ART for 1170

  Not much time for a detailed explanation but I saw this idea on  zamoranoarts.blogspot.com and thought it was an interesting idea on radial design. There are great step by step instructions on the site.  I just love how they turned out. After the first day of classes only 3/4 of the students were finished but they were so excited that many took them home to finish and we will add to the wall as they come in.

Students studied the faces of Laurel Birch inspired cats and gave them a personal twist that I love.  They started by outlining their cat in white oil pastel and the next class gave them unique colors.

I just love her earphones! This is a great lesson on Picasso and making mistakes/ from Beautiful Oops. The third grade students are encouraged to explore and attempt different eye, nose, mouth and ear shapes before selecting the one(s) that they choose to use on their artwork.   I'm a huge fan of craypas, except when they end up on the floor.

I wanted to share this beautiful piece of pie with a clay plate that was made by a very talented seventh grader. She experimented with sgraffito and using pasta on the plate. Jillian has helped me with the camp for the past three years by assisting  the students. I think she has HUGE potential!!  She experimented with sgraffito and using pasta on the plate.

This year was the sixth year of summer clay camp. I decided to add an afternoon camp for my students who have moved on to the middle school, junior and senior high school. It was great to see these students push projects. I have more awesome art in the kiln right now but wanted to add some pictures now. A special shout out to the Clarkston Optimists who generously provide seven scholarships for Clarskton Students to attend various art camps including mine. Normally I discourage logos and emblems but I just couldn't resist this Sparty! Go Green

So happy to say goodbye to the winter snow with these beautiful flowers. The students looked at Van Gogh's sunflowers to get inspiration and then used Craypas to create them.

I've posted these before but I just love how there are so many lessons combined in one. Folding, (math fractions) outline or trace a fold, color, color, color!, shape, line, pattern... After the students paint, add pattern with Craypas, they often take a few pieces of "bling" to sparkle their artwork.

Remember when Kindergarten was Kindergarten?  Not that I want this post to turn into, "Back in the days...., but it used to be about learning AND learning how to get along with others, keep our hands to ourselves, share, take turns, and PLAY? My heart goes out to our classroom teachers and the enourmous pressures to keep up and keep upping the test scores. However I am so sad to see groups and grade levels arriving at school or progressing through the lower elementary MISSING so many of these attributes. What gives? IMAGINATIVE PLAY! Seen by many as "play" time. You could insert in the quotes what some may think of as wasted time but I need to rally the wagons! Our students NEED time to use, create and explore their imagination.  The other day I had a particularly challenging group move from center to center investigating modeling clay, paper and simple shape stickers, blank paper and paint, blocks LOTS of blocks. It was beautiful to hear and see. Notice how they are...

This is a great lesson for so many reasons.  The students start by folding a paper in half, then again and again. I use vocabulary such as landscape and portrait. I know some use hotdog, hamburger, soldier, etc., but I figure if they can remember those names they can use these terms that they will need in the computer lab.  Yes, folding is tough for lower and some Upper El students.  The students then paint over the creases creating boxes. I asked first graders to fill each box with a geometric shape or flower. Second graders focused on creating oval shapes. For the second day students fill their shapes with one of 8 colors.  The key is that they can only use a color ONE time. What to do after they have used 8 colors and still have shapes to fill?   MIX! Students are so empowered by this process. You would think they have discovered a new planet.   After the colors are dried we add pattern and other things to the artwork and I will s...

As promised the cardinals are in the trees!