Kindergarten Color Wheels

Kindergarteners read the book Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh as part of their study of color. Students are currently learning about primary and secondary colors and the color wheel.

After reading the book, students created Mouse Paint-inspired color wheels. Students used primary colors to create their own secondary colors. Then, they turned the colored paper into mice, added details to the face and different kinds of lines for tails!

Check them out!

Claes Oldenburg Crayons

Here are a couple of pictures of the remaining crayons from the the first graders! By special request!

Fifth Grade Rope Baskets

Here are a couple of examples of this year's rope baskets, focusing on the art concept of pattern.

Papier-mâché Projects in Progress

Here is a look at the papier-mâché projects as students take them through the sculptural process.

Third grade: Giacometti-inspired figures

 

Fourth grade: Oaxacan-inspired animals

Fifth grade: Garden gnomes

FINAL PROJECTS COMING SOON!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year All!

I hope you had a restful and enjoyable holiday with your families! Thank you so much for all of the wonderful gifts that were given before vacation. I always love to see the little faces of the children as they act the part of elf and deliver their gifts! I am so blessed to work in such a giving community.

The month of January has been filled with a study of form and three-dimensionality. Students in grades 1-5 have been studying a variety of artists and art and making artwork inspired by them.

Students in grade one studied the artwork of contemporary sculptor Claes Oldenburg. Oldenburg does artwork based on the concept of magnification. He makes huge, building –size sculptures of everyday objects. After viewing Oldenburg’s art, students learned about armatures and papier-mâché, and then created their own magnified sculptures of pencils or crayons.

Second grade learned about Navajo folk art chickens, which are sculptures of chickens made using bright colors and patterns. After making armatures from granola bar boxes, students papier-mâchéd, and painted. We then added straw to the sculptures for a finishing touch.

Alberto Giacometti was the inspiration for the third graders’ sculptures. Students learned that Giacometti created the human form in a unique and interesting way, which has not been recreated by any sculptor since. Each student created his/her own Giacometti-style work of art.

Fourth graders learned about the Oaxacan wood carvings of Mexico. Oaxacans created animals that were stylized through exaggeration and creative color and patterns. Students were tasked with creating a sculpture plan for an animal of their choosing, and then creating an armature based upon their design. Papier mache came next, and students will be painting their sculptures during the next rotation.

The history of garden gnomes was taught to the fifth graders before they also created a sculpture plan for their own gnome. Gnomes were to have an accessory and students had to determine what materials would best suit the creation of their gnomes. Fifth graders will also be painting their gnome sculptures during the next rotation.

Kindergarteners have finished their study of pattern and moved onto color. They began with a study of Piet Mondrian and his use of primary colors. We have continued to study primary and secondary colors, and students have been introduced to ROY G. BIV to learn the colors of the rainbow. We will continue to work with these concepts and also move onto warm and cool colors in the coming weeks.

Organic Shapes and Complementary Colors

Students in second grade studied the concept of organic shape and complementary colors, and then created an Op Art piece of artwork based on the work of Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely.

Magic Carpet Lines

At the conclusion of their unit on lines, students created magic carpets using the different kinds of lines that they had studied.

"Korn"dinsky!

First graders learned about shape and warm and cool colors by creating these Kandinsky-style ears of corn! Check them out!

Keith Haring Gets into the Groove!

I found this amazing video on YouTube tonight that uses Keith Haring's figures! Check it out!
Keith Haring Gets into the Groove

Square 1 Art is COMING SOON!

Welcome Back! Here's what we've been up to...

Dear Briggs Families,

I cannot believe that Cycle 1 of art is over, and we are on to Cycle 2! We have completed the artwork for the Square 1 Art Fundraiser, so you can expect to receive order forms and “Squickers” at the beginning of November. Your participation in the fundraiser is crucial to the art supply budget. Thank you so much for your prior support, and I hope you are looking forward to seeing your what your child has created this year! Remember — 45% or more participation earns us a bonus!

Cycles 1 & 2 of art focused on the concept of line and shape, two art elements that are identified as core course objectives. 

GRADE 5:

Mandalas, and their use of line and shape, were the focus of our first project. Next, students built on what they learned last year about the concept of perspective, or creating a 3D image on a 2D surface. Students practiced extreme perspective by learning about foreshortening, a tool that artists use to create depth and three-dimensionality in their work.

GRADE 4:

Students learned about 1-point perspective through the use of a horizon line and vanishing point to make two-dimensional shapes into three-dimensional forms. They used this new skill to draw their initials in perspective. Symmetry was the focus of our shape lessons.

GRADE 3:

The concept of contour line, or the outline around an object, was studied by third graders. Students explored contour line through an observational drawing of a fruit as it is eaten. Next, students studied how geometric shapes can be used to create more complex objects through the study of the artwork of Paul Klee.

GRADE 2:

Movement through line was the focus of second grade’s line projects. They studied the artist Keith Haring and learned about gesture drawing.  For shape, students studied the difference between organic and geometric shapes and created an “Onster” using these shapes.

GRADE 1:

First graders learned how line shows direction through the study of the terms vertical or standing line, horizontal or sleeping, and diagonal or leaning line. Students completed two different projects to help them master this concept. Next, students used geometric shapes to create more complex patterns and designs.

KINDERGARTEN students learned the ropes of the art room and practiced using tools. They have studied scissors and cutting and will be moving on to glue. Additionally, students learned about the different kinds of lines that exist. They “walked the lines”, sang about lines, and drew some lines.

Next cycle, students will be combining their knowledge of shape and line and using it to learn about pattern.

Lastly, thank you all for the $1.00 donation for storage portfolios! 

Sending creative thoughts,

Mrs. DiSalle