Patterns and Masks

This week the lower level students worked on creating a pattern around border of their artwork. They chose two shapes and repeated them. Next, they used two different colors to shade the shapes. Once the pattern was complete they worked on coloring their animals using colored pencils which are great for adding texture and small details!

The upper level started a two part project creating masks. We started by looking at and discussing many different images of African masks. We talked about symmetry and pattern and why people wear masks. Next week we will work on embellishments and color!

African Animal Beginnings...

Today we started a two part project looking at African animals. First, students framed their page by using a straight edge. Next, they looked at a plastic African animal and carefully drew each part. Students learned that it was easier to draw the animal by segmenting and looking at the parts of the animal in terms of geometric shapes.
Next week we will work on adding color and pattern!

Warm and Wonderful Valentine Lions!

This week we are continued our discussion of warm and cool colors as well as African animals. With Valentines day next week and play practice beginning I thought it might be fun to look at lions and hearts!
I read the book My Heart is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall. This rhyming book is full of animals made from the shape of hearts making a great inspiration for our project!

Snowy Snowmen!

Students have been doing an amazing job working on their cutting skills. This week they practiced circles and semi-circles to create these adorable snowmen! We discussed layering and placement as well as how to "ground" your subject so that it wouldn't "roll away"!

Warm and Cool Colors

This week we continued our discussion about color by focusing on warm and cool colors. Since we all have the Lion King on the brain (school play coming up!) I thought it might be fun to look at pictures from the African plains during the day and evening for inspiration. After a great discussion about warm and cool colors students began by creating a silhouette of a tree in the foreground for a focal point. Next, they used warm colors to create a beautiful sunset. The cool color painting was created after a silhouette and stars were added. When these two paintings are mounted together they look amazing!

Chinese New Year Dragons

This week we took a short break from color mixing to celebrate the Chinese New Year. This year is the year of the dragon. Since we were just looking at lizards last week for inspiration, dragons were a perfect subject for this week because of their similarities!
The final work was finished with a stamp of the Chinese symbol for happiness.

Color Mixed Lizards!

This week we reflected on the color wheel made last week and tried color mixing in a little different way....
We began by looking at photographs of lizards on the ipad for our subject. Next, students drew a lizard using oil pastels. Each table pulled two primary color cards from a stack.
After a demonstration of wet-on-wet watercolor technique students used the two colors that their table pulled to color their lizards. For example, if the two colors were blue and yellow they would first brush plain water onto their lizard to wet it. Next, load their brush with yellow and brush it onto some areas of the lizard then, add blue to other areas. Where the two colors pool together it will make green.
These fine lizards will be on display soon in the hallway!