Picasso with Pizazz

In Learning from Picasso we explored the Cubism Art Movement and learned how to work from a still life.  Some hallmarks of Cubist art include:

• The fragmenting of three-dimensional forms into flat areas of pattern and color

• Overlapping and intertwining so that shapes and parts of an image are seen from multiple perspectives. 
• Balance of color and shapes

To begin this lesson we learned about the life of popular Cubist artist Pablo Picasso and looked at several works like the one below.

Supplies: 12"x18" Watercolor paper, still life objects, watercolor paints, brushes, india ink, newspaper, sheet music, charcoal pencils, graphite pencils, rulers, scissors

Step 1:  We set up a still life that included a keyboard, bells, some fruit, a vase, and a  rhinoceros figurine.  Students drew the still life with pencil on large 12" x 18" watercolor paper.

Step 2: The picture is divided into shapes of different sizes by using a ruler or straight edge to draw lines in various directions.

Step 3:  To add a unique twist to this project and to highlight the different shapes that were formed from drawing these separation lines, we used 5 mediums in coloring our still life.  Demonstrations were given to explain these various techniques:

•  graphite pencil shading
•  charcoal pencil shading
• watercolor application (in warm tones only)
•  black India Ink application
•   the use of sheet music and newsprint as a collage 

Students were encouraged to experiements with all of these mediums and applications. We tried to make sure no to ares of the same medium touched! After many weeks of hardwork and the practicing of skills, the results were striking!  These mixed media works were hung together as a large grouping.

              Emily

                Emmalee

             Hannah

                Roman

                Erin

                  Sydney

                  Miss Vanessa

Wintertime Birdhouses

In Sights and Sounds of the Seasons we discussed how birds survive the brutal cold winters here in Pennsylvania.  Some birds, like geese, migrate south to warmer climates.  Some birds stay here and often choose birdhouses to stay warm. 

• To start, sharpies were used to draw a birdhouse and any decorations for the house (perch, hole, roof)
• Next the children used colorful tempera paints to paint their birdhouses.
• The next class students used colorful papers, feathers, and buttons to create birds to live in their special birdhouses. 
• Lastly, we used our figures to add crisp, white snow to our pictures.  Enjoy!

 

Eddie

 

Cullen

 

Jack

 

Chloe

 

Meredith

 

Maddy

 

Aidan

 

Megan

 

Miss Vanessa

Mixed Media Scarecrows

In Sights and Sounds of the Seasons we created fabulous mixed media scarecrows to celebrate fall harvest. First, we discussed how scarecrows are used to prevent crows and other animals from eating a farmer's crop.  We also talked about how many families make (or buy) scarecrows as decorations during the Autumn season.  This project took two 1 hour classes, but make take longer depending on the student age and size of the watercolor paper.

Supplies include:

11"x 15" watercolor paper

Watercolors-pan or even better... liquid!

Craft Sticks

Patterned Paper and/or leftover painted paper

Construction paper

Raffia

Googly Eyes

Buttons

Sharpies

1: We began this project by using watercolors to paint a farm scene of crop fields and a blue sky.  Each hill was filled with bountiful fruit and vegetable crops. 

2. We also constructed a simple scarecrow "skeleton" using craft sticks and glue, which we would dress the following week. Use two sticks for the head and body, and then add arms and legs.

3. We continued this project the following week by focusing on giving our scarecrows clothing and a personality.  Students cut out pants, shirts, dresses, hats, patches, and faces using their skeleton as a template.  We use construction paper, patterned paper and some leftover painted papers.

4.   After our scarecrows were well dressed, we added googly eyes, raffia, and buttons.  Finally the scarecrows were glued onto their painted backgrounds.  Below are some of the fantastic results.

    Eddie                                        Cullen

     Beth                                               Karlee

                                              Seth

        Aidan                                        Adric

       Gaia                                       Chloe

            Levi                                     Maddie

            Megan                                   Meredith

 Miss Vanessa

Giraffes Can't Dance!

