Pattern Fish Pattern Fish Pattern Fish

Today was all about patterns. We discussed what a color pattern might be (red, green, red, green), and what a shape pattern might be (square, circle, square, circle). Then we read the book Pattern Fish by Trudy Harris. This an engaging book that teaches pattern not only through the illustration but also through rhyme. This was the inspiration for the project today. Students started by doing a warm up pattern drawing exercise. Next they created their very own pattern fish by first drawing the outline of the fish and then creating a pattern within it. Beginning with the tail first they used oil pastel to fill in the fish with brilliant color! These were later cut out and mounted to bright paper to really make them stand (or swim) on their own!
Enjoy the week!

Little House Drawings

This week we read Tomasso and the Missing Line by Matteo Pericoli. The book is about a little boy that carries a drawing he created in his pocket and one day he discovers the horizon line is missing. Through this story he takes a journey and discovers many different types of lines that make up drawings and in the end he finds his missing horizon line.
After the story we looked at work from Vincent Van Gogh to help students see how artists illustrate things in the foreground smaller and things in the background larger. We talked about horizon line, foreground, middle and background. Students used their pencils to create a drawing demonstrating these things.
The drawings are great representation of what they learned today. It is fun to see their interest and enthusiasm when their drawings take shape!

The upper level experimented with one point perspective drawing. This was new to many students but they were all eager to learn and try. They did amazing! I can tell they are excited to keep going with it next week!


Have a great weekend!
ps Look at the yellow frame in the window of the office. The school self portraits are done and they are adorable!

First Day of Art!

First day of art, Hooray!!!! Today we began class by reading a book called The Clever Stick by John Lechner. The story is about a little stick that doesn't think he has a way to communicate. He soon discovers he has a voice through his illustrations and is able to share what he wants to say to his friends. This is a great lesson about how illustrations are a form of communicating. We shouldn't underestimate what the artist is trying to tell us.

After the story and a look at some of Picasso's wonderful line drawings students then took out their pencils and began to work on sketching different types of lines (zig-zags, loops, curves, dashes) and circles. Next, students began to draw their self portrait paying close attention to the shapes and lines on their face by feeling them first. The end result was brilliant! Their faces were shining on the paper and in person! Each student also did a miniature self portrait to put together in a frame with the entire school. The end result will be up some time next week!

Happy Back To School!

Fall is the best season! Right behind Summer, Spring and Winter!
Going to school for the first time or heading back to school is so exciting! I am looking forward to another school year of art and creativity with new and old students. This year is sure to be full of creative chatter and wonderful artwork hanging in the halls!

We will begin the year with drawing techniques. For some, simply using a pencil each day will be new. To others, the act of drawing may not be a daily practice. At the end of the unit it will be wonderful to view the progress of each student to see how his or her skills have changed.

Thank you for checking in to the blog! I'll post again after our first day of art!
Enjoy the week!

A Marvleous Summer!

Hello!
The summer has consumed me with magnificent days of warm sunshine, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, bug hunting, butterfly watching and dirt digging not to mention a little art exploration too! While I am sorry to see the pool and popsicle days gone I am delighted to get back to a routine and see all the bright faces that will be coming to school for the first time as well as the familiar smiles that I know from last year! I have some great things I've been collecting and experimenting with over the summer and I am looking forward to seeing what can be created!

Wee Little Nature Cups

My three year old and I were cleaning out the long over due pots of winter greenery and found tiny little pine cones. He wanted to keep them, because he is interested in all things very tiny right now. Recently, I ran across a post on this wonderful blog about making these sweet little cups and I thought it might be fun to give it a try.

We modified the project because of lack of time but they could be easily embellished with tissue paper and glue, paint or marker!

We took an egg carton and cut out the cups, punched a couple holes and added a paper handle with brads. My little guy was more focused on filling them so we skipped the color tissue!

I have a feeling we will be making several of these for our nature walks!

Recycled Desk Art

My littlest one has started eating solid food and I have not had the time, like I did with my first child, to make all of her food yet. Therefore, we have these little containers available for endless possibilities at our house. They can not only act as a little garage and hold toy cars, be a "very special" snack container for big brother but they are perfect for creating "desk art".

I cut paper to fit in the inside of the lid and the little artist in our house created a wonderful work of art using glue, markers and one button (carefully chosen). Then we spread glue on the inside of the container and sprinkled glitter (the best part!). To complete it I helped him glue the top to the bottom so we were certain it would not come off!
I think this might be just one of many recycled spring break projects this week!