Color Blotto Print Insect- Symmetry, Primary and Secondary Colors

Kindergarten and First Grade

 Blotto Print Insects

Students learned about the bodies of butterflies and dragonflies.  Like all insects, they have a head, torso, and abdomen.  Students began by tracing and cutting out their insect body, adding eyes to the head, and decorating the torso and abdomen with patterns.  Then they used paint squirts of primary colors (yellow, red, and blue) squished between folded paper to create their insect’s wings. 

Through this lesson students learned about symmetry, primary and secondary colors, as well as blotto printing.  The Oohs and Ahhs when the blotto prints were unfolded were THE BEST!

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 2.1

For color, explore and experiment with the use of color in dry and wet grade 4 media Identify primary and secondary colors 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.

Perspective Trees

Fifth Grade Perspective Trees 

Fifth graders are learning about life cycles in their science curriculum, so we reviewed why deciduous trees change color and drop leaves in the fall -they stop producing chlorophyll and die as the tree goes into a winter resting state. We also learned about some artist techniques to show perspective- liner placement (things lower on the page appear closer to the viewer) and relative size (larger objects appear closer to the viewer.  We used these skills and sponge painting, oil pastels, and water colors to create these unique tree pieces.  Enjoy!

MA Arts Curriculum Frameworks:  1.1 Use a variety of materials and media, 1.3 Use appropriate vocabulary related to methods, materials, and techniques. 2.3 Explore the use of texture in 2D works. 2.6 demonstrate an understanding of foreground, middle ground, and background. 2.4 Explore the use of space and forms in 2D works.

Heather Galler Inspired Landscapes

These landscapes were inspired by the beautiful patterned work of contemporary artist Heather Galler. Students learned about “perspective tricks” of diminishing size and overlapping. The landscapes were created using colored pencils or crayons with a liquid water color background

Face or Vase- Grade 3 Op Art, Positive/ Negative Space

Third Grade Face or Vase Art

Third graders study colonial life in their social studies curriculum.  Silhouette art was popular during colonial times as most people could not afford to have a painting made of their loved ones, and cameras were not invented yet.  Having a silhouette, or shadow picture, drawn or clipped was an affordable option for many.  Third graders combined this old art form with a much newer art form – Op Art- to create these Face or Vase Op Art pictures.

 

Students learned about silhouettes, Op Art (nonrepresentational art meant to fool the eye), positive and negative space, and shape while creating these pieces.

 

Can you see a face and a vase in each

of these pieces?

 

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. 2.6 For space and composition, explore composition by creating artwork with a center of interest, repetition, and/or balance. 8.0 Concepts of style, stylistic influence and stylistic change-identify and analyze characteristic features of art works from various historical periods, cultures, and genres.

 

 

Quilling

Paper Quilling – Grade Three

Third graders study Colonial America, so we learned about the popular colonial art of paper quilling.  Students created a design of their choice and were required to incorporate three different scrolls in their design.  The backgrounds were then painted using liquid water color paints.

The art of quilling dates back centuries. It first appeared as a substitute for metal filigree during the 14th century. It was originally known as paper filigree or paper rolling. The craft got the name quilling during American colonial times. Back then, feather quills and porcupine quills were used to wind the coils. This is an old craft that has been popular at various times in history.

Students will 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

 

 

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

Textured Weaving

First Grade Woven Symmetry Art

 

First graders are learning about the elements or art- TEXTURE and BALANCE.  They created these woven designs using pipe cleaner for the warp (vertical pieces) and streamers and ribbons for the weft (horizontal pieces) using the over under pattern. 

 

The frames were made with an emphasis on bilateral symmetry.   Students cut their design from folded paper revealing identical sides when opened, and then carefully added the same markings to each side of the center to create SYMMETRY.