I love weaving!  This project was so much fun!  What a great way to end the year.  My third graders did tree weavings this year.  They had to pick a season, then they painted their paper plate to match the season.  I wanted to tone down the colors to go with our nature colored yarn, so they had to paint the whole plate brown or black first, then they painted the colors over top.  They cut the slits to make the warp strings.  Next, they wrapped the loom with yarn to create the warp strings.  They used the excess yarn to wrap up from the bottom to make the trunk.  Then, they used yarn to weave and create the top of the trees.  They turned out amazing!  I can't wait to do this project again next year!  

My fifth graders this year learned about the Egyptian culture for their clay project.  They learned about and create Canopic jars.  They had to make two pinch pots for the jar and attach them together.  They had to cut the opening of the jar.  They made the lid and attached a coil under the lid to prevent from slipping off.  They created something to attach to the lid.  Some students chose to engrave the base of the jar.  They antiqued them with watered down black paint and then added gold or silver paint with a sponge.  They turned out amazing!  I would buy these!      

My fourth graders made clay mugs this year.  We had a lot of fun with this project.  I had rolled slabs ahead of time for the base and the sides of the mugs.  They had to construct it using the score, slip, and bond technique.  They had to roll a coil for the handle and attach that.  Finally, they got to choose what subject matter they would use to design their mug.  Fun Functional Art!

3rd Grade Clay Cupcake Sculptures

My 3rd graders this year made clay cupcake sculptures.  This was a new lesson for me this year and I loved it!  The third grade clay standard is coiling, so this worked out perfect.  The students made a pinch pot for the base and then used coils to make the frosting.  Some students added a cherry or something on top.  They glazed them after they were fired.  They turned out great!  I will definitely use this project again. 

2nd Grade Sculpture Puzzles

My 2nd graders made sculptures that can be changed into different forms and can be put together like a puzzle.  We talked about the difference between sculptures and drawings or paintings.  We reviewed lines, shapes, and patterns.  We discussed the elements and principles of art.  Then, the students learned about zentangles.  They used lines and shapes to create zentangle patterns on circles of white paper.  They cut out the circles, glued them onto a piece of colored paper (to strengthen them and add something to the back).  I showed them how to cut slits on all four sides of the circle and then attach them together to make a sculpture.  They thought it was pretty cool that they can put them together in different ways each time.  They had a lot fun with this project!

      

Dessert Drawings-Yum!

We just finished Unit 1 and my third graders did dessert drawings inspired by Pop Artist, Wayne Thiebaud.  My students chose a yummy dessert to draw.  We talked about contour drawing and using form when drawing and coloring.  Then, they traced their drawings with glue to give it texture.  Finally, they used oil pastels to add color and more texture.  We talked about having a light source and using gradation to create the light source and form.  They turned out amazing!

Welcome Back! 2013-2014

It is the beginning of the year and I am finally getting on my blog.  It has been quite a busy start for me.  I am really excited to share students' artwork with you this year!  They are hard at work right now on our first project.  We will be done with them very soon and I will post pictures.  We are in Unit 1: Art is a Language were we start to develop and review art language.  We talk a lot about the elements and principles of art in this unit.  We will continue to use and talk about the elements and principles all year long.  I look forward to sharing the wonderful artwork of my students, so check back periodically in the next week or two, and all throughout the school year!

Clay Faces

My 5th graders studied the Georgia Artist, Kimmy Cantrell, for their clay unit this year.  I love this lesson and so do they!  It is a great lesson to show student engagement.  We look at Cantrell's artwork and discuss the symbolism behind his work.  We also focus on asymmetry for this project.  Then, the students create their own face with symbolism and asymmetry in mind.  They use their drawing as a template to cut out their face shape from a slab of clay.  They have to use both additive and subtractive techniques when creating their face.  They use the score and slip technique to attach their pieces.  After is dries and is fired, then they paint it with tempera paints.  They are so proud!!

 

My third graders created collograph prints by creating a landscape collage out of cardstock. They used the collage as their printing plate. We discussed foreground, middle ground, background, and how to create perspective on a 2D surface. After they printed they went back into their print with art sticks to add a little color.  It was not an easy process, but I think they turned out great!

Even the printing plates turned out to be a great piece of artwork!