Blue moon value scale sky

Look in the sky on a winter night...
white full moon and rings of blue to black.
Students mix paint with white and black creating a series of value rings
This is part I of the Winter landscape project...

What comes next why trees of course!
Using black paper and series of V shapes to connect the dots. Glue in place and add snowy glitter.

Here is a teacher sample...can't wait to see what the students create.

After School Here Be Dragons

Grades K-3rd

 

During our six week after school studios we will explore the World of Dragons by creating our own 3-D sculpture of the great beast.  Each student will complete one personal dragon to take home at the end of the workshop series and our young artists will also participate in a group dragon project that will be on display to the entire school.

In this workshop series we will use a variety of materials and techniques such as markers, paint, lots of glue, paper mache and assemblage. Students will need to bring a paper grocery bag (with handle) to class to carry home their creation and if they would like they can bring a paint shirt for the messy days. I will provide all of the art supplies and materials for these projects but I welcome donations of recycled materials such as: cardboard tubes, bottle caps (all shapes and sizes), flats pieces of card board, plastic lids, buttons, wire…please feel free to send them with your child for use by the team.



one completed dragon is ready to go home



all our lovely creatures now have wings and eyes and some with glitter too

 

Happy Apple Time

Some apples are big, some apples are small and some apples are right in the middle.
Using the painted paper created in an earlier class, the kinder students were given an apple size and asked to draw (on the non painted size) their apples shape.

They were then given scissors-a review of the proper usage of scissors-and instructed to cut out their apple. The teachers wrote the student names on pre-cut leaves to add a label to each apple. The apple crop will be displayed as a group project at the end of the year in a Magritte like manner that will be revealed in a later post. This project allows for additional new students throughout the year to be a part of the group/class project.

After School Imagination City

Imagination City

After School Academy

 6 classes grades 3rd-6th

Using recycled and re purposed materials

as well as basic art supplies students

create their own imaginary buildings.

The basic structures are primed and painted

and additional elements such as windows, doors

brick work...are added. More painting and gluing.

To complete the piece students may add landscape

elements and people/animals.  

a little snow glitter adds the last detail to this lovely pink palace

 

Mr. Bones Observed

Day of the Dead 3-D table shrines

The 6th grade students created these wonderful 3-D table top shrines over 3 class sessions.

We used or re-used small card stock box lids with pre-cut diamond windows  that were donated to the art room years ago as the frame base. Session 1, Using visual supports/table handouts the artists decorated their alter-frames using tissue paper and construction paper and white glue.. In session 2 they made small skull bead like forms out of air dry clay. They could add buttons/jewels/beads and or feathers to the clay skulls at this point or wait to add embellishments after the drying period. The last session was devoted to pulling all the parts together and running a wire through the skull so that it could be hung inside the box. Clear "sugar" glitter was the icing on the project!

Clay skull forms dry on wooden sticks turn to losen

Completed frame forms

Fitting the skull into the frame/alter



a view from the top



the finished pieces

A portrait of a tree in a landscape

Demonstrate through a series of direct drawing and individual practice sketches a basic understanding of how to draw a tree in a landscape.

Once students feel comfortable with the elements and composition, they draw their final image with white glue on black paper. Chalk pastels are used to add the color and detail to complete the project.

Students can express realistic colors found in nature or a more Fauvist approach to color/pattern.

 

 

 



Supplies: pencils, sketch paper, black construction paper, white glue in tubes, chalk pastels. Art prints and class handout of famous landscapes provide additional support to the student success of this project.

Autumn Still Life

This project takes several sessions to complete but is very engaging to students and presents new skills while reinforcing techniques. 

Supplies: tempera paint (with sponges and corks) water color, oil pastel, crayons, ruler, card stock or heavy watercolor paper, scissors and white glue

Part I painted paper

Part II draw with crayon and ruler then watercolor table and wall

Part III - look at still life elements, draw, cut, arrange and collage pieces using oil pastel for details, shadows and highlights.

Watercolor Sky

This project revisits the color wheel and connects to color theory as well as landscapes.

Using only yellow, orange, red, purple and blue watercolors (wet on wet) students create a sunset/sunrise sky. We did a direct painting process calling out each color together then painting an arch like stripe across the sky. Students were encouraged to keep the color edge wet and vary the width of the arches/stripes.

Part II using only black paper (great way to use up scraps) and glue sticks,  student tore the paper for the ground and then were given scissor and pencils to add other landscape type elements such as animals, trees, structures and rocks.  

 

Crazy for Klee

 Students were introduced to the artist Paul Klee and his work with color,shapes, form and design.

Using basic shape patterns (squares, rectangles, circles and triangles) as well as rulers they were guided in creating a castle like structure. These drawings were done with color pencil and metallic color pencil on black paper.

It's a nice alternative to the October Haunted House and can

carry on throughout the year.

This will be the go to project throughout the year

perfect for those students who finish projects early.

I like this project because it allows a lot of personal creative freedom. Reinforces skills such as tracing and using a ruler to make straight lines and connects to art history.

I have seen several lessons like this on line and really combined ideas from numerous sites so in no way is this 100% my original lesson.