Kandinsky's Lines

As the Kindergartens have been studying line, we are finally getting to paint! They are so excited! They were also introduced to the famous artist Kandinsky.

 

First we had a directed lesson where students were told which line and what direction to paint their line. The purpose of this was to learn about different types of lines but also to see how different everyone's composition would still be  even given the same directions.

 

Here are some final results...

Nutcracker

Since it is Nutcracker season, the music teacher and I decided to put together a unit on ballet and storytelling. Here are the beginnings of our nutcracker drawings in class.
To make the nutcracker figure, student had to trace a 4"x6" rectangle for the body, and then 1"x4" rectangle for the arms and legs and then 2" square for the head and then again for the hat.
After the tracing they then had visuals of different nutcrackers they could copy or design their own. Marker was the best media for this because of its easy for coloring and its brightness.

 

Dancing Skeletons

In preparation for our visiting Mexican Artist program, 2nd graders are creating dancing skeletons in their study to the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead. First, we talked about how Day of the Dead is the opposite of Halloween. Not goulish and scarey but more of a celebration of the lives and souls of those who have past. We then looked at sugar skulls and dancing skeleton wooden scultpures.

Personal Artwork

Below is a small collection of some of my own recent work. Currently, I am taking a mixmedia painting class which is very experimental in terms of materials. I will post more as soon as I take some photos.

2011 Art and Music Extravaganza

Every year the music teacher and I get together and do a Spring show and fundrasier for the PTO. This event raises several thousand dollars which then go back into our programs. It's a wonderful evening for the celebration of the arts and to bring the school community together.

Clay!

I make the kids wait until the spring to do clay. Right after April vacation I turn my whole room over into a ceramic studio and do clay with the entire school. We all start out with a rules and play day where guidelines and rule are gone over and they get to play with the clay and get all the "ooohhs, aaahhhs, and icks" out. The following week we have a practice week with their project where I give a demo and they practice making their person, animal or pot.  I do this because I don't have time or space to keep work wet enough to be workable over a week's time. I tell them they have to be able to create their piece in 1 class time. Of course if they are stuggling they can try again the following week.

The 5th graders make clay portaits where they have to show themselves doing something they like. The other requirement is that the figure has to be standing or sitting independentely without supports. The starting construction method is the same.

The 4th graders create animals. These animals can be real or imaginary but have to have 4 legs. Again,they all start again with the same construction method and have to be standing or sitting independently of supports.

3rd graders create coil pots. This is their first big clay project. They learn the coil method of constuction along with the glazing process.

All-District Art Show 2011

It's time again for our annual All-District Art Show. Below is a slideshow of the pre-hanging pre work to the post hanging. Opening reception is Monday evening, March 28, 6-8pm. The links are the centerpiece this year. This unique installation piece created by our middler schoolers inspried by there awesome teacher Ms. Smeglin.