Peter Max
Figure Studies
Students will become inspired by American
Pop Artist Peter Max, draw models of
students in the classroom and color them in
with abstract patterns.
Students will be able to make better pieces of
art after they experiment with pattern and
creating abstract figures with color
Objectives- Students will be able to
• draw from
observation - make
several figure studies
• work on figure
proportion
• gain appreciation for
work of Peter Max 1960s artwork
• explore pattern and
color in creating an
abstracted figure
composition
Project Summary
• This project will use contour figure studies
from class observation. Make at least 5
contour studies of parts of the figure to
whole body studies. No shading is to be
used and only line to describe the details
of the figures. Overlapping the drawings
using tracing paper will give you an
abstracted look at 3 or more contours and
colored pencil will be used for the shapes
created by the overlapping figures.
Assessment Rubric
Student Name:
Class Period:
Assignment: Abstract figure - Peter Max
Date Completed:
Circle the number in pencil that best shows how well you feel that you
completed that criterion for the assignment.
Excellent
Good
Average
Needs
Improvement
Criteria 1 – Contour figure studies
10
9–8
7
6 or less
Criteria 2 – Aesthetic arrangement of figures - composition
10
9–8
7
6 or less
Criteria 3 – Rendering of patters - use of color
10
9–8
7
6 or less
Criteria 4 – Effort: took time to develop idea & complete project? (Didn’t rush.)
Good use of class time?
10
9–8
7
6 or less
Criteria 5 – Craftsmanship – Neat, clean & complete? Skillful use of the art
tools & media?
10
9–8
7
6 or less
Rate Yourself
Your Total
Total: 50
(possible points)
Student Comments:
Teacher Comments:
Grade:
Teacher’s Rating
Teacher Total
Proportion: What do you know?
• Proportion, such as in the body, is the study of
relation of human body parts to each other and
the whole, essential for depiction of the overall
figure.
• Scale: The size of an object in relation to an
ideal or normal size
• How many heads high is the human body?
• Before you independently start drawing models,
let’s set up a figure study together and practice
on Contour Drawing & Proportion
• There are several discrepancies about the true
Golden Mean of the human body. Some people
state it can be anywhere from 7 to 8 ¾ heads
tall. But for the sake of all arguments, we will
draw our bodies as 6 heads tall.
Drawing paper 9” x 12”
Erasers
Rulers
Pencils or other drawing tools
Handout of average human body
proportions
The Human Body is 6 heads tall (from
the top of the skull to the chin)
• Lightly
sketch on
paper
guidelines for
human figure
(horizontal
lines to
measure 6
heads tall.)
1
2
3
4
5
6
Sketch parts of body in correct positions
Refine drawing to present
proportions. It should be a
CONTOUR drawing –
meaning hardly pick up the
pencil and focus on the
outside edge.
Your 2’o clock partner can
model for you and then
vice versa.
Afterwards, Erase
guidelines and complete
drawing in chosen medium
(markers, crayons, colored
pencils, etc.)
1
2
3
4
5
6
Assessment:
• Did student draw a
figure in correct
proportion and create
a contour drawing?
• Using the rules
of Proportion,
create a contour
drawing of this
model sporting
Peter Max
inspired
clothing.
Peter Max
Click on the link for a Max video (3:08)
Peter Max was born in Germany, but raised in
Shangai, China and other various European
countries before coming to America in the early
1950’s.
He is known for his bright vivid use of color,
fascination with Astronomy, and paintings of
celebrities, and he annually paints the Statue
of Liberty every 4th of July.
He went through several periods of his artistic
style- first by painting as realistic as possible,
then applying photographic collages, then
came about his psychedelic cosmic art, which
typically had dark outlines are subjects and
bright colors.
Materials
• Pencil #2 or HB
newsprint 12” x 18”
Procedures:
Drawing from Observation
• Make at least 5 contour studies of parts of the figure to
whole body studies. No shading is to be used and only line
to describe the details of the figures. Do some modeling
lying down and some standing for good contrast
Remember: Do not
pick up the pencil,
draw slow and
concentrate.
Do a variety of
Contour drawings
(such as a whole
body and maybe just
a head or hand.
Assessment:
• Did student draw at
least five contour
drawings in correct
proportion of full
figures and some
body parts?
doesfind
Max create
Where How
can you
Movement
by having
Emphasis
(the center
of
hisin“Umbrella
Man”
interest)
this work of
standing straight up,
Peter Max’s?
but the background
goes horizontal?
Materials
• Contour drawings from yesterday
Masking tape
Scissors
Tracing paper
Graphite sticks
Procedures:
Creating Emphasis & Movement
• 1. Take all of the contour
studies of the figure and cut
around them so that you have
only a small space from the
edge of the drawing.
