This week the first graders learned how to draw people from head to toe! We first read the book The Art Lesson by Tomie DePaola and noticed that when Tomie got a chance to draw whatever he wanted in the art room he chose to draw the art teacher. So, we also drew pictures of the art teacher- me- in order to give them someone to look at to figure out what shapes could work when drawing a human body. With my first group of students their "shape observations" were pretty funny, because I let them pick whether or not they wanted to draw me with my baby belly! They turned out pretty funny, but with the second two groups I decided I would guide them through drawing me normal. Once our pictures were drawn we colored them in neatly with crayons and then added a background. They could draw me where ever they wanted; some picked the art room, others chose to draw me walking my dog, one drew us getting ice cream, and my personal favorite was me inside of a pig! I love their imaginations.
This week the fourth graders made texture sandwiches and burgers! We talked about implied and actual texture before creating the different parts of a sandwich using all different kinds of art supplies to create each texture. Once everything was cut out and ready we glued it on so that it looked like it was stacked on a plate! They turned out great!
The kindergarteners drew chameleons this week! We read the book A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni before drawing our very own chameleons. We then filled their bellies up with lines and painted them in using rainbow order!
For the 7th and 8th grader's animals project we studied two contemporary artists, James Ruby and Starla Michelle Halfman. We then talked about using texture and patterns in our art before the headed off to create their own animals. They found picture inspirations and drew them first, then used either colored pencils or acrylic paint to finish them. They turned out great!
Every year the second graders research famous Americans with their classroom teachers. Their research becomes a huge project that ends with a "Living Museum" where they dress up like their famous American, display all of their research, and invite the school, parents, and community members to come and learn! It is the coolest project ever and this year we thought it would be fun if the kids drew portraits of their famous American in the art room to be part of their museum.
We first drew several different eyes, noses, mouths, and ears before learning where things should go on a face to draw it in proportions. Then, they brought in pictures of their famous Americans to look at while they drew and selected the eyes, noses, mouths, and ears that looked most like their American. Once we were done drawing we colored them in with crayons as neatly as we could. Their frames aren't in the pictures, but they also added frames using brown construction paper. They turned out so nicely and it was so great to collaborate with their teachers! After drawing animals for most of kindergarten and first grade, the first graders and I decided it would be fun to combine a bunch of different animals to make wild things! We first read the book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak before looking at his illustrations and noticing that he used parts from different animals to create his wild things. We then practiced drawing a bunch of different animal's legs, arms, ears, and noses before combining them in our own ways to create our own wild thing! Once our wild things were drawn we added texture, colored them in with crayons, and painted them with watercolors. They even did a little writing to go with them in their classrooms!
For Read Across America Week and to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday, the third graders picked their favorite Dr. Seuss characters, drew them, and painted them. We had students pick characters from The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, If I Ran the Zoo, Oh, The Places You'll Go, Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and so many more! I love how different each of them turned out and how much time they put into each one! I am so impressed with their hard work!
For Kansas Day this year the third graders learned about how much of a prairie nerd their art teacher is before painting pictures of our state insect, the honeybee. We first practiced drawing honeybees, as scientifically correct as we could, from two different perspectives. Then, we drew four of my favorite prairie flowers; sunflowers, purple cone flowers, prairie cone flowers, and butterfly milkweed.
Once we had practiced drawing everything we talked about the importance of filling up space and a few different ways that they could do that for this project. I then sent them off on their own to draw a honeybee (or more) with their favorite prairie flower. They then added little details to fill the space as well as some colorful details with crayons. Once our pictures were all the way ready, we talked about mixing different colors (neatly!!!) with watercolors and painted in our entire page. I just love the way they turned out! This week the 3rd graders had a catch up day to finish their honeybees and Dr. Seuss characters. For those that were already done, I asked them to draw/paint a picture of what they thought they would see in space. I asked them to take their time with it and to be as creative as they could. I think they did an awesome job!
For their first project of the semester the 7th and 8th graders practiced drawing still lives! We practiced working with value and balance before they set up and drew their own still lives. Once they had it all planned out and ready they drew them in the end with either pencil, charcoal, chalk, oil pastel, or colored pencils. I am so impressed with the amount of detail and care they put into them! I'm a very proud art teacher!
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The artwork of the HES & HMS artists.
Art Projects by GradeArchives
December 2015
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