Here are some of the thirty-six paintings created by my 2023-2024 8th grade Studio in Art students. They used my images taken at Vince’s Gourmet Imports, an Italian grocery store and deli in North Syracuse, New York.
These are acrylic paintings. Students were graded separately for drawing and composition versus paint application due to the timing of the lesson – half was in first quarter and the other half was in the second quarter of the school year.
My trick, as always, is to mix raw sienna into each color. White first, then raw sienna, and then whatever mix will get them the desired color. I first put a raw sienna wash on each of these 16″ x 20″ canvas panels. This helps students with darks and lights, helps them to maintain a good contrast.
It was also encouraged to mix a color’s complement to it to get a darker hue rather than adding black, which is something that confuses students due to early lessons of tints and shades.
They did a really great job this time around. I think this is the third time I used Vince’s photos for the still life painting. These past few days waiting for the last stragglers to finish the project and steering the others into the next project were rather challenging, but we got through it.
Monday marks the debut of second semester. On deck: India Ink, clay and possibly papier-mache. 
