Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Old Sepia Photos by Kathy Cunningham ’ve always been fascinated by old photographs. As I look at them, I wonder about the people. Who were they? What were their lives like? Where was this photo taken? A moment in time is frozen forever, for all to see. After a relative passed away, I was left with photo albums of scenes and people from long ago. Many of the people were strangers, yet I felt interested in their photos. Unloading a shipment of new supplies, I came across multicultural markers, crayons and pencils in all shades of brown, and an idea took shape. We could make our own “photographs” by drawing with these colors! I explained this idea to my fifth-grade classes and they were enthusiastic. I urged them to bring in old photos, and I showed them my old family albums. Usually when I request something from home, they forget and make excuses. This time they were excited! We had old wedding pictures, pictures of grandparents and old baby pictures. I also went to the librar y and took out books on period clothing, historical dress, and other books showing hairstyles and hats. We had our sources. Now the students needed some facial drawing skills. I gave a lesson on drawing the face, facial structure, proportion and drawing the eyes, nose and mouth. We drew the face and shoulders to fill a piece of 9" x 12" paper. I instructed students to start out with an oval, then take about one-third off the top of the head for the hairline. Now, divide the rest of the head into thirds. Eyes are almond shapes. Eyeballs should touch top and bottom—and not “float.” Don’t draw every eyelash! Don’t forget eyebrows. Simplify the nose and nostrils to basic lines. The ends of the mouth should not go further than the middle (pupil) of the eye. Lips should line up with nostrils. I showed the students how to add hair, instructing them to draw the hair so it “lifts” above the top line of the head. Then, the ears are between the eyes and nose. To finish it up, shoulders should extend out about half the size of the head on each side. When the initial drawing was done, we used the different shades of the multicultural crayons, markers and colored pencils. At first it was difficult for the students to think in terms of only monochromatic colors. (What? No black? No red?) But they soon understood and stayed within the sepia22 I Thinking in terms of monochromatic colors, students used their drawing skills in creating portraits with a nostalgic feel. march 2010 x www.ar tsandactivities.com