Can anyone help with DD's art homework?

[CoodleMoodle]

DD is in Y7. She's done very well so far with her homework, completing it independently etc.

However, she's been given a piece of art homework which has driven her to tears. DD is a perfectionist and is terrified of doing it wrong/getting into trouble. I've tried to reassure her but it's not helping and at this point we just need to get it finished. It's not even due for a week but she wants to get it done, which I'm proud of her for (I was very much a "night before" kid!).

They've given her half of a drawing of a bug, which is quite intricate and detailed. She has to fill in the other half. First she tried to do it by eye, but that didn't work. I scanned it in and flipped the image so she could try and copy the side she's meant to be drawing, that didn't help. Out of desperation I suggested she traced it and DH suggested she use her light box, but that didn't make it any easier. She's quite arty and normally enjoys drawing but this has sent her into such a spin.

We looked online for a higher quality version of the image but I imagine it won't be any clearer if we print that off for her.

Does anyone have any other ideas? Not doing it is NOT an option for DD. She absolutely could not cope with that. When she was in Y1 she had to recreate the painting Starry Night, it took her about two weeks and caused so much drama even after her teacher told her not to worry about doing it!

I'll attach the image (might not show up straight away), they've given her the left side and she has to fill in the right side.

Firstly, I’m sure there are multiple ways of doing this homework. Was the instruction to try to copy exactly the other side? Or to do their own response for the second side? If it’s the latter, I wouldn’t worry too much about perfection! A lot of art is about letting go - especially for teens who are scared of getting it wrong. If possible, I’d photocopy the sheet and encourage her to experiment by doodling for one (maybe not lifting pen), drawing with left hand for another, drawing just in straight lines for another- anything goes.
For copying exactly, two techniques id recommend- you can trace the outline for the second half by putting the side you have up against the window (like a light box). The other technique is to draw a grid over the first half, replicate the grid on the second half- and that should help her to proportionately copy.

Use grid paper so you can break it down into sections to make it easier. This is what my DC does.

There’s a trick using glass or plexiglass. But I’d not do same same, after copying the outline I’d do the filling in textile, seed beads or pasta

Just trace the lines on the first half with a softish pencil, then fold in half and shade over the lines on the back of the paper. Unfold and you’ll have the print.

Are you sure she’s supposed to copy it exactly? If not, then I’d use string and material glued down to create the lines and swirls. Could have a lot of fun with with.

Thanks all. DD is adamant that it has to be as close as possible to the original - she is very literal and will not be swayed! But I will give her some of your suggestions and see what she says.

This is the assignment. She had a similar one last time (copy a bug) and that didn't upset her at all, but it was nowhere near as detailed! This has been hanging over her for a few days and she's getting so het up about it. Perfectionism is hard!

Image is under review! In the meantime it says:

Task: Complete the bug symmetry drawing.
Start with lightly drawing the basic line and shapes. Once your outline is done focus on adding TONE, TEXTURE, and MARKMAKING.
Keyword
Symmetry is achieved when visual elements are mirrored on both sides ofacentre line.

She's done the shape of the bug but it's adding the details that's vexing her.

The teacher will want to see her linework and shading, she doesn't have to be perfect but it's to show how well she does at them. So lots of focus on texture and shading but not needing to be absolutely perfect just showing what her ability is.

Some great suggestions already given.
It's definitely to see what she can do to shade and add texture.
As a side note, I would let school know how this has affected her. This level of perfectionism is hard to manage and if the teachers know, they can either adapt the work or make sure your dd is given a specific instruction so she knows it doesn't actually have to be perfect.
Sincerely, a perfectionist and mother of a daughter who is also a perfectionist, highly anxious and as things at school got harder, things became really difficult if the teacher didn't get it.

Could she grid the paper lightly, so that she can get the points of the pattern in symmetry and go from there?

Maybe this is a lesson she needs to learn that she cant be perfect at everything. Saying that, use grid paper it makes it a lot easier.

I think that’s really hard 😳 I was pretty crap at art at school (still am) and also always tried hard and wanted to get it right. Knowing I didn’t have a hope of doing so would have stressed me out too.

Sorry, no suggestions other than what is suggested already. I’d have gone for tracing and then rubbing over with a pencil to get a mirror image as suggested above.

Do you have any tracing paper? Lay the tracing paper over the image of the bug and use a pencil (no harder than an HB) to copy the bug. Don’t go into too much detail but if you get shape of bug, the main areas of detail, not too much shading. Once you’ve got the bug drawn out and she feels happy with it, flip the tracing paper over so you line up along the middle. The bug you have just drawn should be face down on the paper. I would use a piece of masking tape to hold the trace in place. Then, using a pencil, scribble over the back. It helps to lean the pencil so you use the side of the lead. This process will make an imprint of the bug you drew on the tracing paper onto the plain paper below it. Once you’ve scribbled all over the back, lift the tracing paper off. Hey presto - you’ve got a pretty accurate copy of the bug half that she can work in to, shading and adding other elements. You can also lightly use a rubber to remove any unwanted smudges. Hopefully she’ll find this a very satisfying technique that’ll give her a really lovely result. Good luck - would love to see the final art work!

