Monday, July 31, 2017

Drawing the Line

The line art was done by 5th graders in the spring.  I had extra tempera paint leftover and thought it would be a good idea to recycle with another art activity.  The kids were pretty strung out because the end of school was near.  The line painting art activity was a perfect fit for this particular day.
Directions:
I showed a portion of the video below:



Then, The kids used paint and made lines and shapes with tempera.
Great back to school project or end of year project!

Have a look!


Things can get a little crazy at school and in life.  Sometimes YOU have gotta draw the line.  Aerosmith sings about it.  Have a listen. ❤


1965

Friday, July 28, 2017

Keith Haring and Aboriginal Art


Did you know haring made aboriginal art?  He sure did...click this link to find out more:
This lesson:

Description

Inspired by both Haring's line and the artwork of the indigenous people of Australia, Aborigines, the students from this school in Texas created distinctly patterned portraits using markers and paint.

Objective

Students will learn about Keith Haring's lines and the art of the Aborigines.
Students will practice fundamental elements of art- Line, Symmetry, Contrast, Balance, Color Tints & Shades...

Students will learn how to draw a face and facial features, developing an awareness of proportion and spacial symmetry.
Here are some great resources for Aboriginal Art for kids:
Aboriginal art is art made by indigenous Australian people. It includes work made in many different ways including painting on leaves, wood carving, rock carving, sculpting, ceremonial clothing and sand painting. Aboriginal art is closely linked to religious ceremonies or rituals.

Color for Aboriginal art was originally sourced from local materials, using ochre or iron clay pigments to produce red, yellow and white, and black from charcoal.

 Aboriginal Dot Paintings and their Origin. ... The defining criterion for a dot painting is the technique used - that it is produced by repeated imprints of a paint covered brush, dotting stick or other implement onto the surface of the painting and that in doing so, there are recognizable 'dot' marks on the canvas.


So many things link back to Aboriginal Art even this song by Midnight Oil - 1969

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Smitten With Mittens!

I snagged this idea from Pinterest.  Unfortunately, I have no idea from who or where.  To the great unknown mitten creator, thanks for sharing this fun art idea. My kids loved it!  

Directions:
Kids trace a mitten on a sheet of paper.
Kids colored with oil pastel.
Kids outlined the mittens.

Easy as pie, and fun, fun, fun!

Here is crazy, fun Mick singing about a gal that was cold.  Maybe she needed mittens?  Bahahahahahaha.

1965

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Blue Dog

 Blue Dog Days Of Summer...yep, it is that time of year! We are getting ready to go back to school and plan out our units for the school year. Click the link below to find out about George Rodrigue
Other post in our blog on Blue Dog
 Born and raised in Cajun Country, Louisiana, U.S.A., artist George Rodrigue portrayed on his canvas what he feared was his dying heritage—-including its land, people, traditions, and mythology.  As he often explained, he sought to “graphically interpret the Cajun culture,” preserving it in the face of a progressive world.
 
Rodrigue’s art studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles spawned one of the greatest success stories in American art.  In the early 1990s his Blue Dog Series, based on the French-Cajun loup-garou legend, catapulted him to worldwide fame, while his dark Renaissance-like landscapes developed into robust modern masterpieces.

As a passionate philanthropist, Rodrigue founded the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, advocating the importance of the arts in education.  Programs include art supplies for schools, scholarships, and arts integration through Louisiana A+ Schools.


Learn more about George Rodrigue on Wendy’s blog www.wendyrodrigue.com and the book The Other Side of the Painting (2013, UL Press). For information on events and available artwork visit www.georgerodrigue.com




Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Christmas Ornaments in July!

During the month of December, the kids are wild!  I decided to let the fifth graders freestyle on this ornament project.  I think they are pretty cute Christmas ornaments.
Directions:
I cut triangles of cardboard on the paper cutter.  Easy Peasy!
The kids picked out yard and wrapped the yarn around the cardboard.
Then, they used hot glue (low setting) to glue on pom poms and a string for hanging.
Cute and fun for those hectic Christmas elves!
Here is a little Jason Mraz acoustic for ya!
1965

Friday, July 21, 2017

Cityscapes and Working 9 to 5

Here is the 4th Grade Grandparents' Day art project.  What is a Grandparents' Day? (Previous Grandparents'Day Posts)  Grandparents' Day is the first Friday in March at our school.  We have big to-do at Westfield.  Each class prepares a song and dance for their grandparents, parents, and friends.  To help out the classroom teacher, I always try to get the kids to do artwork to go along with their song.  Remember the movie 9-5 🎬 with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton?  Well, the fourth grade class did their dance to that song.  Did you know it was a Grammy winner?  Well, it was Best Country Song in 1982 🎶.
Now, on the the art.  I had the kids make a cityscape and decorate.  
Directions:
Prep work:
I had to get pictures of the kids.
I had to cut out the pictures of the kids.
I cut strips of paper for the buildings.
The kids?
Well, they glued strips of pre-cut paper on the blue paper.
They painted designs.
They glued their pictures on the art.

Have a look! 👀

Summer is almost over, teachers!  We will soon be back working 7-4, not 9-5.  Here you go!
1965