Sunday, March 17, 2024
How to Catch a Leprechaun Art Activity
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Unlock Your Creativity With A Step-by-Step Guided Perspective Drawing
I have found that guided drawing lessons are beneficial for
middle school students for several reasons. Firstly, they provide a structured
and supportive environment for students to explore their creativity and develop
their artistic skills. I call these lessons: The one and done lesson. They are
great to teach before a break. (Holidays, Spring Break, Exams, etc…) These
lessons offer step-by-step instructions and demonstrations, helping students
gain confidence in their drawing abilities and encouraging them to express
themselves artistically.
Additionally, guided drawing lessons can enhance cognitive skills such as concentration, attention to detail, and spatial awareness. Have you ever taught a lesson using this method? I get tickled because many students will say – “hold up and pause, I need to get caught up”. As students follow along with the virtual instructor, they learn to observe and analyze visual information, improving their ability to perceive and interpret the world around them. This is huge because they must pay attention to keep up!
I feel guided drawing lessons promote relaxation and stress relief, serving as a therapeutic outlet for students to unwind and alleviate academic pressures. Engaging in artistic activities has been shown to reduce anxiety and increase feelings of well-being, making it especially beneficial for adolescents navigating the challenges of middle school. Normally, my class is pretty loud. Kids aren’t being rude they are just being social. I get it. I allow it, but on these days when there is little to no chatter and a hard lesson lift. It makes thankful for those willing to get outside of their comfort zone and produce!
Furthermore, guided drawing lessons foster collaboration and communication among students as they share their artwork, provide feedback to their peers, and collaborate on group projects. These interactions promote social skills and teamwork, creating a supportive community within the classroom. They often say what step did I miss or how did you do that and so on…this leads to good conversations at each individual tables.
Overall, to me guided drawing lessons offer middle school students a multitude of benefits, from enhancing artistic skills and cognitive abilities to promoting emotional well-being and social development. Integrating these lessons into the curriculum can enrich the learning experience and provide students with valuable tools for personal and academic growth. Bonus, if taught right before a break there is less mess to clean up š
Objective:
Students will develop their drawing skills and creativity by following along
with a guided drawing lesson sourced from YouTube. They will use basic shapes
and lines to create a unique piece of artwork while exploring the principles of
composition and design. This lesson aligns with the National Standards for
Visual Arts, focusing on creating, presenting, and responding to visual art.
Materials
Needed:
- Paper
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Internet access
(for YouTube video)
- Optional:
Colored pencils or markers for adding color to their drawings
Procedure:
- Introduction (5'ish minutes):
- Begin by
discussing the importance of exploring creativity and developing artistic
skills. Emphasize that everyone has the ability to create art, and there
are no right or wrong ways to express oneself through drawing.
- Introduce the
concept of guided drawing and explain that students will be following
along with a video tutorial to create their artwork.
- Guided Drawing
Activity (30'ish minutes):
- Access a
pre-selected guided drawing video from YouTube that is suitable for
middle school students. Choose a video that focuses on basic shapes and
lines, providing step-by-step instructions.
- Play the video
and encourage students to follow along with the instructor, pausing when
necessary to ensure everyone can keep up.
- As students
work on their drawings, circulate around the room to provide assistance
and encouragement. Offer tips on technique and composition as needed.
- Encourage
students to experiment with their drawings, adding their own creative
touches and personalizing their artwork.
- Reflection and
Sharing (15'ish minutes):
- Once the
guided drawing activity is complete, gather the students together for a
reflection session.
- Ask students
to share their thoughts on the experience. What did they enjoy about the
guided drawing activity? Did they encounter any challenges? How did they
overcome them?
- Invite
volunteers to share their drawings with the class, highlighting unique
elements and creative interpretations.
- Facilitate a
discussion on the importance of practice and perseverance in developing
artistic skills. Emphasize that mistakes are a natural part of the
creative process and encourage students to embrace them as opportunities
for growth.
- I am not going to lie, I am always rushed in this part of my lesson. So good luck to you all!
Assessment:
Assessment for this lesson can be informal, focusing on student participation,
engagement, and willingness to explore and experiment with their drawings.
