Every year I strive to learn more about art, and art styles, and art techniques. I have so many returning students I hate the idea that they would get bored. Frankly, if I taught the same things over and over I would get bored too.
Last year I invested a lot of time developing an art history program for kids. Together we learned about centuries worth of art and art techniques and styles. We also studied some of the most famous artists of all time. Did you know that Leonardo DaVinci stole bodies from the morgue so he could lift the skin a draw detailed diagrams of the human body?!?!? Most of the kids responded to that information with an abounding Eeeewwww! Me too actually. But think of it, what an incredible contribution to scientific research as well as artistic development. Someone had to do it! (Apparently, the Catholic church was not very impressed with him for this.) I learned so much and I had so much fun and I think the kids did too.
This year I plan to explore some of the great projects I came across during my research which didn't quite fit into the history theme but which I tucked away for a more basic program. I'm also going to take a closer look at the Alberta curriculum and cover a few of its recommended concepts. Some of which are, printing, painting, fabric arts, drawing and sculpture. I can't wait to try some sculpture. I never done it in class yet.
Well, here we go....
Last year I invested a lot of time developing an art history program for kids. Together we learned about centuries worth of art and art techniques and styles. We also studied some of the most famous artists of all time. Did you know that Leonardo DaVinci stole bodies from the morgue so he could lift the skin a draw detailed diagrams of the human body?!?!? Most of the kids responded to that information with an abounding Eeeewwww! Me too actually. But think of it, what an incredible contribution to scientific research as well as artistic development. Someone had to do it! (Apparently, the Catholic church was not very impressed with him for this.) I learned so much and I had so much fun and I think the kids did too.
This year I plan to explore some of the great projects I came across during my research which didn't quite fit into the history theme but which I tucked away for a more basic program. I'm also going to take a closer look at the Alberta curriculum and cover a few of its recommended concepts. Some of which are, printing, painting, fabric arts, drawing and sculpture. I can't wait to try some sculpture. I never done it in class yet.
Well, here we go....
Week 1
I decided to start the year off with one of my favorite media. Chalk. I just love the colors and the texture and how easily and beautiful they blend together. Chalk is a great first time media because it is really forgiving and easy to work with. Some of the kids in this class had never experienced the media before, which was quite fun for me as I love introducing the kids to new things.
With this project we practiced techniques such as observational drawing, "smooshing" and blending colors, and outlining. We talked about our brains and how they are pleased to see all the primary colors together in the form of complimentary colors. In this case, blue with orange, which is actually, blue with red and yellow mixed together. This just fascinates me! The kids really loved this project with the exception of 2 boys who were absolutely "creeped" out by the sound and feel of the chalk. So instead they worked with oil pastel. Can you pick their work out?
I decided to start the year off with one of my favorite media. Chalk. I just love the colors and the texture and how easily and beautiful they blend together. Chalk is a great first time media because it is really forgiving and easy to work with. Some of the kids in this class had never experienced the media before, which was quite fun for me as I love introducing the kids to new things.
With this project we practiced techniques such as observational drawing, "smooshing" and blending colors, and outlining. We talked about our brains and how they are pleased to see all the primary colors together in the form of complimentary colors. In this case, blue with orange, which is actually, blue with red and yellow mixed together. This just fascinates me! The kids really loved this project with the exception of 2 boys who were absolutely "creeped" out by the sound and feel of the chalk. So instead they worked with oil pastel. Can you pick their work out?
Fall Sunflowers
Week 2
This week we played with water color paint. Water color can be a very difficult medium to work with as it can quickly get away from you and wreak havoc on your artistic vision. The project was designed to allow the kids a chance to play with water color paint and to introduce them to the idea of abstract art. Some of the techniques practiced were, painting wet on wet, color mixing, splattering paint as swell as discovering the effects of sprinkling salt or dropping rubbing alcohol. onto the painted areas . It was fun to see all the effects that were created. After the kids finished there painting we took a close look at all the shapes and colors through a view finder and picked out all the surprising unintentional subjects we could find. These were then sketched in with black ink and given titles. It was a fun and challenging activity to exercise our imagination muscles.
(Click on any art piece to see a larger version:)
This week we played with water color paint. Water color can be a very difficult medium to work with as it can quickly get away from you and wreak havoc on your artistic vision. The project was designed to allow the kids a chance to play with water color paint and to introduce them to the idea of abstract art. Some of the techniques practiced were, painting wet on wet, color mixing, splattering paint as swell as discovering the effects of sprinkling salt or dropping rubbing alcohol. onto the painted areas . It was fun to see all the effects that were created. After the kids finished there painting we took a close look at all the shapes and colors through a view finder and picked out all the surprising unintentional subjects we could find. These were then sketched in with black ink and given titles. It was a fun and challenging activity to exercise our imagination muscles.
