Art Majors- Leaf Triptych

Medium Study

One project the art majors worked on this quarter had them creating 3 drawings of 1 leaf from observation. Each drawing needed to be completed in a different material (1 in colored pencil, 1 in drawing pencil, and 1 in sharpie).  The goal for this project was to focus on these four Elements of Art; Color, Line, Texture, and Value while including a range of shadows and highlights both on the leaf as well as the tabletop (cast shadows).

The students had 3 days to create and mount this leaf triptych and all students rose to the challenge.

The students drawings varied from realistic colors and details to a wide range of abstract patterns and designs to represent the leaves.

OP Art and Paper Weavings

4th Grade 

The students were introduced to the artwork of OP Artists Victor Vaseraly and Bridget Riley as well as the art movement know as OP ART (optical illusions).

The students discussed the different types of line used in both Vaseraly's and Riley's optical illusions. As well as why we thought these works of art were considered optical illusions when they look so different from our day to day optical illusions as those seen below.

To create their own OPtical illusions the students used a paper weaving method.  

To help them create a their weaving the students watched a step-by-step video (see below and sorry in advance about the squeaky audio during the fast-forwarded parts.

video coming soon

The great weavings created by some of the very talented 4th graders are shown below.

Bike Drawings

Complimentary Color Bike Drawings

In order to help our students be better prepared for their auditions to the Visual Arts Department at Suitland High School, one of the projects our Art 3 work on is drawing a Bike from observation.  

For this Bike drawing the students were using a complimentary color scheme to create the shadows and highlights on their portion of the bike.

Complimentary colors are colors that are across from each other of the color wheel.

The students practiced and sketched numerous times before decided upon an angle of the bike and the complementary color scheme that they wanted to use.

Below are some student examples of their complementary color bike drawings.

Kindergarten Robots

What do we need to make a Robot?

For this project the students are continuing to improve upon their shape and size recognition.

The students were directed to draw a robot using a variety of shapes.  We used squares/rectangles for the head, body, and arms.  The students could use triangles of the hands and buttons.  They were directed to use circles for the eyes, buttons, and wheels/feet.

The students did a great job at recognizing their different shapes and organizing them to create a robot.  Below are some adorable student examples of their robots.

Color Mixing

1st Grade- Mixed Up Mice

In first grade one of our more popular projects is our color mixing unit.  Last year the students created color chicks and this year we have created Mixed Up Mice.

The main focus for this project is to learn how to use our primary colors (red, yellow, blue) to create the secondary colors (orange, purple, green).

We began by reading the book Mouse Paints by Ellen Stoll Walsh.  This book tells the story of 3 little mice who climb 3 colorful jars of paint (yellow, red, and blue).  As the little mice climb out of the jars of paint and begin to step into different colored puddles of paint they soon realize they can create new colors when they mix 2 colors together.  

As we read the book the students completed the color addition worksheet, seen below.  

The students then participated in a directed drawing where we used different letters, shapes, and lines to draw 6 mice on a narrow piece of paper.

Student examples are shown below.

The students used a technique called marker painting to create their primary and secondary colors.  Strips of primary colors were drawn on each mouse to help the students with color mixing and painting.  
For more information about marker painting please contact me.

Watercolor Technique

Art 2's Watercolor Techniques 

For our second quarter project the Art 2's are working on a watercolor landscape.  In order to prepare the students to use this new material the students practicing using the watercolors 8 different ways.

We began by looking at the Crayola website that describes the different ways/techniques for using watercolor paints.  If you want to take a look at the website the link is listed below.

http://www.crayola.com/things-to-do/how-to-landing/watercolors.aspx

The Techniques Practiced Are:

Color Saturation
Wash of Color
Overlay
Wet vs. Dry
Salt Sprinkles
Plastic Wrap
Crayon Resist
Color Pencil Resist

The students had a great time experimenting and practicing with this new material.

Below are some of the student examples of working with different watercolor techniques.

Realistic Self Portraits

5th Grade Self Portraits 

During the first quarter in both Visual Arts and Health the fifth grade classes focus on positive self images.  Our first project included the students creating a profile portrait that was made up of 10 positive characteristics, selected by each student. For our second portrait the students were focusing on drawing realistic self portraits.

For Day 1 of this project the students watched the first 2 and 1/2 minutes of a youtube video that showed the students how the different parts of the face were measured and related to each other. To see the video click on the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WROSZ6803cE

Then using the worksheet below, we learned how to correctly draw the different proportions of the human face.

On Day 2 of our project we practiced making a skin tone that was similar to our own.  The students drew 5 circles on their papers and using different combinations of 2-3 markers they experimented making a skin tone that was similar to their own. Once they have filled their circles with the different marker combos, the students used a small amount of water to blend the different markers together. 

Teacher's Exemplars

Teacher's Exemplars on how to color in and paint the final drafts.

EXAMPLES OF STUDENTS COMPLETED PORTRAITS ARE COMING SOON!