November Art Blog 2017

TK: Winter Landscape with Bluebird

With this winter landscape art project Transitional Kindergarten students explored texture painting for the bark and branches of birch trees. Students practiced scissor cutting, as well as gluing skills. Students created the blue bird out of one circle, cut in half, four and eight parts.  Using fine typed markers, students added details to their personalized birds. 

The Bluebirds are sometimes confused with other blue birds, but they can be distinguished without difficulty. The western bluebird has a blue (male) or gray (female) throat, the eastern bluebird has an orange throat, and the mountain bluebird lacks orange color anywhere on its body. It has a stocky build, and a thin straight beak with a fairly short tail.

Its posture consists of perching upright on wire fences and high branches. The western bluebird pounces on the ground when looking for food, such as worms and berries. It also flies to catch aerial prey, like insects, when available. The western bluebird consumes water from nearby streams and commonly used bird baths. 

Kindergarten: Tree of Life inspired by Gustav Klimt

Our Kindergarten students were introduced to the Austrian “Art Nouveau” painter Gustav Klimt (born in 1862). Klimt had created many world famous paintings such as “The Kiss” and the painting the Kindergarten students were introduced to called “Tree of Life”. Gustav Klimt painted the Tree of Life, during his Golden Era of as seen by the extensive use of the golden color on this piece. 

Gustav Klimt’s decorative art nouveau stile, with his use of colors and abstract shapes, is full of symbolism and can be interpreted in so many ways.  

The Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco is currently holding an exhibition titled: Klimt & Rodin: An Artistic Encounter. The show will be running through January 28, 2018. For more specific information please visit: https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/exhibitions/klimt-rodin-artistic-encounter

1st grade: STEAM: Exploration for Light

This 1st grade STEAM lesson focused on exploration of light. Students experimented with materials which allow light to pass through them, and with others that allow only some light through, and others that block all the light. Students explored that mirrors can be used to redirect a light beam. (Boundary: The idea that light travels from place to place is developed through experiences with light sources, mirrors, and shadows, but no attempt was made to discuss the speed of light).

Mirror Walk: Students used one small mirror held close to their faces below their eyes, to walk around classroom. Students explored the world around them through the upside-down image reflection in the mirror. Students were guided in the exploration how mirrors work. Students used artistic expressions to experiment with mirror reflection and duplication of images. 

As a grand finally, students built, and create stunning kaleidoscopes, using simple materials such as: reflective mylar, tape, translucent tissue paper, and markers to design colorful designs and patterns.

2nd grade: Peruvian Folk Art 

Arpilleras or "cuadros" are exquisitely colorful, detailed, hand-sewn, three dimensional textile pictures. Arpilleras illustrate the stories of the lives of the women of the"pueblo jovenes"of Lima, Peru and provide essential income for their families. The arpilleras tell stories of planting and harvesting potatoes, tomatoes, cabbages, grapes, corn; stories of spinning and weaving wool; stories of country life, of tending llamas, alpacas, sheep and goats; stories of weddings and fiestas.

Students picked a primary or secondary color as the main color for their arpilleras. Using white in addition to the main color, students mixed tints, from dark to light to create a sense of space to depict the Andes Mountains. Students were introduced to the concept of complementary colors to achieve effective color contrast and vibrancy between the hills and the Peruvian houses and other details. Students folded the houses for their arpilleras in an origami style. Some students experimented folding small and smaller houses to convey perspective. Students created their own narratives adding llamas, alpacas, flowers, etc. to their arpilleras.

3rd GRADE: Chinese Brush Paintings

Third grade students have been studying the amazing art of Chinese Brush Painting. Students were introduced to the Chinese prodigy artist Yani, who became famous with her whimsical depictions of monkeys, as well as other traditional Chinese plants and animals when she was only 4 years old.  

After a lost of practice, how to use a Chinese brush and ink correctly, students worked with their subject of choice. The final paintings were painted on rice paper and each student created a “seal/chop” to print onto their finished piece. 

4th GRADE: Heart-Shaped Posters 

To promote love and kindness in the world, 4th grade students designed and painted impressive, heart-shaped, bright colored, collaborative, posters inspired by the Pop artist Keith Haring. San Francisco General Hospital Foundation is partnering with 4th grade students from Bacich Elementary School in an art fundraiser. Over the next month, students' artworks will be professionally photographed. The photographed images of the heart-shaped posters will be distributed and used under the direction of the Foundation for purposes such as, marketing materials used for the fundraiser. Students' artworks may be purchased by the parent/guardian or another individual with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. Please stay tuned for more detailed information on how/where to purchase the students' artworks.