Flower Still Lives with Glue and Chalk

    4th Grade students learned about different artists that painted still lives or flowers.  We studied Janet Fish, Matisse, Van Gogh, Renoir, and de Heem.  I wanted them to see a range of artists from Modern to the Baroque period.

    Next, students practiced a simple still life drawing in their sketchbook.  They were told that they would eventually be outlining their drawings with glue and had to avoid tiny details.  I gave them this handout for ideas, but told them they could draw their own as well. 

 

  Next, students drew their flowers on 12x18 black paper.  The vase was to be symmetrical and fill half the paper and then finish with flowers.  Once done drawing they outlined everything with glue.  Some students used little skewers to add glue to small areas.  Next class, when the glue was dry, they added the chalk. 

  This lesson was adapted from the book Dynamic Art Projects for Children (which is a great book).  In the lesson provided they suggest using a brayer with black tempera to roll over the glue.  I tried this, but was not thrlieed with the results.  I  found that it was best to have students use a small paint brush and black tempera and just paint the glue.  Added the paint really helped pop the flowers.

I was happy with the results and would do this project again.

 

Summer Art Camp...

This past week I taught art camp with my 3rd - 5th grade students.  The morning session was Painting and Printmaking and the afternoon session was 3-D Art.  I used a lot of ideas from my fellow bloggers.  A big thanks to http://plbrown.blogspot.com/, http://barbarasthoughtoftheday.blogspot.com/, http://elementaryartroom.blogspot.com/, http://sleepyheaddesignsstudio.blogspot.com/, and http://mrsmanzellastudentartgallery.blogspot.com/ for ideas and inspiration!!!

Here are a couple of pieces completed during camp.  Check out my school blog for more pictures....  http://dundeeart.blogspot.com/

Landscape of the courtyard at the high school.  Water-soluble oil pastels, watercolors and gouache. 

Folk art painting inspired by artist Karla Gerard.  Thanks Sleepyhead Design Studio. Students painted with tempera and acrylic.

Paintings inspired by Wayne Thiebaud.  We used acrylic and modeling paste. 

Group Mural inspired by circle painting.

Crayola air dray clay.  Unfortunatly a lot of the sculptures broke.  Has anyone else ever had trouble with this kid of clay? 

Wacky sculptures with model magic and wire (a Dick Blick lesson).  I never realized how well the primary colored model magic mixes.  I wish it wasn't so expensive. 

This coming week I will be doing the same classes but with 6th-8th grade.  I hope to share their projects soon.

Magnetic Paintings…Inspired by James Rizzi

  The past couple months I have been running an after school art class inspired by the art of James Rizzi with 3rd and 4th graders.  One project that I was excited to try was magnetic paintings.  Since I had a small class of 12 students it was feasible. 
   First we looked at some of Mr. Rizzi’s magnetic paintings (Click Here).  What is neat about these paintings is that the viewer can interact with the work.  There is a background and then several magnetic pieces that can be rearranged to make different pictures. 
  Students used a 12x18 piece of tag board and made a background.  On each back corner we added a strip of magnet.  Then using poster board the students drew and cut out accessories.  Each item also had magnets put on the back.  Then the students arranged their picture on a magnetic surface. 
Below are my students’ examples…






  If I did this project in the future I would try to use stronger magnets.  At times we had trouble getting the small pieces to stick.  Overall, I thought it was a good project, and exposed the kids to new kind or art form. 
  Soon, I will be sharing  my students' Skype interview with James Rizzi.  Once, I get the huge file to upload to YouTube

Monet Mixed Media Masterpieces

      I have been having camera issues lately, so I have not been staying on track with what is going on in my classroom.  So….I thought I would share a lesson I did a few years ago with a 2nd/3rd class and then last year at my current school with 4th grade. 

    My first art job was teaching at a school that used the High Scope Philosophy of teaching.  In a High Scope classroom Active Learning is very important.  Students are given choices in their learning.  I found that this philosophy worked well in the art room and fostered creativity. 

    For this Project I introduced students to Monet’s waterlily paintings.  (If any one know how to share PPT on blogs I would be happy too.  I have lots of PPT that go with my lessons).  After looking at Monet’s art we used bleedable tissue paper and cover a 12x18 piece of paper with tissue paper and water.  The next class we took the tissue off and had a really neat background. 


   Then I showed students the above poster.  I told them that their project had to have the following elements: A waterlily, lily pad, something that popped off the page, and supporting details (grass or water detail ).  The students got to choose how their materials. 
Below are some different student interpretations….

Watercolor Winter Landscapes

4th graders were introduced to different watercolor tecniques.  We started class by making a practice page.

Next, students painted a sky using the watercolor teniques leanerd.  Using salt gave the illusion of snow.  We finshed this the first class.

On our second class, we looked at pictures of birch trees in the winter.  We discussed space and perspective. We cut strips of white paper and made different size trees. We also looked at at the snow and discussed how it wasn’t all white.  Shadows made other colors appear.  We added shadows to our trees.

On the last class, we used oil pastels and tempera cakes to add fences, animals, snowmen, and/or snowballs.  Students also added snow in the sky and on their fence. 

I adapted this lesson from several similar ones on Artsonia.

Egyptian Profiles…

Egypt is always a fun art topic.  The kids seem to enjoy learning about Egyptian history.  I like telling them about the mummification process. This year with 4th grade we created Egyptian Profiles. I modified a lesson found in the book Art Matters.

First, on 18x24 paper I traced each student’s silhouette using the overhead as my light source.  While I was working with each student, the rest of the class had an Egyptian packet to work on (draw a mummy case, how to write in hieroglyphics, ect…).

Next, we drew in the face together.  We looked at Egyptian pictures and discussed how the eye often appears to be a front view even though it is a profile.  Then I demonstrated different headdresses and students added their choice.  We also added a collar.

Then we began to paint.  We used a set of multicultural colored paints for the face and hair.  The rest of the colors where mixed with Pearl It and or Glitter It Crayola mediums. 
 

When the painting was done, students used oil pastels to define designs and facial features. Then the cut their profile out and clued it on to a large piece of construction paper. 

They added final touched with glitter, sequence, and rhinestones.  They were also encouraged to add Egyptian inspired designs in the background if time permitted.

Good Job 4th graders! 

When I have a few extra minutes, I like to share this SNL video.  The kids enjoy the silly song and dancing by Steve Martin. 
Saturday Night Live - King Tut - Video - NBC.com

Inspired by the “Happy Rizzi House”

We started this project by looking at pictures of James Rizzi’s work and focused on the “Happy Rizzi House.” This building is located in Brunswick, Germany. I then show students how to make a 3-D building with tag board (thanks to an art teacher at the MAEA conference). We add windows and doors and discuss design ideas. Students use marker to complete their building. The kids loved this project!

As an extension to this project we wrote letters to Mr. Rizzi. In Germany Mr. Rizzi’s art is used widely in art curriculum.