HAPPY FRIDAY ART LOVERS!

Here we are at the end of another fantastic week in the art room.
As always, the students have been very busy on their various projects.
This is just and up date for those of you who are following this blog.

KINDERGARTEN: Students finished drawing their sunflowers for Kansas Day! They all look terrific! I hope you all enjoy them. We based our work on the art of VanGough and Georgia O'Keeffe. Students were told to pretend they were a bumble bee, bird, or butterfly, and get in as close as possible to the flower.

FIRST GRADE: The Glumps are looking great! Students are also writing short poems or rhymes and giving their Glump a name. This is a really fun project.

SECOND GRADE: We are working on "symmetry" by creating 'Symmetrical Aliens'. Skills involved are folding cutting and pasting! I demonstrate how to fold a sheet of paper in half, cut a shape only on the outside, away from the fold, unfold and see what the symmetrical shape looks like. They then cut and paste eyes, nose, mouth, etc. to make their alien.

THIRD GRADE: Are still working on their still life collages---the majority are coming along nicely. Some students are having trouble with the concept of creating a background first and then cutting out shapes (bowls, bottles,, vases, etc.) to paste over the background, but we are getting there! When this project is finished I think you will all enjoy the  results. It just takes time, which we don't have enough of but we do our best!
Next, we'll explore Positive and Negative Shapes/Space.

FOURTH GRADE: The landscapes are looking great! This project is done with torn paper stencils and chalk or pastels on colored paper. Student tear a stencil into the shape on land masses, mountains, hills, etc, they then rub the torn edge with a color of pastel, place it into position on their background and rub the chalk off with a rag. When the stencil is removed--TA DA! A landmass of some sort appears. Once the land mass part is done I will teach them how to draw into the background to finish the picture. The kids love this because it's messy!

FIFTH GRADE: Printmaking is a blast! The kids are really into it, having fun, and creating some interesting prints. I still have to jump-start their thinking to get their imaginations in gear!!!! I'm trying to teach them how to have an original thought and create something unique! Well get there-I hope!!!!!

SIXTH GRADE: One of my favorite projects: Chinese Landscape Scrolls. These are done also with torn paper stencils and charcoal on a manila paper to represent the scroll. When the background is finished I introduce them to Chines/Japanese brush drawing (Sumi-e in Japanese)! It takes a while to get the students in the mood to follow the directions in the workbook I created. I do a short demonstration on the proper way to hold the brush and hoe to make the basic strokes. Next I will show how to draw a scene into their landscape. Finally we glue the finished picture to a colored background that represents the backing of  the scroll. When possible I bring in small dowel rods to add to the look of the finished piece.

So, that's it for this week, Jan. 23-27, 2012! Hope everyone has a wonderful week end!
Jay...Art Dude!