One big challenge for art teachers is getting students to make artwork without using online imagery. While there are occasions where online imagery is necessary (like when you need a photo of something you really can’t take yourself [you’re painting a humpback whale or whatever]), for the most part you want students to not use the internet for that. It’s hard too, as the internet provides an easy way to browse thousands of images…but ultimately it lacks originality on some level.
This assignment helps emphasize how useful your classmates are as models (obviously clothed). It reminds me of a “tableau vivant”. The project is to recreate a Jacque Louis David painting using your classmates, objects around the school and Photoshop. Admittedly, I thought most students would go for “The Death of Marat” as it requires only one model. But that wasn’t the case in my classes (although I got some really creative Marats too!).
The project can nicely tick a lot of boxes related to art history, teaching composition, using models and props, and generally thinking out of the box. I also like the idea of reinventing known things in new and interesting ways.
Here are some examples. I would be remiss not to mention that despite being famous for the Mona Lisa, the painting wing with David and Gericault in the Louvre is probably the most impressive area of the museum.
Draw, Paint, Think 