Artful Idioms

All languages use IDIOMS. 

Idioms are phrases that are familiar to people who speak that language, but whose meaning is not in the actual words. For example, if I was walking into a final exam, and I said to you, “Keep your fingers crossed!" what I really mean is "Wish me luck!" 

For this assignment, you will choose one idiom from the list below to illustrate literally - just as it sounds - rather than what it means. For example, the phrase "it's raining cats and dogs" means that it's raining very hard - it's a downpour. But for this assignment, you will DRAW the phrase as it sounds - actually raining cats and dogs (see silly image, left).
Choose one of the following idioms to illustrate.
  •  keep an eye on him   
  • never bite the hand that feeds you   
  • off on the wrong foot   
  • out of the frying pan and into the fire   
  • preaching to the choir   
  • people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones   
  • put your best foot forward   
  • roll out the red carpet   
  • sick as a dog   
  • skeletons in the closet 
  • down to the wire   
  • everything but the kitchen sink   
  • head over heels
  • bite off more than you can chew   
  • cold turkey   
  • between a rock and a hard place   
  • off the top of my head   
  • a dime a dozen   
  • a shot in the dark   
  • a taste of your own medicine   
  • a wolf in sheep’s clothing   
  • actions speak louder than words   
  • add fuel to the fire   
  • all bark and no bite   
  • barking up the wrong tree   
  • bend over backwards   
  • beat a dead horse   
  • better late than never   
  • birds of a feather flock together 
  • come hell or high water  
INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Choose ONE idiom from the long list provided below.
  2. Start by using the new thumbnail sketching skills you've learned in class to brainstorm*** five designs (5!) - possibilities for your drawing. For each possibility, choose whether you want "landscape" style or "portrait" style orientation of your page, and quickly sketch out your composition. Remember that each idea should only be a thumbnail sketch - a rough, quick sketch of what the composition might look like - the layout of your artwork. They should all be for the same idiom - so if you choose "a wolf in sheep's clothing", then brainstorm five different ways you could illustrate that one idiom. Try out a few different ways to “compose” your design. Just thumbnail sketches - quick and easy. No colour is needed at this point. Use humour!  Be creative!  These rough ideas are due next class. 
  3. Bring them to class tomorrow! Later on, you are going to choose the best of your five ideas to create a larger project. 
  4. Once you have consulted with your teacher, you will choose your strongest design to turn into a full - page drawing! 
    1. Begin by lightly sketching out the placement of your subject matter and background on a blank page. Use the lightest pencil in your art kit - the HB pencil.
    2. Remember to ZOOM IN on your subject matter - it's better to have elements of your subject falling off the page than a whole lot of blank space around the subject (like a bullseye).
    3. No cartoons or anime can be used in this drawing. You may not refer to another artist's work - this must be your own design and your own idea.
    4. The final drawing must be done in colour using coloured pencils. Coloured pencil techniques will be taught in class, so you are encouraged to practice those layering and blending techniques a little before using colour on your final artwork.

*** Once again: You need to design these ON YOUR OWN, with no internet help. You may use photographs (NOT ARTWORKS) to refer to when drawing to create more realistic proportions and textures.  Please note: any ideas copied from the internet will not be counted; this is plagiarism and is an unethical art practice.