Happy 2016-17 School Year!

Things are off to a great start and we are well under way creating masterpieces in the studio.  Pictures to come shortly…  My phone went for a swim and I am sans camera for a bit, but will work around it.  In the meantime, I hope you take a minute to watch an important video about art education.

Fourth Grade Pattern Animals

Fourth Grade Zentangle Style Animals

Fourth graders learned about the art of zentangles (a meditative type of drawing that begins with a random curved line and the various sections are then developed with intricate patterns and designs).  First, we examined and practiced creating various zentangels.  Then students selected an animal of which to create a contour drawing.  Finally students used zentangle drawings to fill in the animals.  To create contrast, students selected warm or cool colors for their animal and used liquid watercolor paints from the opposite color family for their backgrounds.  This was a challenging unit and the results are impressive. 

           MA 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 2.1 For color, explore and experiment with the use of color in dry and wet media 2.2 For line, explore the use of line in 2D and 3D works Identify a wide variety of types of lines in the environment and in artwork 2.5 For pattern and symmetry, explore the use of patterns and symmetrical shapes in 2D and 3D works Identify patterns and symmetrical forms and shapes in the environment and artwork. Explain and demonstrate ways in which patterns and symmetrical shapes may be made 3.2 Create 2D and 3D expressive artwork that explores abstraction 

First grade wet on wet watercolor flower scenes

First Grade Water Color Flowers

First graders used a wet on wet technique with water colors to create the soft color effect on these paintings.  The following week students used Sharpie marker to define and enhance the flowers. 

School-wide Mural

J.W. Killam Family Tree

Year two~ Each student traced his/her hand and selected one color to decorate the hand with symbols that represent themselves or a design.  Students used colored pencils, markers, and crayons.

To view year one and the making of the tree, click here.

500 Years of Women in Art

Fifth Grade Head. :)

Fifth Grade Collaborative Sculpture

This mini unit began as an attempt to combine an introduction to bas-relief sculpture and conveying emotion through art.  Fifth Graders created these interesting faces using Model Magic.  The idea was to combine them creating a larger face showing the many emotions we all experience.  However, perhaps it was the instruction (start with the nose, push in the eyes, etc…), but MANY of the faces have a particular look that may have been better suited for a fall project…   In the end, the faces were added to the glass head (thanks for the inspiration, Mrs. Gallant) and the sculpture certainly begs for closer examination.  It makes me think of all the things spinning through our minds!  Enjoy!

Keith Haring dance Party

Fifth Grade

Keith Haring Inspired

 Dance Party!

Fifth Graders are learning about gesture drawing (quick sketches used to capture the movement or position of a figure), and what better way to practice this, than by examining the work of 80s iconic pop art/graffiti artist, Keith Haring?!  Students learned about the short life and work of Keith Haring and identified the common characteristics of his work.  Then it was on to the freeze Dance Party complete with the 80’s music of Bananarama!  Students practiced gesture drawings of classmates and then transformed those sketches into Haring-ish figures to be used in this collaborative “Dance Party” piece.  I love the fun result!

Check out Haring Kids for other great ideas!