Introducing Daper Dan!

We had a special guest in the art room... Daper Dan! Daper Dan is a 60 year old parrot that was brought into school to visit the students. During some of his down time, he came to visit the art room. We took the opportunity to do some observational painting. We had a blast looking at Daper Dan and painting his portrait. At the last minute we added a few feathers. Daper Dan was a polite guest and we would love to have him visit again!

Color Wheels

First grade students used the primary colors to create the secondary colors: green, purple, and orange. Students painted squares with each of the six colors. After the paint dried, the students created an interesting shape to use as a tracer and cut 6 copies from the painted squares. The shapes were configured into a design to make their own color "wheel".

Philadelphia Flower Show

Well, we can't actually go to the show, but everyone knows that Spring is coming when the radio starts advertising for the Philadelphia Flower Show! To prepare for what Spring will bring, Kindergarteners worked on observational drawings using silk flowers. Before we started, the class talked about how artists have to learn how to look and to draw what they SEE, not what they think a flower looks like. We talked about the shapes, lines, and textures that are hidden in each part of a flower. An artist hint: imagine yourself as an insect... what would they see?

Crazy Hair Day

After reading “Crazy Hair Day,” students were asked to draw themselves with the silliest hair that they could imagine! After working on it for a single class period, students shared their work with one another. While the students worked, I went to each one and asked that they give a title to his/her work. Don’t forget to ask about your child’s craziest hair do!

Penguins on the Go!

First Graders enjoyed a class of ripping and gluing scrap paper to create penguins and their icy environments. At the beginning of the class, we read a book about penguins and how active they are. We tore the paper to help convey the energy of penguins.  Go penguins go!