High School Studio Lesson
Scratching
The drab, cold days of winter were not helping to motivate my painting students. Still-life work appeared forced, tight,
and overworked. Thinking back to a
unit on German Expressionism done
earlier in the semester, I wanted students to recapture their enthusiasm
and apply a fresh, emotional approach
to their work. The ice storm that
cancelled school one day provided a
resource and inspiration in the form
of a downed white birch in my front
yard. I remembered a colleague remi-
Linda Bartholomeo
niscing about a college professor who
had them paint with sticks. Soon I
was outside with my pruners, much to
the amusement of my neighbors!
An Unusual Request
Prior to the start of class the next day,
I moved the desks to the perimeter of
the room to leave a large open space.
Three still-life compositions were set
up on the floor in different areas of
the room. I kept them simple, using
only plants and bottles. As students
arrived, I instructed them to each
take five sheets of 18 x 24" ( 30 x 45
cm) white drawing paper, a disposable
plate of watered-down black tempera
paint, a 3' (90 cm) stick, and a few
pieces of masking tape (to hold down
their papers).
