Core Skills Analysis
Art and Visual Literacy
- Romi learned to distinguish between cartoon and realistic art styles by visually representing them side-by-side.
- He practiced symmetry and balance by dividing the drawing with a central line and maintaining proportionality on both sides.
- The activity encouraged observational skills as Romi translated realistic features into their cartoon equivalents.
- Romi developed fine motor skills and control while executing two different drawing techniques in a single image.
Tips
Encourage Romi to explore both art styles further by creating a collection of characters that mix cartoon and realism in new ways. Introduce simple anatomy and proportion lessons to deepen his understanding of realism. To extend creativity, challenge him to write a short story about the character, imagining how their cartoon and realistic halves might behave differently. Additionally, experimenting with different media such as colored pencils or digital tools could enhance his appreciation of texture and color in both styles.
Book Recommendations
- Drawing Cartoons and Comics For Dummies by Brian Fairrington: A beginner-friendly guide that introduces cartoon drawing techniques and comparing styles.
- The Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas by Fiona Watt: A creative resource full of art projects including cartoons and realistic drawing techniques suitable for young artists.
- Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Faces by Ed Emberley: Shows step-by-step how to draw faces in a simple and fun way, bridging cartoon and realistic features.
Learning Standards
- Art & Design - Produce creative work exploring ideas and recording experiences (KS1 - Years 1 & 2, National Curriculum, 2014)
- Art & Design - Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
- English - Develop spoken language skills by describing and discussing artwork (Year 2 speaking and listening objectives)
Try This Next
- Worksheet: Match cartoon features to realistic anatomy parts with labeled diagrams.
- Drawing prompt: Create another 'split character' using animals or superheroes integrating both art styles.