PENCIL VS CAMERA IN SCHOOLS

This page serves as inspiration for Art Teachers and Schools around the world. Ben Heine offers free and paid resources available for Teachers and Students. Since 2013, Ben Heine also animates creative workshops in schools globally to help students sparking their creativity, honing their drawing and photography abilities, inspiring them to explore innovative technologies such as augmented reality, and motivating them to develop different forms of creative communication. His Pencil Vs Camera concept has become popular in primary and secondary schools worldwide (view some students works here). If you would like Ben Heine to carry out workshops or lectures in your school, do not hesitate to contact us.

BUY THE LESSON PLAN BY BEN HEINE

Buy the official Pencil Vs Camera Lesson Plan written by Ben Heine including drawing & photography theory and practical exercises but also games around drawing and creativity, methods and tutos for your students to master the Pencil Vs Camera concept using their own skills but also AI tools and augmented reality! 25 pages Lesson Plan, 25 hours of workshops.

FREE EDUCATIVE RESOURCES

Lesson plans from Schools (Free Resources)

Here below are some ready to use lesson plans examples based on Ben Heine Pencil Vs Camera concept for primary and secondary students from schools in the UK and France. If you’re a teacher, feel free to use or improve this material for educative purposes and share it with us.

🇬🇧 Lesson Plan 1 (En) – The Arty Teacher

🇬🇧 Lesson Plan 2 (En) – Ben Heine

🇬🇧 Lesson Plan 3 (En) – Max Art School

🇬🇧 Lesson Plan 4 (EN) – The Smart Teacher

🇬🇧 Lesson Plan 5 (EN) – Nivaca Culture

🇫🇷 Fiche pédagogique 1 (FR) – ART SMCD

🇫🇷 Fiche pédagogique 2 (FR) – La Photo Scolaire

🇫🇷
 Fiche pédagogique 3 (FR) – Mon Ecole

🇫🇷 Fiche pédagogique 4 (FR) – Des yeux Dans le Dos

🇫🇷 Fiche pédagogique 5 (FR) – Edisam

🇫🇷 Fiche pédagogique 6 (FR) – Académie de Grenoble

Pencil Vs Camera in Schools

HOW IT STARTED

Ben Heine was quickly contacted by art teachers and schools requesting to use and teach his techniques. In collaboration with Ben Heine, teachers from schools, academies and educational institutes are presenting their students Ben’s creative concepts through pedagogical worksheets to stimulate their imagination, train their drawing and photography skills, encourage them to use new technologies, augmented reality and motivate them communicate differently. Ben Heine’s work also allows teachers to discuss the differences between reality and imagination and highlight the schools or city of the students. The students either create their own artworks from scratch or use Heine’s images with the sketch removed to have something to start with (see below). Then they discuss the results or exhibit them in their school.

Since Heine’s creative techniques became part of art lessons in many primary and secondary schools, different art lesson plans giving instructions on how to use his concept are spread by schools and art teachers online and in books in France, Canada, China, Brazil, Jordan, Luxembourg, Russia and in the United Kingdom (see examples below). Ben Heine gives frequent interactive workshops and conferences in schools in Belgium, France, in Europe and Canada.

Pencil Vs Camera in Schools

EMPTY IMAGES TO TRAIN

Here are some photos by Ben Heine with the drawing removed that teachers can use for their art lessons to have something to start with for younger children (you can find others here and many on Google). Contact us if you would like to have them in HD.

SOME RESULTS BY STUDENTS

Students Talent (view many more here)

BEN HEINE WORKSHOPS

Ben Heine gives art and creativity workshops, lessons and conferences in schools, universities and cultural centers around the world. To receive a quote or for more information on how Ben Heine can interact with your school, visit this page or contact info@benheine.com.  Many associate schools, academies and educational institutes in the world teach Ben Heine creative Pencil Vs Camera concept and creative techniques to help students stimulate their imagination, train their drawing and photography skills, encourage them to use new technologies and motivate them to communicate differently. 

ASSOCIATE SCHOOLS

Ben Heine has given workshops and lectures to the following schools, universities and institutions (non exhaustive)

– Collingwood School (Canada)
– Lycée Agricole Le Balcon des Ardennes (France)
– Collège Saint Vincent (Belgium)
– Seoul University (South Korea)
– Mashrek International School (Jordan)
– Royal St. George’s College (Canada)
– École Française VAUBAN (Luxembourg)
– Crêtes Préardennaises (France)
– Colégio Medianeira (Brazil)
– Bibliothèque Provinciale de La Louvière (Belgium)
– Planetarium of Moscow (Russia)
– The King Solomon School (Israel)
– Ecole 13 Molenbeek (Belgium)
– Ecole Communale d’Éprave (Belgium)
– Max Art School (Canada)
– KCD School Denderleeuw (Belgium)
– Ecole Burbach (France)
– The Arty Teacher(United Kingdom)
– FTD Educação (Brazil)
– Beijing City International School (China)
– Bede’s School (United Kingdom)
– Poliedro Sistema de Ensino (Brazil)
– Max Art School (Canada)
– Haute École Albert Jacquard (Belgium)
– St. Mel Catholic School (United States)
– Académie de Créteil (France)
– Academy of Art University (United States)
– Laude Newton College (Spain)
– Académie de Grenoble (France)
– Colegio Menor (Ecuador)

