completed at home, or in class when you have finished a Studio
Assignment, or when there is a substitute teacher. These drawings represent 15% of your
term evaluation.

You will complete 8 drawings per term.

The requirements of each drawing are as follows:

1) Each drawing must be framed. (Use a ruler to draw your frame to avoid using the
edges of the paper.) The frame should help you think about the negative space ---
which is as important as the drawing itself.
2) Each drawing must be titled, dated, and signed (underneath the drawing).
3) Use at least three edges of your drawings (objects should touch the edges of the
frame).
4) Each drawing is to have a minimum of 45 to 60 minutes of time and effort put into
them.

You will be required to complete 8 drawings for term 1: Four will be due each half term.

Here is a list of activities:

Choose 8 different ideas from the list to draw:

1) Study your feet and shoes. Draw them from different angles and different
positions.

2) Draw studies of your hands. Try a variety of positions or overlapping them.

3) Draw an imaginary place.

4) Draw your self- portrait using a mirror.

5) Draw several studies of your eyes, nose, and mouth using a mirror in a variety of
positions and poses.

6) Illustrate your favorite poem.

7) Draw a houseplant (real or artificial).

8) Draw a shoe.

9) Draw your favorite snack food.

10) Draw the interior of an object.

11) Draw your hand holding an object.

12) Draw the interior of a closet.

13) Draw the word as the shape of an object.

14) Draw the interior of a fruit or vegetable, or a piece of a fruit or vegetable.

15) Draw a grouping of leaves.

16) Draw an object from 3 different viewpoints.

17) Create a fantasy building and landscape.

18) Draw a piece of furniture and use colour to show textures and shadows.

19) Arrange a still life and draw it with shading.

20) Draw your reflection in any shiny surface.

21) Draw a metal object and everything that you see in it.
22) Draw drapery (towel, blanket, sheet, clothing, shirt, etc.) focusing on the folds and
creases, plus the shadows that are created in the folds and creases.

23) Draw yourself 50 years from now; including your surroundings and your
possessions.

24) Design a Cd cover for a group. Be creative and please do not use conventional
symbols like peace signs or pot leaves.

25) Draw a series of an animal in motion.

26) Take out a book from the library on an artist of your choice and duplicate their
work. Please include the title of the work of art and name of the artist.

27) Use colour pencils to create an Impressionistic style of landscape. Remember to

place complementary colours next to each other.

28) Go outside an draw a plant with as much detail as possible.