2. Look at them and arrange
them in the order of your
preference good to bad.
3. Place them near to each
other and overlapping, to see
vertical and horizontal
movement and an area of
emphasis.
Tracing & overlapping new
shapes
• 4. Use a piece of tracing paper to start tracing out the
first contour drawing in the area of emphasis.
5. Next, trace another over the first to create new shapes
when they are traced together.
6. Repeat this using at least three contour studies.
7. Take the tracing paper and transfer the image with
graphite onto a new piece of 9 x 12 (or 12 x 18) paper.
8. Outline the transferred image with a black ink pen.
Assessment:
• Did student transfer at
least three contour
drawings that have
created a new piece of
art that shows
Emphasis and
Movement and outline
them?
Lucy in the Sky w/ Diamonds clip is (3:27)
• Max's visual impact on the '60s has often been compared to the
influence the Beatles had with their music.
• An animated film based on the Beatles was made in 1968
called “The Yellow Submarine.” Many people suggest that Max
worked closely with the Beatles to produce this film, but all of
the film makers denied Max’s involvement.
• But pay close attention to the images, patterns and color used
in the film clip. It is hard to make any acknowledgment that the
film makers weren’t inspired by Peter Max’s psychedelic style of
the time.
Questions to Ponder?
• What do you think a “Blue Meanie” would really
be in London in 1968
• Why do you think they had Mickey Mouse ears
on their head? What are the artists trying to say?
• What are some styled features did you see a lot
of? What were some common visual elements?
“Yes” “No” “Know”
• Can you think of anyway this film helped
influence future artists already? Think of tv
shows, channels and music.
Really get to know the artists by thinking about the Time
Period, “1968”
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Johnny Cash records, “Live at Folsom Prison”
The Green Bay Packers win Superbowl II
The Vietnam War rages.
The American Civil Rights movement: AfricanAmericans demand equal rights and begin protests.
The U.S. is being torn apart due to the war. Old vs.
young, man vs. woman, Caucasian vs. African
American. The Black Panther party and other
groups become militant activists. (Tommie Smith
and John Carlos)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated.
Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated.
“Hot Wheels” toy cars are first made
The Space Race between Russia is coming to an
end. Planet of the Apes and 2001: A space odyssey
Procedures:
Drawing from Observation
• Make at least 5 contour studies of parts of the figure to
whole body studies. No shading is to be used and only line
to describe the details of the figures. Do some modeling
lying down and some standing for good contrast
Remember: Do not
pick up the pencil,
draw slow and
concentrate.
Do a variety of
Contour drawings
(such as a whole
body and maybe just
a head or hand.
Procedures:
Creating Emphasis & Movement
• 1. Take all of the contour
studies of the figure and cut
around them so that you have
only a small space from the
edge of the drawing.
2. Look at them and arrange
them in the order of your
preference good to bad.
3. Place them near to each
other and overlapping, to see
vertical and horizontal
movement and an area of
emphasis.
Materials
• Pencil #2 or HB
Final Project paper
Colored pencils
Ink drawing pens
Optional: Pastels - collage materials
Practice
with Pattern
• Get a piece of Scratch
paper and make 12 of
your own patterns, words
and designs.
• Using Colored pencil, fill
in the shapes created by
the overlapping figures.
Be creative and apply
your new patterns!
Assessment:
• Did student create
original patterns and
color in their new
overlapped Contour
drawing with colored
pencils?
Assessment Rubric
Student Name:
Class Period:
Assignment: Abstract figure - Peter Max
Date Completed:
Circle the number in pencil that best shows how well you feel that you
completed that criterion for the assignment.
Excellent
Good
Average
Needs
Improvement
Criteria 1 – Contour figure studies
10
9–8
7
6 or less
Criteria 2 – Aesthetic arrangement of figures - composition
10
9–8
7
6 or less
Criteria 3 – Rendering of patters - use of color
10
9–8
7
6 or less
Criteria 4 – Effort: took time to develop idea & complete project? (Didn’t rush.)
Good use of class time?
10
9–8
7
6 or less
Criteria 5 – Craftsmanship – Neat, clean & complete? Skillful use of the art
tools & media?
10
9–8
7
6 or less
Rate Yourself
Your Total
Total: 50
(possible points)
Student Comments:
Teacher Comments:
Grade:
Teacher’s Rating
Teacher Total
Objective for today:
• Complete your figure
study - Using Colored
pencil, fill in the shapes
created by the
overlapping figures. Be
creative and apply your
new patterns!
• Refer to your final rubrics
and I will be playing
another Yellow
Submarine clip to help
inspire you with your
abstract psychedelic
designs
Click for Yellow Submarine Clip (9:59)