– Ecole St Jacques de Compostelle (France)
– Académie de Clermont-Ferrand (France)
– Dover College (United Kingdom)
– Médiathèque de Miramas (France)
– Lander Valley High School (UK)
– New Hope School (London, UK)
– Ecole Evilard (Suisse)
– Ecole Renaudeau (France)
– Ecole St Jean le Vieux (France)
– Ecole de la Flotte en Ré (France)
– Ecole Lamartine Dunkerque (France)
– Ecole Coligny Poitier (France)
– Ecole St Jacques de Compostelle (France)
– Ecole Serge Lefranc (France)
– Ecole du Sacré Coeur (France)
– Ecole de Mirambeau (France)
– Notre Dame de Campénéac (France)
– Ecole Publique Saint Martin (France)
– Ecole Sainte Agnes (France)
– Académie de Nantes (France)
– Ecole de Scorbé-Clairvaux (France)

– A l’école de Barbara (France)
– Ecole Palmyr Uldéric Cordier (France)
– Ecole St Joseph – SAFFRE (France
– Collège F. Garandeau (France)
– Académie de Potiers (France)
– Académie de Dijon (France)
– Ecole de Cheney (France)
– Collège les Hauts du Saffimbec (France)

Ben Heine gives art and creativity workshops, lessons and conferences for schools, universities and cultural centers around the world.

LESSON PLAN EXAMPLE

Here below is a non exhaustive pedagogical worksheet example (art lesson plan for primary to secondary school students based on Ben Heine Pencil Vs Camera technique). You can also buy the comprehensive Lesson Plan by Ben Heine for your workshops (allowing 30 hours of teaching).

Process

In schools, Heine’s Pencil Vs Camera concept is introduced through a series of workshops and collaborative projects. Feedback from educators and students alike is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the project’s success in inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers.

The students will learn how to draw from observation, while also drawing imaginatively. They will learn basic drawing and photography skills to represent a certain place in their town or school. They will then successfully use line, form, and value to create an illustration which adds a creative or humorous twist to their photograph. The structural rules and conventions of an art form serve as both a foundation and departure point for creativity. Cognition and reflection are required to appreciate, interpret, and create. 

Ben Heine Pencil Vs Camera concept can also be used in other disciplines than Art classes for instance in the frame of Languages, Mathematics, History, Geography, Philosophy, Communication or Politics lessons). Students will be assessed about their effective drawing and photography skills, creativity (creating and completing an imaginative illustration which “continues the photograph”) and added human made value, using good craftsmanship, following directions, and participation. This lesson would probably be a good lead in to a lesson on the Dada Art or Surrealism movements.

Interactive Demonstrations: Heine or the teachers showcase the concept, sharing insights into the creative process and the ideas that drive it.

Hands-on Sessions: Students are given the opportunity to create their own “Pencil Vs Camera” artwork, applying what they’ve learned in a supportive, creative environment.

Group Projects: Encouraging collaboration, students work in teams to develop larger-scale projects, fostering teamwork and communication skills.

Exhibitions: Student work is celebrated and displayed in school exhibitions, providing a platform for young artists to showcase their creativity to peers, parents, and the wider community.

Goals

These are some goals that can be achieved using the concept:Foster Creativity: By engaging students in this art form, Heine encourages them to think outside the box, blending their surroundings with their imagination to create something truly unique.
Enhance Communication Skills: This project teaches students a new form of expression, allowing them to convey complex ideas and emotions through a combination of photography and drawing.

Develop Technical Skills: Students learn the intricacies of photography alongside basic to advanced drawing techniques, equipping them with a broad skill set.

Promote Critical Thinking: By analyzing and interpreting their own creations and those of their peers, students enhance their critical thinking capabilities.

Lesson Example

  • Show the students various images from Ben Heine’s “Pencil vs. Camera” collection
  • Have them discuss the illustrations and the artist’s method of combining imaginative and observational drawing
  • Teach basic drawing and photography skills (available in Ben Heine Lesson Plan), such as perspective and cropping
  • Have the students take pictures around their town or school, with a digital or disposable camera
  • The students will be encouraged to think critically and consider what type of drawing they are going to place on top of their photograph
  • After the photos are printed, demonstrate the process of taking a torn piece of paper and laying it strategically on top of the photograph
  • Encourage the students to consider composition and collage techniques
  • Students will select their favorite photo and begin brainstorming clever ideas on some scratch paper
  • Once their idea is approved, they may begin working
  • Discuss what it means to “continue the photograph” in their drawing, and also what it means to add an imaginative twist to the photograph
  • Demonstrate drawing and creativity skills to add a sketch of their own on top of their own selected photograph
  • Review concepts of line and form with them, and explain different ways to achieve valuable results
  • Students will tape down a small piece of drawing paper to the photograph
  • They will use drawing pencils to create their illustration and try to change the reality of the photo with their creative drawing, adding a human touch, surrealism and extra meaning to the whole work
  • After completion, the photographs will be displayed and exhibited so everyone can discuss it
Pencil Vs Camera WORKSHOPS & LECTURES​ in Schools and universities