White Out

First graders studied the work of Louise Nevelson, the "original recycler". After looking at her monochromatic sculptures, each student created an all-white design. The students focused on an object's shape and texture to up-cycle, or repurpose the original use of that object. Some students worked on abstract design, while others illustrated a concrete representation.

Pumpkin Heads!

Yellow + Red = Pumpkin Head! The first week of the project, the students learned how to mix yellow and red paint to make orange. Focus was on painting the whole page, holding the paint brush correctly and mixing colors. In the following weeks, the students cut out pumpkins from their orange painting and decorated using black, green, and brown paper. The class discussed the use of facial expressions to tell how someone, or some pumpkin, was feeling. 

Apple Trees

This mixed media project started with painting the blue sky "like the breeze." The students were introduced to Mr. Paintbrush and the ways that we treat art materials. After painting the sky, the students used glue water to create tree bark out of tissue bark and brown construction paper. At the next art class, they were introduced to printmaking, using sponges to create the leaves and corks to print the apples.

Matisse Madness

Using Henri Matisse as an example, students cut out a variety of shapes (some defined and others self-defined) to create a collage. The shapes were glued down to create a collage that allowed students to draw on their knowledge of colors, shapes, and fine-motor skills. Emphasis was placed on creating excitement and movement (aka PIZZAZZ); therefore, the end results have an abstract feeling. The students learned about the importance of the primary colors: Red, Yellow, and Blue.

And all that jazzzz.....

Second graders looked at Wassily Kandinsky’s compositional paintings. The classes discussed the layers that he used to create a mood. His paintings express rhythms and patterns to express energy and movement. As the students listed to Jazz, they created layers of paint, paper and glue that built into a completed work. The class discussed how the similarities between musical and visual compositions. Go ahead and listen!

Seeing Music

Inspired by the artist Wassily Kandisnsky, first and second-graders drew lines while listening to Bach. We discussed how lines can be used to “draw” different types of sound and music. After drawing to the music, the students used tissue paper and watercolors to fill in the background, allowing their lines to “sing!”

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.

Pickles on Parade!

Pickle People, Pickle Princesses, Pickle Pets, even Pickle Fish! Mixing yellow and blue paint allowed the students to experience first-hand how green is made. In the following two weeks, each student made a unique pickle character and used paper and markers to add details and “pizzazz!”

Blot Monsters

The class read "Where the Wild Things Are" and, like the main character Max, used their imagination to create a monster. Students experimented with Rorschach’s test to interpret a paint blot and to see monsters within their symmetrical designs. After a discussion of symmetry, students cut out and added details to their new monster. Lastly, the creatures were named and placed in an environment.

Animal Tales

We are chasing our Tails! Or is it our Tales? Together, the class folded our paper in to an accordion style book. Each interior page was designed with an animal pattern (real or imagined) using oil pastels or colored pencils The front and back covers were designed with an assortment of materials. this project serves as a nice introduction to book arts, as well as reviews the students' knowledge of patterns.

Easy as A, B, C!

The students looked at Jasper Johns work. The class discussed the way he brought attention to everyday symbols and objects. The students recognized that the letters and numbers in his paint­ings were unlike those that they use in their class work. Using tempera paints, the students turned their letters and numbers into unique colorful art. The students learned that creativity can begin by using “building blocks” from their existing body of knowledge.