Secondary Art Instructor
Quinn Butterfield has 4+ years experience in teaching secondary Studio Art and Graphic Design. Her approach to teaching focuses on hands-on disciplinary project based learning and the inclusion of all students. Quinn designs her own curriculum and works with students to create exemplary works of art. See examples of some of the projects she has taught over the past four years including student work. Interested in teaching or learning more about art? Check out The Studio Art Classroom.
"Community: Fernando Llort and the Unity of Central America and Pico Union"
Students began this project by studying public art and formally analyzing famous works of public art in LA. Students then studied Fernando Llort, the former national artist of El Salvador known for his work with the community, and the connection between Central America and Pico Union. Students began working in groups to come up with a sub-theme that represents LA/their experiences in some way and a positive message that they want to send into the community. Each of their designs includes motifs found in Llorts and ties to Central America and LA. Students used critical thinking in order to brainstorm their design and intent. Students worked together to refine their design and worked in Photoshop to render 2D and 3D versions of their design. Students created a formal proposal and portfolio of their design and execution plan that they presented to Council Member Gil Cedillo at City Hall. Their hard work paid off and all of their designs were approved on the spot. Students then worked together to prepare stencils and other tools to help them execute their designs efficiently. For two weeks, each group spent the entire day painting their Utility Box in the Pico Union area, forever leaving their positive mark and giving back to their community by spreading words of positivity and beautifying Pico Union.
the People Behind the Paintings
For this project, students learned fundamental drawing skills and studied the elements of art; line and shape. Students learned how to formally analyze works of art, how to conduct research and ‘read’ art pieces in order to become experts on an assigned artist and identify commonly used motifs by that artist. Students learned the life behind the famous artist they studied and how their life experiences and culture influenced their art and in turn, influenced others. In this project, students studied and interpreted art, created their own art piece, wrote a biography, and presented their work to the class.
Memorial Mural
In 2020 one of our loved staff members passed away due to Covid-19. The art club got together and decided to create a mural to memorialize him and pay tribute to his contributes to the school and community. The students worked together to plan and execute the mural and held a service for his family.
Masked Self Portraits
For this project, students started by learning to draw the basic proportions of the face by creating a facial map in their sketchbook. Students also learned how art can be used for social change and how to analyze a work of social justice art. Students then learned how to use the grid method in order to draw accurately and in correct proportion. Using the grid method, students drew the contour line outline of their portrait based on a selfie they took of themselves wearing a face mask. Students then learned about the element of art, value and practiced shading in order to create an illusion of form. Students then shaded in their final self portrait. For their masks, students chose a social issue they are passionate about, researched it, brainstormed symbols and words related to the issue, and added their social justice message to their mask in order to bring about change through art.
Digital Mosaics
Graphic Design and Studio Art students both completed this project. Students chose and researched a famous painting and then used only google draw to create a digital mosaic. This project was accessible to students in person and those doing elearning.
