Students head back to the grind

Mike Sciacca

School was back in full swing this week at Dwyer Middle School

following the two week winter break.

For students in Greg Daly’s art classes it meant beginning a weeklong

assignment.

Students in his third period class Monday were undertaking the subject

of still-life drawing. On display was a guitar, guitar case and small

jar, set atop a tablecloth. Students were asked to sketch the display,

applying the techniques -- gradation, texture, proportion, value and

context -- that they had learned about in previous classes.

Proportion, he told his students, was the key to turning in a

successful still-life assignment.

“What they need to do is apply what they have learned and draw an

accurate representation,” said Daly.

Daly said he uses a standard grading system, but one that is very

subjective.

“I will take into account the effort that each student gives on this

assignment,” he said. “There are different levels of talent in this

classroom and I will take that into account, also.”

One of Daly’s most talented students is sixth-grader Lexi Terry, 11,

whose picture of a shark was on display in the classroom. Lexi said she

has been drawing since she was 3.

“I love to draw and this class has taught me a lot,” Lexi said.

An advanced art student in the third period is Sarah Sack, a

seventh-grader who said that the Christmas break had allowed her to sleep

in.

“I shouldn’t be awake for another half hour,” said the 12-year-old,

noting the clock, which read 10:30 a.m. “But I’m looking forward to this

class. Art really allows me the chance to express myself.”

As his students continued to pencil away, Daly took the classroom in a

casual stride, offering advice where needed.

“This is the first day back after break and this assignment almost can

be likened to a final exam,” he explained. “It will push them to a point,

but right now they are just doing preliminary renderings.”

* MIKE SCIACCA is the education and sports reporter. He can be reached

at (714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at michael.sciacca@latimes.com.