Encourage students to reflect on their progress and growth throughout the
activity, emphasizing effort and creativity rather than achieving a perfect end
result.
National
Standards for Visual Arts Alignment:
- Creating:
Students will demonstrate their ability to create original artworks using
basic shapes and lines, applying principles of composition and design.
- Presenting:
Students will present their artwork to their peers, sharing their creative
process and discussing their interpretations.
- Responding:
Students will reflect on their experiences with guided drawing,
identifying strengths and areas for improvement, and exploring connections
between their artwork and personal experiences or emotions.
1969
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Mavis Stevens Takes Her Last Chance Trailer Park on the Road!
Create, Collaborate and Celebrate Below is a cut and pasted version of the original article for your convenience to read.
Every year, Maclay students come together for Celebration of the Arts (COTA) and celebrate the importance of observing, appreciating and creating art of all kinds.
COTA is certainly not a new thing for the Maclay community. Beginning in 2016, it is now an annual tradition on campus that many look forward to every year.
“About ten years ago, Mr. Milford took over as head of school and he challenged Mrs. Thomas [Maclay theatre teacher] and I to help make the arts not hidden,” middle school art teacher and organizer of COTA Kim Daniel said. “We thought long and hard and decided a “Field Day” for the arts was the way to go. This spawned other ideas over time.”
This year’s COTA has a theme of embracing neighborhood block parties and promoting camaraderie among neighbors. This One School block party will take place on the football field from 12-2 pm on Mar. 1, a lively event allowing people to come together, celebrate and strengthen bonds. It will include booths with plenty of artsy activities, along with some special guests coming to speak to the students.
Among these guests is renowned folk/fiber artist and now celebrated author Mavis Stevens, who will be coming to Maclay for COTA and speaking about her debut book, “Last Chance Trailer Park.”
Stevens has been creating art for almost all of her life, starting out at seven years old after being inspired by folk artist Eddie Martin at a street fair. Then, by watching her mother and her mother’s friend knit and crochet, Stevens decided yarn was her medium. She knitted, crocheted and embroidered, and when her cousin suggested she sign up for a festival at 15 years old, she found her career path.
“I feel I am called by a higher power to do what I do,” Stevens said. “My work has taken me places and introduced me to people that are beyond any dreams I could have ever had. I am humbled to live such a wonderful life.”
When she was a senior in high school, Stevens met Mrs. Daniel, and her sister Karen, by teaching them art for a school program. The positive influence of maintaining old relationships is why Daniel was inspired to invite Stevens to COTA this year.
“This upcoming Celebration of the Arts Day at school presents a perfect opportunity to share Mavis’ story with others,” Daniel said. “By highlighting her journey and the impact she has had on her students, customers and clients over the years, we can emphasize the importance of promoting arts education in schools and our communities. The arts provide students and community members with a unique outlet for creativity and self-expression, and they play a vital role in fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Her book is all about community as her main character, Lucy, shows us.”
Because of her immense passion for creating art, her long-time friendship with Daniel as well as her journey to publishing a children’s book, she seemed to be the perfect guest to celebrate the importance of creating art through her book “Last Chance Trailer Park.”
“Celebrating art is important because it allows us to express ourselves in creative ways,” Daniel said. “Art brings people together and helps us understand different perspectives. It’s a special way to communicate without words and to show emotions that might be difficult to express otherwise. Art also makes our world more beautiful and interesting. Celebrating it reminds us of its importance and encourages everyone to be creative!”
Stevens wrote and self-published the book, after working on it for 13 years. She opted to self-publish it, with the help of illustrator Maruf Hasan.
“It all began with the roughest manuscript you could imagine,” Stevens said. “Over time, I had to make changes because references became outdated. For instance, mentioning ‘area codes’ in conversations lost relevance with the widespread use of cell phones. I kept jotting down notes and stuffing them into various drawers, and I still stumble upon them to this day! Two years ago, I faced a diagnosis of breast cancer, which made me rethink EVERYTHING in my life! Today, I am cancer-free! When I finally got that book in my hand, pure joy!”