(Click on any art piece to see a larger version:)
Mystery Paintings
Week 3
Today we made Collographs. Collograph's are a form of printing where a variety of textured materials are glued to a stiff board to make a printing plate. The materials used to create this collage type printing plate are as only as limited as your imagination.
Because we are well into the harvest season we focused our sights on creating fall pumpkins. First, we drew our pumpkins onto soft foam, then we cut them out into segments before gluing them onto our boards to make our plates. Because we used foam as a base kids were able to etch patterns into each of there pumpkin pieces. Finally, we were ready to make our prints. Students use rollers to apply paint to their plates before pressing them onto the paper.
It was a very intensive 2 hour process but the results were beautiful.
Stayed tuned to see Friday's work coming on November 25th:)
Today we made Collographs. Collograph's are a form of printing where a variety of textured materials are glued to a stiff board to make a printing plate. The materials used to create this collage type printing plate are as only as limited as your imagination.
Because we are well into the harvest season we focused our sights on creating fall pumpkins. First, we drew our pumpkins onto soft foam, then we cut them out into segments before gluing them onto our boards to make our plates. Because we used foam as a base kids were able to etch patterns into each of there pumpkin pieces. Finally, we were ready to make our prints. Students use rollers to apply paint to their plates before pressing them onto the paper.
It was a very intensive 2 hour process but the results were beautiful.
Stayed tuned to see Friday's work coming on November 25th:)
Collographs
Week 4
For our 4th week I decided to bring back an all time favorite, Aluminum Reliefs. A relief, in art, refers to any object or pattern that projects from a flat background. For the Fall Leaf Collages and the Pumpkins we focused on making patterns. The kids were asked to draw objects in front and behind. We also talked about negative space and positive space and how we create balance between the two elements. I have one of these hanging in my art room and kids or parents often comment on how beautiful it is. These are no exception. Though, unfortunately, the photos of these beautiful projects do not do them justice.
For our 4th week I decided to bring back an all time favorite, Aluminum Reliefs. A relief, in art, refers to any object or pattern that projects from a flat background. For the Fall Leaf Collages and the Pumpkins we focused on making patterns. The kids were asked to draw objects in front and behind. We also talked about negative space and positive space and how we create balance between the two elements. I have one of these hanging in my art room and kids or parents often comment on how beautiful it is. These are no exception. Though, unfortunately, the photos of these beautiful projects do not do them justice.
Aluminum Reliefs
Week 5
This week we worked with the "common" pencil crayon. Otherwise known in the art world as, colored pencils. Boring? Not at all! So many of us were introduced to pencil crayons early in our school years, but if you were like me you never really learned how versatile and fun they could be. In class today, I introduced the kids to 5 different techniques they could apply to using this simple medium. They were, stippling, hatching, cross-hatching, back and forth strokes and scrumbling. Though we practiced them all, we mainly focused on scrumbling as they worked through their Hot Air Balloon/Bird projects. The kids were asked to use scumbling technique to make smooth layers of color eliminating any scratchy, scribbly lines. We also talked about shading, adding more layers, and how things that are farther away are darker and things that are closer are lighter in color. This we applied to the seams of the balloons and the bodies of the birds. It is much harder than it sounds.... at least in terms of patience and attention spans. As you can see they all did pretty good until they got to the sky. They were getting itchy to be scratchy:)
This week we worked with the "common" pencil crayon. Otherwise known in the art world as, colored pencils. Boring? Not at all! So many of us were introduced to pencil crayons early in our school years, but if you were like me you never really learned how versatile and fun they could be. In class today, I introduced the kids to 5 different techniques they could apply to using this simple medium. They were, stippling, hatching, cross-hatching, back and forth strokes and scrumbling. Though we practiced them all, we mainly focused on scrumbling as they worked through their Hot Air Balloon/Bird projects. The kids were asked to use scumbling technique to make smooth layers of color eliminating any scratchy, scribbly lines. We also talked about shading, adding more layers, and how things that are farther away are darker and things that are closer are lighter in color. This we applied to the seams of the balloons and the bodies of the birds. It is much harder than it sounds.... at least in terms of patience and attention spans. As you can see they all did pretty good until they got to the sky. They were getting itchy to be scratchy:)
Colored Pencils
Week 6
Oh my goodness! Week 6 already? Weeks are going by so fast!
For our project this week I introduced the kids to the concept of Mixed-media art. Mixed-media is just what it says, artwork that mixes 2 or more media forms to create one great work of art.. The inspiration for this project, Winter Trees, came from South African art blogger, Jacquelien of Kids Artists.
This piece allowed the kids to combine a variety of media to create the effect of a cool, snowy winter's eve. They used, soft pastel, tissue collage, permanent marker design, splatter painting and a touch of glitter. Once all of their pieces were prepared they were asked to place their trees according to distance and size.
