In rendering the human face, we too often veer toward a flat disk onto which the major features are plopped. Faces are more akin to landscapes - sprawling planes of peaks and valleys, pools of shadow and shimmering highlights.

 

In the "Tone/Shadow Portrait" project, 7th-graders use dramatic lighting to produce a portrait rich in texture and tone. Collaging with magazine photos in a mosaic style forces students to use bold color combinations and embrace highlight/shadow.