After years of hard work, “Last Chance Trailer Park” is now published. Stevens will be bringing her book and its message with her to Maclay for COTA 2024. The importance of celebrating art is a prevalent theme in her life and translates into her work. The Maclay community welcomes her with open arms to share her journey with art and inspire the students to create art of their own.
“The overall message in my book is community: Taking care of each other and ‘doing life’ together,” Stevens said. “Life does not always go the way you expect. There is no direct path; there are always people around you who will guide you. They aren’t who and don’t look like what you think they will. The community you find yourself in is precious, be it school, neighborhood, family, or wherever ‘two or more are gathered.’”
See I told yall it was a good article! I appreciate Ms. Freeland for allowing Vine to research and write on this topic. It sure was win / win for all involved.
Monday, March 11, 2024
LS Lowry Inspired Urban Landscape using Perspective
L.S. Lowry was an
English artist known for his unique style of painting urban landscapes,
particularly scenes of industrial northern England during the early to mid-20th
century. His paintings often feature industrial buildings, factories, and
people going about their daily lives in a stylized, almost stick-figure-like
manner. Click the video below to learn more about him and his style of art.
Once I read about LS Lowry, it inspired me to teach a lesson on him using chalk. I followed the guidelines of a guided instruction lesson below. This was a fantastic lesson to teach leading up to spring break. Yes, it was kind of a one and done lesson. Students seemed to enjoy it and the finished products looked nice. We don't use many lessons with just chalk, so I jumped at this opportunity to do so.
Objectives:
- Students will learn about the
artist L.S. Lowry and his style of urban landscape painting.
- Students will create their own
urban landscape artwork using perspective techniques inspired by Lowry's
work.
- Paper 9x12
- Pencils
- Rulers
- Erasers
- Visual references of L.S. Lowry's
artwork
- Colored chalk
- Introduction to L.S. Lowry: Begin the lesson by showing
examples of L.S. Lowry's artwork to the students. Explain that he was an
artist who painted scenes of cities and industrial areas in a unique
style. Discuss elements such as the use of simple shapes,
stick-figure-like people, and the sense of perspective in his paintings. I
used the video above. There are several on YouTube that you can see what
fits your fancy.
- Understanding Perspective: Introduce the concept of
perspective to the students in simple terms. This lesson for me was on a spiral
of another lesson teaching the concepts of perspective. Explain how
objects appear smaller as they get farther away and how perspective lines
help create depth in artwork. Use simple examples and demonstrations to
illustrate this concept.
- Sketching the Urban Landscape: Have students sketch their own
urban landscape scene on their paper using pencils. We followed along with
Emmylou. She encouraged them to include buildings, streets, and people,
and to consider perspective by making objects farther away appear smaller.
This was a nice change from just me teaching. We were all engaged and waiting
to learn what the next step was going to be.
- Adding Details: Once the basic sketch was
complete, encourage students to add details to their urban landscape, such
as windows on buildings, cars on the streets, and people going about their
daily activities. Emphasize the simplicity of shapes and figures, as seen
in Lowry's work. Students can add more than the video or not.
- Chalk: After the sketches are
finalized, provide students with colored chalk to add color to their
artwork. Encourage them to use bold colors like Lowry's style. Remind them
to consider light and shadow to add depth to their artwork.
- Reflection: Once the drawings were complete,
we had a class discussion about the experience. Students were able to
reflect on what they learned about perspective and L.S. Lowry's style of
painting. We will display the artwork on our Instagram account to showcase
the students' creativity.
National Standards Alignment:
- Visual Arts Standards:
- VA:Cr1.1.1: Engage
collaboratively in creative art-making.
- VA:Cr2.1.1: Experiment with
various materials and tools to explore personal interests in a work of
art or design.
- VA:Re7.1.1: Compare the
materials, technologies, media, and processes of the visual arts with
those of other arts disciplines as they are used in creation and types of
analysis.
This lesson plan provides a hands-on approach for any aged students to explore perspective and create their own urban landscapes inspired by the art of L.S. Lowry, while also aligning with national visual arts standards.
Thanks
for stopping by and Happy Spring Break to you all, 1969