After studying Henri Matisse, second grade
students tried out interior design as a viable career option. Well, not really.
But, they did design their own
interior spaces using printmaking and collage. Following a presentation closely
looking at Matisse’s interiors, students began tackling this project in many
stages. From the wallpaper to the window treatments, every element in the
interior space was created with originality and skill. One of my favorite parts
of this project is that each room ends up taking on the personality of
individual students. Take a tour of each room below. Be sure to take a close
look at the windows, specifically the views outdoors.
art *scher*
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Imagination and Observation Drawings
I found inspiration for this project
on an art education blog, and it really fit in with our third grade curriculum.
To begin, I handpicked several everyday objects and put them in a large box.
Students selected an object, and initially drew it from observation. Then,
after looking at how surreal artists Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte
manipulated everyday objects, I asked the third graders to transform their
own everyday object using their imaginations. Below are a few examples of their
creative minds at work!
Digital Flowers
As the final project of the year in
fifth grade, I showed the students some of the basics in Photoshop Elements. We
first gathered inspiration from Georgia O’Keefe’s artwork, and applied it to a
challenging digital art project. I had students alter a single high-resolution
photograph of a flower as their subject. Then, students layered the flower to
create an O’Keeffe-like appearance. For a final touch, each fifth grader
experimented with a background layer to enhance their flower. This was the
first time I tried this project, and I must say, it was a lot of fun!
Artist Posters
Fourth graders ended the year studying
artists. Each student chose a random artist out of a hat, and read biographies
on the artist with a partner. They explored the artist’s life, childhood, and the
style of their work. Then, we learned about posters, and how they excite,
inform, and capture our attention. Specifically, we looked at artistic
qualities of the poster, and their use of composition, text, and complementary
colors. Fourth graders picked from three simple compositions, and created
eye-catching posters to feature the artist that they studied. I was amazed at
the results of these posters, and I hope you are, too! Below are a few of the
many outstanding artist posters.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Henri Matisse!
In second grade, students have been working on a multiple step project inspired by Matisse. While students are not finished yet - I found a really neat interactive learning experience through the Baltimore Museum of Art's website. Check it out:
Observational Band Instruments
Fifth grade art students found
inspiration from something very
familiar… their band instruments. At our school, all students are required to
take band in the fifth grade, so they have all been getting to know their new
instruments. In art class, students created observational drawings of their
instruments looking closely at small details, highlights, and shadows. As a
group, we talked about composition in relation to art, which is very similar to
composition in music. Students chose an open or a closed composition to feature
their instrument. They also made important decisions regarding the arrangement
of their subject to create a visually interesting composition. They drew their
final piece in sharpie, and then brought in some color using colored pencils.
Well done, fifth grade!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Tote Bag Awareness Project
In fourth grade, students took on a
project that explored the individual in a different way. This project’s focus
is on how students, as individuals, can make a change. I created the Tote Bag
Awareness project as a way to show students that art can be a means of
communication. No matter how old you are, you can make a change. First, we
watched a clip of Planet Earth, and enjoyed the beauty and uniqueness of the
deep oceans. Then, I presented a lesson on plastic bags. We discussed: statistics
about plastic bags, the Great Eastern Garbage Patch, plastic bag bans, and how
to remedy the negative impact of plastic bags. Next, students created a drawing
that communicates something about the environment to promote a change. I strongly discouraged
students from using words, to highlight the importance of telling a story using
pictures. After creating drawings, students transferred their drawings onto
soft-kut printmaking blocks. Once the image was transferred, students carefully
cut into their drawing, then inked their block, and printed the image.
Initially, students printed on
colorful paper to get the feel for this printmaking technique:
The final print was transferred onto a
canvas tote bag. The result: students made an artistic statement in their
school and in their community. Wherever they go, wherever they shop, whenever they
have their tote bag, they will have a piece of art that stands for something
that needs addressing in the environment. What a big statement for someone so
young!
*Tote
bags are NOT washable!
*Tote
bags are NOT washable!
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