Thursday, March 11, 2021

Constructing a Hero with Hebru Brantley

Today, in a world of COVID-19, society has highlighted heroes who are working on the front lines of this pandemic. Whether they are working 20 hour shifts at a hospital or picking up groceries for an elderly neighbor, their dedication and selflessness has redefined what it means to be a hero. They are helping the sick, keeping us safe, and comforting those who have lost loved ones during these uncertain times. 

In this week's project, you will consider these questions:

What does a hero look like to you? 

How can you be a hero? 

How have you been helping others?

One Chicago artist challenges the traditional view of a hero.  Hebru Brantley grew up in Chicago.  He enjoyed coloring books, watching cartoons, and reading comics. Inspired by his heroes like Captain America or the Tuskegee Airmen, Brantley created his own cast of heroic characters.  They appear in his paintings on buildings, walls and canvases!  

His two main characters are named Fly Boy and Lil Mama. 

They are children with a fluid ethnicity, they have real or imaginary powers, and  they wear goggles and aviator hats. While they look like children, Brantley wants the characters to be taken seriously. By creating heroes, he reminds audiences there are individuals out there who are protecting and watching over us. 


Much like Brantley’s work, we can find heroes in all walks of life. However, today, COVID-19 has redefined what a hero is and brought new ones to the forefront. Let’s take a look at what a hero is...



Follow along with Ms. Ammons to create your own hero inspired by Hebru Brantley!

Part 1:  Make a brick background!




Part 2:  Create your hero mural!

Don't want to create your own unique hero?  Here is a simple step-by-step to drawing a basic hero.  You can also do a little research for inspirational images like I did, or you can use your best ANIME skills!  Watch the video below to work with Ms. Ammons.




To turn in work, copy this code:  WCCP-WSTF


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