Berry Boards

The Fifth graders and I finally figured out how to make the art room--smoosh berries! we pressed blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and elderberries onto paper to make a wonderful background for our ink drawings.

Autumn Observational Drawings

Our second and third graders were able to study a variety of fall vegetables, flowers and grasses. We added color using Watercolor pencils. The students loved watching the magic of the colors blending.

Day Three: Horseing Around

Field Trip!

After our morning yoga, we headed off to a wonderful stable in town, Stonewall Stables. With our boards, Sharpies and India Ink (yikes) in hand we enthusiastically looked for the perfect spot. Louie, the foal, provided us with entertainment as well as many opportunities to study his shapes, lines and movements. Our focus was on quick sketches of what we saw, not what we thought a horse should look like. We made a note of horse prints in the sandy soil! hint, hint...

If I was a tree...

Inspired by the work of Tony Demura, students finished the statement: "If I was a tree...". Each student illustrated his/her idea using the media of his/her choice. The students were encouraged to take the perspective of how he/she would feel and see as a tree. Focus was planed on using their imagination and creating a unique image. (This was a project that I saw on http://newcityarts.blogspot.com/)

I'm an artist!

After reading the book, "The Dot" by Peter Reynolds, the students discussed that we are all artists. If you can make a dot or a wiggly line, than you can make art! First, the students used craft sticks to create an easel on which they glued a mini picture. Next, the students drew and colored self portraits and environments. Focus was placed on fine motor skills (outlining, gluing, and coloring) and the building of their self-confidence so that they can create wonderful things.

Curious Flowers

First graders created “exquisite” flowers based on the Surrealist art technique. Each artist draws a part of the flower without seeing the previously drawn sections. Afterwards, the original artist outlines and adds colors to their new and unique flower!

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!