The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola

Today I am thankful for the life and work of Tomie dePaola, award winning author and illustrator. This story, The Art Lesson, is based on his own childhood dream of becoming an artist. After you read this story with me, can you draw a picture of what you want to be when you grow up, like the author did on the last page?

Mystery Drawing Monday! March 29, 2020

*Please CLICK HERE for the May 18 celebration edition* 

*Please CLICK HERE for the May 18 celebration edition*

Hi Smartest Artists! Just like we do in class, let's try a Mystery Drawing at home - all you need is a paper and pencil, then you can add color and details with any tools you like. Listen for the clues and let's get started!
Teachers and parents, I have two packs of Mystery Drawings available in my Teachers Pay Teachers shop - this one is in pack #2.

Art at Home: Learning with SNOOPY!

You guys know how much I love Snoopy and the Peanuts gang - well, I was so excited this morning to see that they have created a learning packet just for you that includes Snoopy in Space - so exciting! I hope you will give these a try and send them to me on Artsonia, Seesaw, email, Instagram, or Twitter. Here's the link: http://ymiclassroom.com/lesson-plans/peanutsfamily/

https://www.peanuts.com/#

Art at Home: Mrs. Knight’s driveway art

Hi friends - my family made a chalk art star in the driveway on this beautiful spring day! All you need is chalk and masking tape. You can also do this on your wooden fence if you have one. See examples of the these in the Art at Home tab above. Don’t forget to share your pics with me - Artsonia, Seesaw, Instagram, Twitter, email... I'll take them all! Miss you, my Smartest Artists....

Thanks for sharing! Pics from week 2

  

Seeing this amazing artwork you guys are making on your own is just making me incredibly proud! I miss you guys so much. Very glad to see all your faces and your creativity from home.




Celebrating National Puppy Day on Monday!

Week 2 of Digital Learning

Thank you so much to all the families who are posting the art you are creating at home - I LOVE seeing your creations! Please keep them coming. 

In the tabs above, updated assignments have been posted for this week:

Digital Learning Days - assignments for grades 3-5

Art at Home- optional fun activities and links for all grades

Artsonia - upload your art creations from home

Links to the Special Area Bingo sheets:
K-2
3-5
Bonus!

I am also posting ideas regularly on Instagram (@smartestartists) and Twitter (@MKSAhopeknight). Take care Smartest Artists - I miss you!

Art at Home: Spring at the High Museum

Today is the first day of Spring, and the High Museum posted some of their spring-themed art. Which is your favorite? I like Mattie Lou O'Kelley's still life - the colors and patterns are exciting and I love Georgia folk art! Maybe you can collect some springtime artifacts and make your own still life at home - look for a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures. Taking your sketchbook or paper outside to draw is always fun and inspiring too! Post your pieces to Artsonia using the tab above or tag me on Instagram or Twitter, even email works. :) Save for your portfolios. Happy spring!!!

Art at Home: Found objects color wheel!

Art at Home projects are fun, optional activities for any grade level to try! Art assignments for Digital Learning Days are posted weekly in the tab above.

Make a color wheel with objects found at home - here are some pictures from other art teachers who posted on Instagram. You could also try doing this with your food, your clothes, or things you find in nature.

Start with the primary colors - red, yellow, and blue.

Add the secondaries - orange, green, and violet.

Fill in with the intermediate colors - yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green, and yellow-green.

Take a picture of your color wheel and send to me through email, tag me on Instagram or Twitter, or upload to Artsonia - see the Artsonia tab above for directions. Find my contact info on the right sidebar.
Don't forget to put all your found objects back where they belong :).

5th grade mask sculptures

Fifth graders took a dive into some ancient cultures by studying masks, which have been used in cultures around the world. People of Ancient Greece, Egypt, Asia, and the Americas created masks from natural materials for reasons like celebrations, storytelling, and memorials. Some masks were made to be worn, while others were symbolic.

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After looking at a variety of examples, students sketched ideas for human and animal masks using realistic and abstract styles. They selected a design and began work with 3D materials which we saved, like cardboard, marker caps, small boxes, and other doodads. We used liquid glue, string, and tape for most of our attaching, and I manned the hot glue gun for stubborn pieces. The kids were very creative in their designs and had a lot of fun using the wide variety of materials.

My example:

 Our supplies:

Digital Learning Days

Hi friends - please click on the Digital Learning Days tab above to see assignments for the next weeks. Keep in mind:

• Use anything you have at home - no special materials are required
• Try your best and make artistic decisions - mistakes and experimenting are part of creating
• I will also be posting some "Just For Fun" activities you can try if you have extra time
• Save your work to add to our portfolios when we return
• Posting your work (optional)- click the Artsonia tab and follow the directions to upload from home, or you can tag me on Instagram @smartestartists with your parents help

Stay safe and enjoy your time at home!

This is called “child’s pose” in yoga - great for relaxing! 

Never too late for a little Love!

So I forgot to post these amazing mixed media hearts back during Valentines season! I love hearts all year round, and mixed media is one of our concepts this time of year. We combined paint, stamp printing, yarn wrapping, and collage to create these hearts. Enjoy!

#mARTchmadness 2020: week 2

Little change of plans, my smartest artists! Due to our unexpected Digital Learning Days, I would love for you to vote for this week's artwork in the comments here. You can also vote on my Instagram or Twitter page with your parents' help - see the links on the right of this page.

Modern Masterpieces features four artworks from the past 200 years. First is Mary Cassatt's oil painting, Young Mother Sewing. This is an example of Impressionism, because it shows a moment in daily life and is painted with  loose brushstrokes in bright color. 

 

This very large oil painting shows General Washington and soldiers crossing the frozen river during the Revolutionary War.  This is an example of an artwork illustrating an historic event.


This brightly colored dancing cow is an example of Expressionism, which uses color and symbols to share an idea.


This striking quilt was made by a folk artist who worked in a group in her community, making quilts out of loved ones’ old clothing. Folk artists are self-taught.

mARTch madness 2020: week 1

This will be our third year celebrating Youth Art Month with a mARTch madness style Art History activity - students and staff will vote for their favorite artworks each week until we have a final four vote and an overall winner.
Our week one theme was Old World Art, and the winner with 53% of the vote was the Taj Mahal! Other competitors in this category included Egyptian Tomb painting of Nebamun, Greek pottery Dionysus Cup, and Johanne Vermeer's The Art of Painting.



Week two is Modern Masterpieces, including art from the last 200 years - a Gees Bend Quilt, Cassatt's Young Mother Sewing, Leutze's Washington Crossing the Delaware, and Marc's Yellow Cow. Stay tuned for this week's results!