Often the photos of their work doesn't reflect the actual finished work. Surprisingly, this is one of those times. Once we had them all cropped and matted they were all stunning!
Friday's work is still to come:)
Oh my goodness! Week 6 already? Weeks are going by so fast!
For our project this week I introduced the kids to the concept of Mixed-media art. Mixed-media is just what it says, artwork that mixes 2 or more media forms to create one great work of art.. The inspiration for this project, Winter Trees, came from South African art blogger, Jacquelien of Kids Artists.
This piece allowed the kids to combine a variety of media to create the effect of a cool, snowy winter's eve. They used, soft pastel, tissue collage, permanent marker design, splatter painting and a touch of glitter. Once all of their pieces were prepared they were asked to place their trees according to distance and size.
Often the photos of their work doesn't reflect the actual finished work. Surprisingly, this is one of those times. Once we had them all cropped and matted they were all stunning!
Friday's work is still to come:)
Mixed Media
Week 7
This was an interesting week for me. Every year I try to add new projects and to stretch myself by learning and introducing something I've never tried. This was one of those projects. I was a bit nervous introducing this project, Wire Sculpting, for a couple of reasons. One reason being my concern for the kids safety in terms of getting their eyes poked and another reason being my uncertainty of how much they would enjoy it. Well. . . no eyes got poked:) and the all LOVED it!
For this project the kids were introduced to tools such as a variety of pliers and wire cutters. They were then given soft malleable wire and a block of wood. We discussed a few possible subject categories and away they went. his project required a lot of problem solving and was harder for some than for others. It is much more difficult than you may think to create an object from lines of material. When they were finished with their sculptures, they painted their blocks and I drill holes for them to stand. It was very interesting to see their imaginations develop as they moved along and had to work out their ideas
I am very pleased with all the effort that went into the final pieces, and I am really happy that they enjoyed it so much.
This was an interesting week for me. Every year I try to add new projects and to stretch myself by learning and introducing something I've never tried. This was one of those projects. I was a bit nervous introducing this project, Wire Sculpting, for a couple of reasons. One reason being my concern for the kids safety in terms of getting their eyes poked and another reason being my uncertainty of how much they would enjoy it. Well. . . no eyes got poked:) and the all LOVED it!
For this project the kids were introduced to tools such as a variety of pliers and wire cutters. They were then given soft malleable wire and a block of wood. We discussed a few possible subject categories and away they went. his project required a lot of problem solving and was harder for some than for others. It is much more difficult than you may think to create an object from lines of material. When they were finished with their sculptures, they painted their blocks and I drill holes for them to stand. It was very interesting to see their imaginations develop as they moved along and had to work out their ideas
I am very pleased with all the effort that went into the final pieces, and I am really happy that they enjoyed it so much.
Wire Sculpting
Week 8
Yikes! That last week already!
This weeks project was chosen based on the very very strong request of one of my students. Every week he arrived in my class and tried to take in the many many art projects that cover my walls. This one in particular grabbed his attention and each week he put in his request to include it in this course. How could I resist:)
The project was inspired by none other that Claude Monet. I first did this one in my Art History for Kids program. It required the kids to exercise a lot of constraint as they were asked to do the whole piece in very small brush strokes. It takes time but the end results were very beautiful.
Before we began this painting we talked about Claude Monet and his life and we learned that he was considered the father of Impressionism which is an art form of the 19th century characterized by small, light brush strokes, everyday subject matter with a strong focus on the effects of light on color and mood. We also discovered that Claude intended his work to be seen from a distance.
One student saw this for himself when he was able to see his work from a distance and realized he could see the "whole" more clearly. A great "aha! moment."
This project was done in acrylic paint, using a double loading brush technique. Horizons were high, leaving ample room for those lovely poppies.
Yikes! That last week already!
This weeks project was chosen based on the very very strong request of one of my students. Every week he arrived in my class and tried to take in the many many art projects that cover my walls. This one in particular grabbed his attention and each week he put in his request to include it in this course. How could I resist:)
The project was inspired by none other that Claude Monet. I first did this one in my Art History for Kids program. It required the kids to exercise a lot of constraint as they were asked to do the whole piece in very small brush strokes. It takes time but the end results were very beautiful.
Before we began this painting we talked about Claude Monet and his life and we learned that he was considered the father of Impressionism which is an art form of the 19th century characterized by small, light brush strokes, everyday subject matter with a strong focus on the effects of light on color and mood. We also discovered that Claude intended his work to be seen from a distance.
One student saw this for himself when he was able to see his work from a distance and realized he could see the "whole" more clearly. A great "aha! moment."
This project was done in acrylic paint, using a double loading brush technique. Horizons were high, leaving ample room for those lovely poppies.
Acrylic Impressionism
