Midterm Review for Mrs. Chahin’s Art 1 ClassIn 1893, the first commemorative stamps were issued. The first one honored the explorer Christopher Columbus. Most stamps follow the same structure by honoring a significant event or accomplishment in history. Nowadays, stamps are printed all over the world with political, artistic, historical and cultural artwork. Since stamps often bear impressive artwork and share cultural history, stamp collecting has continued as a popular hobby among people of all ages. The key to making something worth collecting is to create something rare, creative and one of a kind. For your midterm you are to create a rare stamp that honors an accomplishment memorial of your choice. This accomplishment or memorial can be personal or historical as long as you really exemplify meaningful purpose with your choice.

Here are the steps you will take to complete your midterm exam:

Thursday January 9th (plus the weekend to follow) –A few students at a time may use the computer to research some ideas. There is a small sheet of paper stapled to this which has a few websites that could help you during your research. Once you have come up with what you are going to do, you have the option of creating a 1 page word document with imagery and font styles to help you on your midterm. If you do not do this in class, you can do it over the weekend; attached in my version of this word document page. This is optional to help you, not mandatory, you may choose not to do this step but it will be the only cheat sheet of imagery you may use on your midterm. Once you have brainstormed your ideas you are to create a sketch of your final design in your sketchbook. You will probably not have time to do all of this in class, therefore your sketch will most likely become your homework over the weekend. When you walk into class on Monday January 13th you should have your sketch finalized, your imagery page if you choose, and a complete idea of what you are going to do for your final. Your midterm should be in the format of an actual stamp, however you can pick the words, price and direction of your paper according to your design and layout.

Monday January 13th you will practice the application of your medium in your sketchbook, on the sketch that you completed over the weekend. You may use black ink, colored pencils or graphite pencils to complete your midterm. You will be graded on your application of the medium so choose your medium wisely. This is practice before your final, things shouldn’t work out perfectly. Don’t be afraid to experiment, try new things and figure out what exactly you are going to do when you start your final midterm. During class, I will be giving you feedback on your sketches. This is your exam, I cannot alter your ideas the same way your math teach cannot tell you to change your answer to the correct one, I will only be giving you feedback and suggestions to hopefully better your final. Your final drawing will be done on a 9x12 piece of white drawing paper, which you will receive today if you finish your practice.

Wednesday January 15th everyone will be asked to start their final midterms on the final piece of paper. You will have the entire class on Wednesday Jan 15th and Friday Jan 17th before your midterm exam to work on your midterm. You will not be able to take your midterm home, so whatever you do not finish on those two days, you will finish on the day of your midterm.

Your midterm will be divided into 2 parts. The final piece of artwork will be worth 75% of your grade and a written portion worth 25%. You will be given the prompt for your written exam on Friday January 17th. You may complete this portion at home and bring it in on your exam day to turn in or choose to do the written portion during your midterm block on the day of your exam. Remember, you will only be given 2 hours the day of your midterm and at the end of the block your final piece of artwork and your final written exam must be turned in.

On the back you will find numerous stamp examples, use them to your advantage. Why do these stamps work visually? What makes them historically important? How did the artist take something so important and make is so simple? What layout did they use for their stamp? What layout will you use? Consider their composition. This is only a start of visual examples; don’t be afraid to take some time to research more examples to help you out. Good luck and be creative

Stamp Information and Imagery Resources:

http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/USPostageStamps/index.htmlhttp://usstampgallery.comhttp://stamps.org/Stamp-Historyhttp://values.hobbizine.com/stamps/http://www.spellman.orghttp://www.sandafayre.com/rarestamps/rareunitedstatesstamps.htmlhttp://bookriot.com/2013/08/13/mail-call-kid-lit-stamps-from-around-the-world/

Drawing Portion of Midterm – 75% of Midterm Grade

1. Student created a full layout composition considering their entire space. 15 points ____________

2. Student rendered the material of their choice to the best of their ability.

15 points ____________

3. Student crafted their text to stand out but not be distracting from their composition, and to be clean and well designed.

10 points ____________

4. Student picked a monumental event to use as the subject of their stamp and evoked the true significance of the event through their drawing.

10 points ____________

5. Student used a cost and title that was significant to their event and really pushed their design to look like a stamp worthy of being sold, collected and historical.

10 points ____________

6. Student used drawing techniques to help keep their drawings in proportion and as accurate as possible.

10 points ____________

7. Student completed their exam and used time wisely to finish everything to the best of their ability.

5 points ____________

Written Portion of Midterm – 25% of Midterm Grade

1. Student critiqued their artwork with purposeful reasoning.

10 points ____________

2. Student explained their thought process with their idea with a thoughtful explanation.

15 points ____________

Drawing Portion (75 pts) ____________ + Written Portion (25 pts) _____________= _____________