Friday - Spring Arts Showcase

I hope that you guys have enjoyed some fun art activities this week - it has been a thrill seeing what you have sent me! Today we are going to wrap up with some photos of the work you guys completed this week, a new Fan Letter from the Artsonia gallery, and a video lesson from me on coloring tips - so keep scrolling! :)

First let's take a look at this week's Mystery Drawings 😍😍😍: the Eiffel Tower with cherry blossoms

I'm so glad Mystery Drawings are something we can continue from our classroom - thanks for drawing with me, everyone!

Today's Fan Letter from the Artsonia Gallery goes toooo... 3rd graders Chloe and Serena, 4th grader Katsiaryna, and 5th graders Claire, Ashlyn and Haley:

Dear girls, 

Your pet portraits are amazing! Each of you found a unique way to show the beauty and sweetness of each of these FurKids shelter animals just by looking at their photos through your creative vision. It is wonderful to share your art with the world, especially when it can help others. Thank you for showing outstanding craftsmanship and attention to detail. #petpARTners

Your fan, Mrs. Knight

Here are some of the fabulous art submissions I received this week through Artsonia, Seesaw, Twitter, and email - I am proud of how all my artists are working independently at home!

Here is today’s drawing activity - spicing up your coloring projects! Grab your crayons and paper and let’s brush up on our coloring skills. 

Vegetable Collage (Matisse)

 

Another year of some great veggie collages inspired by Collage-Master Henri Matisse - read all about it and see a nice video of Matisse in action from last year's post here!  http://dolvinartknight.blogspot.com/2012/09/vegetables-by-matisse.html

This year we switched it up a little, using neutrals in the background. Tasty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocks and poetry

Well, this was a super cool lesson and I have to thank New City Arts for the great idea! Definitely check out her blog. I even used her student examples on my handout to show my kids the haiku and free verse poetry that we were trying out. I started by asking teachers for rocks to borrow, because the only ones I had were kinda boring. Little did I know, we had so many rock collecting teachers!

We used a range of shading pencils to complete a 7-part value scale, then set to work with our sketches and poems. Many kids asked, "Can I trace my rock?" which sparked a great conversation about drawing three-dimensionally versus a "footprint" drawing. Students used at least 4 of the values in the final drawing, along with a cast shadow.

The poems are so expressive - as we sketched, we jotted down descriptive words on our worksheet and even added a little personification by noting what our rock's mood or personality would be like. Some are serious and deep, while others are funny and light.

At the end of class, when most were finishing up, we watched an interesting 5 minute video from the TV show "How It's Made" about graphite pencils - it's attached at the bottom of the post. This is definitely a keeper lesson and a great start to the year.

300th post, 22nd year, 1st week

We are back in action at Dolvin Elementary, and ready to "reach for the stars" as this year's schoolwide theme. I can't believe this is my 22nd year teaching, and my 300th blog post! I have updated my class schedule, as seen here and also in the tabs above. Parents, please follow my blog by clicking on your method of choice to the right, so that you can see all the amazing things we are learning and making in art class. All of the student portfolios will remain in the art room until the end of the year, and they will be so excited to show them off to you next spring. Remind your little artists to wear art-friendly clothes on their art day, because even the washable materials can leave stains. Smocks and aprons are always welcome.

Click to enlarge

My 4th and 5th graders enjoyed a funny video while we were passing out materials, and they were dying to see more. You can find these skits on YouTube by searching "Kid Snippets" - they are hilarious and kid appropriate. Here's the one we watched called "Art Class" - thanks to The Art of Ed blog for posting these. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxmYKE14aM4

Face jugs 2013

Face jugs, a tradition in my 5th grade class every year.  See this post from last year with more info and a link to a great History Detectives clip about the origins of face jugs. Students could build a traditional "ugly" jug, an animal face, or a stylized human face (not so ugly). Both additive and subtractive sculpting methods were used on our clay bodies, made from joined pinch pots. We used Dick Blick glazes - a very affordable option with great results!

ready for first firing - can you see my "Finn" example on top?

new this year, pressing alphabet noodles in to spell names or phrases! love it : )

VIP: Starry Night, Fall 2012

Very Important Painting: Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night

Teaching the story of Vincent Van Gogh and the creation of Starry Night is, to me, one of the greatest moments of the year. We have studied this painting in many different ways in my room - watercolor resist, oil pastel - but I believe my favorite is this mixed media approach. We discuss the beauty of the night sky, and how Van Gogh found it especially wonderful that night, one of his first nights outside after a long hospital stay, with twinkling stars, a swirling breeze, and a cozy little village all tucked in under a glowing moon. I can't imagine a first grade year going by without this lesson.

A fun addition: Starry Night in Dominoes! We watched this at the beginning of day 2.

The iconic original