The Art Palette |
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Students
have been creating wonderful works of art and using lots of new
materials. As
the semester comes to an end I’d like to share what we have
been working on. Kindergarten:
This semester has introduced them to
experimenting with many different tools and materials. In addition they
have
learned their primary colors and how to create a mountain landscape
with chalk. First grade:
We have spent time talking about real vs. abstract.
Beginning with the introduction of Kandinsky’s abstract work
to looking out
their window to see what is real or imagined. They have created real
portraits
of themselves and then took that same portrait and abstracted it. Second grade:
Students have begun to use their
materials with purpose and intention. They have created several pieces
using
watercolors along with pen and ink. They have additionally tried their
hand at
pastels “hiding” their chameleons. Third grade:
These students are beginning to understand paper
construction in 3-D and how to manipulate paper for effect. As well
they were
given the task of drawing an object found in the room and repeating the
drawing
using overlapping. Fourth grade:
At this grade level we always spend
time with color. They have been introduced to monochromatic, triadic,
and warm
and cool colors through various projects. We have seen some of
Matisse’s work
as we discussed vibrant color and pattern. Fifth grade:
Really seeing their subject matter through line,
shape
and perspective is how we start our year. Some of this work is hard,
(ask them
about their grid drawing) but it is well worth the effort especially as
we head
into middle school. Additionally we have begun to address pattern and
design. Sixth grade:
Sixth grade has been having some fun using pastels
for
cave painting as a tie in to their history class and creating optical
imagery
as they were introduced to its use historically in the first
billboards. Now,
they are learning true facial feature placement when creating a
portrait. This
has been a challenging task but will get them ready for perspective
drawing. Seventh grade: Students
have been expanding their
creativity through the use of collage as they have created movable art
and
looked at Romare Bearden’s collage art as they are creating
Jazz musicians
using this technique. 7L
took a sidebar
to create a replica quilt using symbols of the Underground Railroad as
they
studied them in their literature class. Eighth grade:
In preparation for their high school
art endeavors, these students will be working on art exercises tied
into the 14
elements and principles of design which are the building blocks for all
art and
design. These exercises are done in-between their larger projects.
Currently,
they are creating paper mache Elizabethan ball masks to tie into their
study of
Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” in
literature. Studio Art:
A small group of eighth graders have been trying
their
hand at acrylic painting on canvas using a monochromatic format of
shades and
tints. In-between they have used models to begin to draw true facial
features using
the ideas of shading for volume and value. I am very
excited this year to be
teaching this additional class and will expand upon
this as time and
schedule allow. In addition, I have been delving into
technology and using
the media projector and Elmo in conjunction
with my whiteboard and
the laptop computer to take my lessons to
another level. After the
holidays, we will be focusing on clay in all grade
levels. This is always a
big hit with students. I will be incorporating
the wheel for the
older students. NEEDS:
Old tools for carving soapstone, newspaper, wire
for armatures, holiday decoration items like feathers and sequins, wood
glue,
tacky glue, wide masking tape and unusual paper such as patterned
paper. Thanks
to everyone who has been donating all year. I use everything! |