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

Stained Glass Fruit

In Model Masters students explored the popular art of creating a still life.  A variety of fruit was displayed and we were inspired by the French expressionist painter Georges Rouault.  Rouault's paintings reflect his former occupation as a stained glass artist, as they have vibrant colors and thick black outlining. This lesson was inspired by the fabulous art blog, Deep Space Sparkle!  We began this art project by drawing the fruit still life with pencil on canvas boards. Here is a picture of our fruit still life set up.

 Acrylic paints were applied thickly by double loading the brush with two analogous colors (red and orange, for example).  Paint was swirled on the canvas to mimic the look of stained class.  Black paint and tiny brushes were used to outline all the fruit, the bowl, and to add a stained glass pattern to the background.  Enjoy!  *Some students were not here the first day we did this project with fruit, therefore they painted a gourd and pumpkin still life.

Jake

Gaia

Adam

Anne-Kalin

Camille

Josh

Kenna

Maggie

Megan

Nicholas

Stephan

Victoria

Miss Vanessa

Painted Paper Gourd Collages

In The Sights and Sounds of the Seasons we made colorful gourd collages using homemade painted papers.  Children, old and young alike LOVE making painted paper--it's their chance to experiment and explore the endless possibilities of paint application and manipulation.

This was a two day project --one for painting papers and the next for making the collage.

Supplies are minimal and most are paint texturing items:

White suphite paper 12"x18"

Tempera paint in fall colors

Large Brushes

Magic Paint texturizing tools: Paint combs or scrapers,

 sponges, toothbrushes, bubble wrap...anything that will add texture

1. Paints in warm fall colored paints (red, orange, yellow, brown, and green) were set out and children used various items to texture white suphite paper.  Goards, pumpkins, leaves and  Indian corn were displayed so students can observe the textures and colors.

2. We used toothbrushes to splatter, sponges to dab, bubble wrap to print, combs to drag, and even our fingers! Names were put on the papers before painting began. Ensure that students put names on all papers--they can also just be made for sharing with the whole class (some kids do grow attached to their papers though, but will share...some!)

3. In the next class students were inspired by a still life of various gourds, pumpkins, leaves and Indian corn to create a unique collage.  Shapes were cut from the painted papers and sharing of papers was encouraged.  Objects were arranged to overlap each other. These were glued to black paper to make the vibrant colors pop!

 Below are some results.

Adric

Beth

Chloe

Cullen

Eddie

Gaia

Jake

Karlee

Levi

Maddy

Megan

Meredith

Seth

Miss Vanessa