Secondary 1 – Arts: Charcoal Creation
Secondary 1 students engaged in learning about the process of charcoal creation. They were asked to illustrate objects using charcoal pencils. To begin, students received a handout detailing various types of charcoal, methods of usage and techniques for blending it into their drawings.
Subsequently, students completed an investigation worksheet by researching online to gather additional information regarding charcoal creation. This included discovering artists who utilise charcoal in their paintings and identifying challenges they face along with potential solutions when working with charcoal. The students practiced their drawing skills with charcoal by observing and sketching objects found within their classroom or from their personal belongings.
Students maintained a focus on accurately depicting objects with attention to tone and proportion. The students underwent a process of trial and error while using charcoal, applying the knowledge acquired from their teacher and their explorations. They were encouraged to seek out tutorial references online to learn shading techniques with charcoal pencils. Furthermore, a reflection session was held at the conclusion of the class, allowing students to share their experiences with charcoal drawing. The students exhibited enthusiasm for experimenting with charcoal as a medium, with some having attempted to draw objects the day prior to the visual arts class.
By providing handouts and worksheets on charcoal, the students were afforded the opportunity to broaden their understanding of this new drawing technique and its application in their creative process. The diverse activities conducted in class also granted students the freedom to independently explore charcoal, enabling them to identify challenges encountered while drawing and to seek solutions through an experiential approach. ***
