Black and White Husky Project
The objective of this project was to guide students through the process of rendering a full portrait from start to finish, with a focus on mastering value, texture, and tonal contrast using the most extreme ends of the color spectrum — black and white. Students were challenged to capture subtle variations in light and shadow, including the delicate task of portraying “white on white,” while also achieving the deepest, most accurate blacks possible based on their reference images. The level of skill, patience, and attention to detail they demonstrated was truly remarkable — I was blown away by their talent and dedication.
Class of 2025-26 - Grade 12
I am especially proud of this group of students. They were assigned this ambitious project at the end of the school year, during a time when academic demands were already exceptionally high. A realism piece of this scale required over 12 hours of focused work—far more than what could reasonably be completed during class time alone. Many students dedicated additional hours outside of class to bring their work to completion, and even those who were unable to finish demonstrated remarkable skill, perseverance, and commitment throughout the process. I am deeply grateful for their effort, resilience, and willingness to fully engage in the challenge.
Class of 2024-25 - Grade 12
I was blown away by the level of skill and talent in this class. Not only were most students able to complete the project, but they also demonstrated an incredible amount of patience, perseverance, and commitment throughout the process. Witnessing this level of artistic growth and ability—some of which even surpasses my own—is always deeply inspiring. Seeing students push beyond what they thought they were capable of is one of the greatest privileges of teaching.