In Art Through Children's Literature we read a humorous and heartwarming story called Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae.  This book tells of the story of a clumsy giraffe named Gerald who's legs are too skinny.  The jungle is hosting a dance, and all of the other animals can do the tango, the waltz, and really groove.  Gerald isn't the best dancer and the other animals tease him and this makes him very sad.  A kind cricket plays Gerald some special music, and he realizes that sometimes if you're different, you just need a different song. 

 This story sends out a great message that you can excel and enjoy who you are even if, at first, the world does not play your tune. Additionally, it ecourages the validation and acceptance of a child who feels different--which is always a great message! Dance on!

Supplies:

White sulphite paper 12"x18" and 9"x12"

Colored Pencils

Tempera paint: blue, purple, white, green, yellow

Black Sharpies

Scissors

Glue Sticks

This project was completed in only two one hour sessions!

1. We began by creating a fabulous nighttime background for our giraffes to dance in.  First using cups, we traced a moon on 12"x18" white sulphite paper with a pencil.  Then in the bottom portion we drew a ground line where the grass would be/

2. Next we used purple, blue, and turquoise tempera paint to add a luxurious night sky.  We painted everything but the moon and grass.

3. We painted the moon white and then swirled the paint outwards to make the moon glow into the night sky.  We even added a few stars. 

4.  Then we painted the grass yellow. We counted to 100 together to allow the yellow to dry  and then added green paint on top. We turned our brushes upside down and use the ends to scratch in some grass texture. Some students were not present during this part, therefore, they used oil pastels on black paper to create their nighttime backgrounds.

Day two:

1. The next class we tackled the daunting task of learning how to draw a dancing giraffe.  We started with a simple oval shape for the belly.  I demonstrated how to make the giraffe dance in two poses, standing and doing a somersault.  Basically as long as the giraffe had 4 skinny legs, a long neck, and spots you were on the right track! 

2.  After drawing our dancing giraffes, we colored them with colored pencils using mostly yellow and orange. We outlined details like eyes, mouths and hooves in black sharpies.

3.  We carefully cut them out and glued them to our backgrounds. 

Here are our dancing giraffes--the children are so proud of these!

          Jake                                      Eddie

    Chloe                                            Victoria

   Gaia                                    Megan

    William                                    Yula

    Luke                                    Maddie

     Adric                                          Meredith

   Nicholas                                  Miss Vanessa

"Old Bear" prepares to Hibernate!

This week in Art Through Children's Literature we read "Old Bear" by Kevin Henkes.  This is a fabulous children's book that tells the story of a bear hibernating during the winter and dreaming of being a cub again.  He imagines the the springtime flowers, the summer butterflies, and the fall leaves blowing.  After reading, we discussed how animals prepare for the cold winters by eating lots of food or stocking up like squirrels do.  We even talked about how some, like geese, fly south for the winter to warmer climates.

This project took one class and used the following supplies:

Black and/or Blue Construction Paper-9"x12"

Manila Oaktag-9"x12"

Leaves

Tempera paint in warm colors, white, brown, and black

Scissors

Glue

1. We began this art project by taking on the tedious, but fun, task of learning how to draw a bear in two different poses, walking and standing.  We started by drawing the snout, then the head, and finally the body on manila oaktag. 

2.  Next, we used brown tempera to paint our bears. Students were shown how to add orange to add "highlights" to the parts of the bear that the sun hits, such as his head, back, and the front of his legs. We used the back of our brushes to scrape the wet paint to create a furry texture. We used bold black paint to outline our bears and add eyes and fur ruffles.

3. While our bear paintings dried, we used a variety of real leaves to print leaves on dark blue or black backgrounds.  We simply painted the underbellies (veined part) of the leaves with warm oranges, yellows, reds, and browns, and then turned them over and pressed them to the paper. A paper towel placed on top of the leaf while pressing helps get an even print and keeps hands clean!

4. Lastly, we carefully cut out our bears, leaving a bit of the manila border to make them "pop" off the dark paper, then used glue sticks to attach them to their habitats.

Here are some of our fabulous "Old Bears!"

                      Jake

                            Aidan

          Jack

                           Chloe

     

                    Eddie

               Maddy

                         Maxwell

           Megan

         Meredith

            Gaia

  

        Yula

     Miss Vanessa