Insects on Flowers- Georgia O'Keefe Inspired Watercolor Paintings

Insects on Flowers

 

Last Year’s second graders learned about insects in their classrooms and then created these beautiful water color paintings in the Fine Art Studio.  Students learned about “zooming in” to create interesting compositions, overlapping to create space (an element of art), warm and cool colors, and blending water color paints.

 

MA Frameworks-2.6 For space and composition, explore composition by creating artwork with a center of interest, repetition, and/or balance Demonstrate an understanding of foreground, middle ground, and background

1.1 Use a variety of materials and media, for example, crayons, chalk, paint, clay, various kinds of papers, textiles, and yarns, and understand how to use them to produce different visual effects 1.2 Create artwork in a variety of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) media, for example: 2D – drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, weaving; 3D – plastic (malleable) materials such as clay and paper, wood, or found objects for assemblage and construction 1.3 Learn and use appropriate vocabulary related to methods, materials, and techniques

City Reflections

 

Second Grade Cityscapes

 

Second graders are learning about communities in their social studies curriculum, so we created cityscapes in art!  We learned that most urban areas develop near water as this is a valuable natural resource people need to survive. 

 

Second grade artists were introduced to the “artist trick” of drawing overlapping to create the illusion of depth.  Notice how some buildings appear closer to the viewer with other buildings behind them. 

After drawing and coloring with markers, cityscapes were sprayed with water to dilute the ink.  Then we pressed the image creating a reflection and helping students understand the concept of symmetry in art and our world.

 This is another inspiration from Christie over at Fine Lines.  Thanks again, Christie!

MA Visual Arts Frameworks: 1.1 Use a variety of material and media. 1.2 Create artwork in a variety of two-dimensional media. 2.4 Explore the use of shapes and forms in 2D and 3D works. 2.5 For pattern and symmetry, explore the use of patterns and symmetrical shapes in 2D and 3D works.

Jim Dine inspired Value Texture Hearts

 

 

Jim Dine Inspired Texture Value Hearts

Second graders learned a bit about pop artist Jim Dine.  They were also introduced to value and how it can be used to create the illusion of form (more on this in fourth grade).  Then we reviewed texture and how artists use actual or implied texture in their work.

We glued crinkled tissue paper for our backgrounds and then considered contrast and desired effect when selecting the colors to make our hearts.  Most students chose to use a complimentary color, or opposite side of the color wheel combo, to make their hearts really pop!  Students choose a light, medium and dark value of their selected colors and learned to blend using oil pastels.  The oil pastel hearts were then added to the tissue backgrounds and outlined with black to create additional contrast.  Enjoy!

This lesson was developed and borrowed all the way for Australia and shared via an awesome blog Use Your Colored Pencils.  Thanks for sharing!

Insects on Flowers- grade 2

Insects on Flowers

Second graders learn about insects in their classrooms, and we created these insects on flowers chalk pastel sun catchers in the Fine Arts Studio.  Students were introduced to the basic body structure of all insects (head, thorax and abdomen and six legs), scientific drawings, and the importance of insects in the web of life.

Finally it was time to create!  Second graders began by planning an interesting composition using cropping or “zooming in,” overlapping to create space (an element of art), warm and cool colors, blending with chalk pastels, and creating emphasis in art.  This unit was PACKED! 

Completed artwork was coated with baby oil to blend colors and create a translucent effect so the art could be appreciated in a window display.  With the sun shining through, these pieces are stunning!

MA Frameworks-2.6 For space and composition, explore composition by creating artwork with a center of interest, repetition, and/or balance Demonstrate an understanding of foreground, middle ground, and background 1.1 Use a variety of materials and media, for example, crayons, chalk, paint, clay, various kinds of papers, textiles, and yarns, and understand how to use them to produce different visual effects 1.2 Create artwork in a variety of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) media, for example: 2D – drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, weaving; 3D – plastic (malleable) materials such as clay and paper, wood, or found objects for assemblage and construction 1.3 Learn and use appropriate vocabulary related to methods, materials, and techniques

Native American Inspired Necklaces

Pinch Pots- Second grade

 

Second Grade Pinch Pots

 

Second graders created these beautiful clay pots using the pinching method.  Students started with a ball of clay and used their thumbs to begin the bowl shape.  Then they carefully pinched out the walls concentrating on pulling the clay up toward the top to create even walls and avoid bottom heavy pots.  Even thickness is important for clay pieces to avoid cracking when drying and firing.  These pots were then painted with acrylic paints, decorated with black marker and topped with a gloss coat.

 

MA curriculum Frameworks- 1.1 Use a variety of materials and media, for example, crayons, chalk, paint, clay, various kinds of papers, textiles, and yarns, and understand how to use them to produce different visual effects 1.2 Create artwork in a variety of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) media, for example: 2D – drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, weaving; 3D – plastic (malleable) materials such as clay and paper, wood, or found objects for assemblage and construction 1.3 Learn and use appropriate vocabulary related to methods, materials, and techniques 1.4 Learn to take care of materials and tools and to use them safely 2.4 For shape and form, explore the use of shapes and forms in 2D and 3D works 5.2 Classify artworks into general categories, such as painting, printmaking, collage, sculpture, pottery, textiles, architecture, photography, and film

 

 

Self Portraits, Second Grade

Second Graders created the same project as the kinders for our Original Works Fundraiser this year.  I questioned doing the same unit at first, but I am so glad I did!  I love seeing the difference in style just a couple of years makes!

These were made using Sharpie on white paper.  The tie-dyed textured backgrounds were created by bleeding colored tissue papers onto white paper and then peeling it away when dried.  The results are fantastic!

 This little guy's background (above) was done with watercolor.  Don't you just want to squeeze him?!