I was about to suggest completing the bug in a different way, even using collages, paint and make it look colourful and totally different. It would be a marvellous artistic statement of difference and exploration (who wants to copy someone else's work anyway?!?!) But Im guessing that wouldn't go down well.
I think I would still make sure I communicate to my child that this is simply a tiny exercise that will have no impact on anyone's opinion of her and is a very narrow form of "art" and certainly not one of expression. Maybe juxtapose it with a bit of Jackson Pollack?

This is quite a difficult task for Year 7. Perhaps have a moan?

Thanks again everybody for your suggestions, I'll give them to DD tomorrow. I've effectively banned her from trying again today, it was too much. I also think it's quite hard for Y7, but appreciate the teacher isn't looking for perfection and just wants to see they've put in a bit of effort. DD absolutely doesn't see it that way!

The school are vaguely aware of her anxieties via her primary school (she is technically on the high school's SEN list even without a formal diagnosis). She's very high achieving and struggles so much with getting things wrong. For many years we've tried telling her that she can't be good at everything, not every piece of work has to be perfect, but it just makes no difference. As I said, even in Year 1 she was really struggling over things like this.

What she's really struggling with is flipping the image in her head, which is why I printed it out for her. I would massively struggle with that, too. I thought that was the obvious solution but clearly not!

This was her homework from last week and I was really impressed by it, as was her teacher! She found it fairly easy and enjoyed doing it, really took her time and had fun. This new one has just been a nightmare for her in comparison!

Wow - her Art work is fantastic!! Clearly very talented. Her bug has so much personality! Its so hard when you convince yourself you can’t do something - it feels so overwhelming. Hopefully some of the techniques mentioned will help her and she’ll be able to bring the same creativity & flair to this symmetry project.

That bug is insanely intricate - it would be exceptionally difficult to replicate to that level. I am very good at art and very good at copying things and I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere near the perfection required, so I am sure that the teacher is not expecting that for year 7.
I would probably give her a reasonable set amount of time to do it in, otherwise it could potentially take days!
I also suggest using a grid to help copy squares - draw a grid in very dark pen on a separate sheet of paper and place it underneath. Then she can work on sections of the drawing, square by square.

25 years an art teacher and we used to get the best results in the city.

That imo is a rubbish homework. The skill level is too high for y7 and doesn’t build confidence.

Also, all the homeworks we set were primary resources so drawing from actual objects. The only time they copied anything was looking at the work of other artists. And then the written annotation was the most important.

Gosh, that's hard. I think I'd do "my half" in the style of Picasso complete with eye on the side. Have some fun with it.

I'm an art teacher, I'd never set that for year 7! That's mental, how long is she expected to spend on it? Our homework is only 30 mins a subject per week at most!

Lots of good ideas with tracing, or, another option, could you just persuade her to focus on the time, say 30 mins (is there a homework guide on the time it should take?) , and do the best she's able to we ith a small section, and stop after the time is up? Write how long she spent doing that, the teacher can see what she can managing the time. If I got a homework in from a kid and they'd done an excellent job of it in that time, I'd be happy, even if it wasn't finished.

What about tracing it in pencil then flipping the tracing paper over so it lines up in the right place and then scribbling over it get print the pencil onto the paper.

Sorry, that’s a rubbish explanation, I don’t know how to explain it!

@IcantpeopleanymoreI've just had a look at the app and it says it should take 60mins to complete! I'm all for her doing her homework and putting time and effort into it, but that's crazy even to me! They do get quite a bit of time to complete it (just over a week in this case, I think) but it still seems like a very long time.

Thank you all for any further suggestions. I spoke to DD and she said she's going to have another go tomorrow. She's being quite objective about it now and can see that her reaction was a bit extreme, but I have a feeling when she tries in the morning it might go downhill again. If she really can't do it then I'll write her a note or send an email. I don't like being that parent but I'm also not having her hyperventilating over a bit of homework! Especially not in her first term of Y7. She's got enough to be dealing with!

I’d say to your dd to just do her best. Plenty in the class will hand in a crap piece of work as it’s just way too hard. Your DD’s will be amongst the better ones anyway so she shouldn't worry about something that just doesn’t matter. Art is a time zapper so unless you love it, it’s worth dropping prior to GCSE.

Instead of writing a note, I’d just do it for her. Path of least resistance.

I would pick your battles with school. This isn’t it.