This is one of the last assignments of the year for advanced art. By this time, they are ready for a project like this. My example shows Medusa with geometric lines throughout the piece.

1. I spray painted the drawing paper first. Trust me it works.

2. Then I sketched out the Medusa bust on butcher paper and cut it out. I placed the cut out on the spray-painted paper and traced around it with pastel.

3. Then I used white acrylic paint and painted several coats.

4. I used pastels to shade. Then I painted white acrylic paint, thinned a little with water, over the pastel and it helped to create the gradations you see here in my example. It really works and is easier than mixing values with other acrylic colors.

5. Last, I detailed with colored pencil. Cool trick: if the colored pencil looks too textured, use a paint brush and water to smooth it out. The wax from the colored pencil will melt a little and you can create a fade from there.

Note: I know this sounds like a lot, but the results are amazing, and students learn a great deal of techniques in just one project.

P.S. I asked my sister-in-law if she could pose for this project because I think she has the perfect face for Greek sculptures. I asked if she would rather be a regular Greek goddess or Medusa and she said, "Medusa!". Thank you, Cassie!

This example and requirements are in the google slides.