Tuesday, December 16, 2014

December 2014 Art Blog

Kindergarten:
Winter Scene inspired by Grandma Moses:


It has been feeling like winter all around our campus, and our Kindergarten students have been working on their Winter Landscape paintings. 


Students were introduced to the life and works of the American Folk artist Grandma Moses. Students used different kinds of art tools, such as brayers, sponges and paint brushes to paint their winter landscapes. Following Grandma Moses’ style combined with basic sketching, drawing and coloring skills, students created their own interpretations of familiar and cherished family traditions that are celebrated during the winter months.













1ST GRADE:

Polar Bears Portraits:

To start this lesson we did a read aloud of the book: White Bear, Ice Bear by Janne Ryder. Using white chalk on black construction paper students sketched a polar bear portrait. Students used the sides of white chalk to rub a round shape for the head and a body.  Two smaller circles made the ears.  Students used their fingers to gently blend the chalk to remove any harsh lines that may have been created.  Black oil pastels were used to create the facial features and the inner ears.  Students rubbed a little bit with the black pastel under the head to create a bit of a shadow. Then they cut our the whole polar bear shape. With a tear and paste technique students created a background. The final display turned out to be adorable. 









2ND GRADE:

Owl Moon/ Light and Shadow Study:

Second grade students read the picture book Owl Moon written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by John Schoenherr. Students were introduced to the basic art concept of light and shadow. Students carefully looked at the illustrations in the book and pointed out shadows. Students noticed that the moon (light source) illuminates the trees (subject) and the trees (subject) cast shadows on the surface of snow. The location of the moon (light source) determines the location and the directions of the shadows. 
Students started their Owl Moon study with a light pencil sketch on 140 lb watercolor paper. Students were also introduced to the art concept of space. To create a sense of space in their Owl Moon composition, students sketched a horizon line, tree trunks and branches; overlapping and changing in size from large trees in the foreground to smaller trees towards the horizon line (background). Students used a fine brush and cool hues of liquid watercolor to color the sky around the full moon and the trees. Once the students painted in the shadows the three-dimensional, spacial, composition came to live. To complete these eye catching, beautiful piece students added a silhouette of an owl. 










3rd GRADE:

Snowman Peeking in the Window:

Third grade students studied the art concept "Composition" and "Positive and Negative Space". Students sketched unique snowman figures conveying the idea a snowman is peeking in the window. Students payed special attention to creating interesting compositions, counterbalancing positive and negative design space. Over their sketches students laid a transparency film and traced their composition with sharpie pen onto the foil. Oil pastels were used to add the final color touches. Ready for winter and the holiday season, displayed in a window, these whimsical snowman compositions put a smile on everyone's face.  












4th GRADE:

Transparent Star: 

Fourth grade students were introduced to the art of paper folding. This project is based on a Swiss holiday tradition to decorate windows with geometric, transparent "Sternli" (Swiss German for little star), illuminated by natural light falling through a window. Students used transparent kite paper (craft parchment paper). They showed great perseverance through all the steps necessary to fold and assemble an eight point star. Students figured out a variety of patterns and designs by alternating colors. The finished stars, display in unison on our classroom widows created a dazzling effect of transparent and opaque hues. In order to transport the delicate "Sternli" home safely students folded a packaging out of a large white paper. 











Special Maker Project

4th GRADE:
Musik Sacker: 

The music teacher Mrs. Poon and the art teacher Mrs. Libby collaborated together to worked on music shakers with the fourth graders. Students helped collect recycled bottles and containers, filled them with lentils or rice, and decorated them with colorful duct tape and masking tape. Teachers and students alike had lots of fun creating the instruments and making music together. The 4th grade students will be using the shakers in music class in the spring. The students are so excited that they cannot wait to take their instruments home.











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