High School Art Intermediate Drawing and Painting Curriculum

Check out a preview of this intermediate drawing and painting curriculum here: Intermediate Drawing and Painting Curriculum Preview Pack

This high school art curriculum is everything you need to teach a year of drawing and painting at an intermediate level. With this project, lesson plan bundle, you won't have to plan a single day of a full year in your drawing and painting class. Shading basics, charcoal, printmaking, watercolor, mixed media, and more are covered. Designed to be taught after an Introduction to Art/Art I, and Drawing I/II class this is perfect for 10th, 11th, and 12th graders (but can be adapted to lower and higher levels).

Each lesson includes a lesson plan, supply list, vocabulary, step-by-step instructions, PowerPoints, rubrics, critique sheets, handouts, and anything else needed to complete the project. This art curriculum was created for 10th-12th grade high school art students.

All in all this curriculum includes:

• First day of school handouts
• Timeline
• Supply list
• Syllabus
• Tell me about you worksheet

Visual Journal Lesson

• Lesson plan (with a big idea, objectives, vocabulary, national middle and high school art standards, and step-by-step instructions on implementing the project)
• PowerPoint with examples
• Rubric
• Saddle Stitch Sketchbook
• PowerPoint
• Lesson plan, including big idea, goals, objectives, supply list, and step-by-step instructions.
• Saddle stitch bookbinding how to handout
• Rubric

Sketchbook Assignments

• Assigned every two weeks with the following topics:
• Found objects
• Gesture hands and feet
• Negative space study
• Value study
• Drapery drawing
• Self-portrait
• Hand holding an object
• Morphing objects
• Caricature drawing

Value Study Activity

• A lesson plan (with a big idea, objectives, vocabulary, national middle and high school art standards, and step by step instructions on implementing the project)
• Value handout
• Value and shading worksheet
• Value scale and labeling worksheet
• PowerPoint with an art history focus on Albrecht Düere and his etchings and the images the students draw for the activity
• Assignment checklist

Variations on a Theme, Series of 3 Project

• A lesson plan (with a big idea, objectives, vocabulary, national middle and high school art standards, and step by step instructions on implementing the project)
• 2 PowerPoint presentations for examples and project specifics
• Jim Dine artist research
• Value and verve worksheet
• Strong composition checklist and handout
• Project instructions handout
• Critique activity
• Critique labels
• Rubric

Gelli printmaking lesson

• Lesson plan (including the big idea, essential questions, objectives, national standards, and step by step instructions, and adapted instructions)
• Gelli print PowerPoint (also in PDF format)
• Gelli printmaking how to handout
• Watercolor techniques PowerPoint (also in PDF format)
• Watercolor assignment sheet
• Rubric
• Adapted rubric
• Critique sheet
• 2 short videos (one pulling a successful print, one pulling an unsuccessful print)

Still life watercolor project

• Lesson plan (each lesson plan includes a big idea, essential questions, objectives, art standards, supply list, and a step-by-step breakdown on how to present this assignment.)
• PowerPoint Part I
• PowerPoint Part II
• Artist research sheet
• Sketchbook assignment
• Composition tips handout
• Critique worksheet
• Rubric

Abstract and realistic study watercolor

• Lesson plan (each lesson plan includes a big idea, essential questions, objectives, art standards, writing and literacy standards, supply list, and a step-by-step breakdown on how to present this assignment.)
• 3 PowerPoint presentations (including a video demonstration)
• Artist research handout
• Critique worksheet
• Critique activity
• Rubric

Positive and Negatives Space Collage Project

• A lesson plan (with a big idea, objectives, vocabulary, national middle and high school art standards, and step by step instructions on implementing the project)
• 2 project PowerPoint, to introduce positive and negative space and the project
• Shape exploration activity handout
• Object study activity handout
• Sketchbook assignment handout
• Project guide
• In-progress Critique worksheet
• Rubric

Inviting Change Printmaking Project

• A lesson plan (with a big idea, objectives, vocabulary, national middle and high school art standards, and step-by-step instructions on implementing the project)
• Printmaking PowerPoint
• Artist research sheet
• Topic research sheet
• Sketchbook handout
• Project PowerPoint, to introduce the project
• Project handout
• Critique sheet
• Roll a critique guide
• Three sheets with different ways to participate in roll-a-critique individually, in small groups, or as a whole class
• Rubric

Color scheme object study

• Lesson plan (including the big idea, essential questions, objectives, national standards, and step-by-step instructions)
• Assignment sheet
• PowerPoint (also in PDF format)
• Rubric
• Critique activity sheet

Gesture Drawing Project

• A lesson plan (with a big idea, objectives, vocabulary, national middle and high school art standards, and step by step instructions on implementing the project)
• Art history presentation on figures in art
• Art history workbook for notetaking and activities
• 2 project PowerPoint, to introduce gesture drawing and the project
• Sketchbook assignment handout
• In-depth figure proportions handout
• Figure proportions quick guide
• Gesture drawing how to
• Project guide
• Critique sheet
• Rubric

Charcoal Architecture Project

• A lesson plan (with a big idea, objectives, vocabulary, national middle and high school art standards, and step by step instructions on implementing the project)
• Art history presentation on architecture in art
• Art history sheet for notetaking
• Artist research sheet
• Project PowerPoint, to introduce the project
• 2 warm-up assignments handout
• Project guide
• Critique sheet
• Critique label
• Rubric

Robert Longo Self Portrait Project

• A lesson plan (with a big idea, objectives, vocabulary, national middle and high school art standards, and step by step instructions on implementing the project)
• Art history presentation on architecture in art
• Art history sheet for notetaking
• Artist research sheet
• Project PowerPoint, to introduce the project
• 2 warm-up assignments handout
• Project guide
• Critique sheet
• Critique label
• Rubric

Self portrait painting

• Lesson plan pack
• PowerPoint project Introduction
• Artist research handout
• PowerPoint project day 2
• How to mix skin tone handout and sketchbook activity
• Self-portrait critique sheet
• Self-portrait superlative labels
• Self portrait rubric

Palette knife landscape painting

• Lesson plan (each lesson plan includes a big idea, essential questions, objectives, art standards, supply list, and a step-by-step breakdown on how to present this assignment.)
• PowerPoint Part I
• PowerPoint Part II
• Photo editing tips
• Artist research worksheet
• Sketchbook assignment
• Critique worksheet
• Post-It critique guide
• Rubric

Design Your Own Final Project

• A lesson plan (with a big idea, objectives, vocabulary, national middle and high school art standards, and step-by-step instructions on implementing the project)
• PowerPoint to introduce the assignment with project examples
• Rubric

Each of my classes is designed to build on the last. This curriculum builds on the lessons and techniques taught in my Introduction to Art and Drawing and Painting I courses. Check out my yearlong Introduction to Art curriculum bundled at a discount price here. Check out my drawing and painting course here.

This intermediate drawing and painting curriculum is a compilation of my semester drawing course and semester painting course. If you want the mediums and techniques separated, check out these courses.

Check out my other products here.