4th grade collaborative Solar Systems

4th graders worked on a collaborative art project to create their own solar system.   This system could be real or imaginary.  Students were introduced to shading a form and sphere and also wet on wet watercolor techniques. They used oil pastel, colored pencil, watercolor paint and tempera paint to complete their projects.

1st grade Mad Science Artists!

First graders learned the difference between a form and a shape.  They learned how to turn a shape into a form.  Geometric shapes become geometric forms. Circles become spheres, triangles become cones, pyramids or triangular prisms.  We used observation to draw various science beakers.  We talked about  transparent and translucent.  I added the color-mixing/wet-on-wet painting portion to add more science to the mix. Students drew lines for their liquid which we then filled in with secondary colors learning to mix the primary colors.  The next part of the project involved creating bubbles for our backgrounds using chalk pastel.  I found this project idea online, the kids did a great job.  This was more of a lesson on skill and technique (observational drawing, color mixing, and watercolor paints) rather than creativity

Back to School!!!

I always like to start off the year doing a school wide project or installation.  This year we read/listened to the book, The Dot, by Peter Reynolds to all students. It is a simple, witty story with free-spirited illustrations. This book entices all students to create by simply making a mark - and follow where it takes them. That one little dot marks the beginning of the main character's journey of surprise and self-discovery.   The Dot is about the creative spirit in all of us. Each student at CVE created a dot using their choice of materials.  It is amazing to see the uniqueness of each dot which reflects the individuality of all our students at Crest View.

3rd grade Map Makers

I always like to collaborate with classroom teachers and integrate academic subjects into the art curriculum. Since student were studying land forms in their classroom I thought this would be a great art lesson. We looked at all kinds maps and talk about how they are used. We discussed and reviewed land forms and talked about how a map is different from a landscape painting as a map is a birds eye view. Students learned about cartography and what a cartographer does.

Students designed their own map of a fictional or real place. They had a lot of freedom to create and were required to include the following: water and land, a title, a compass rose, and a map key with at least six land forms. 

Kindergarten Polar Bears under the Northern Lights

We discussed where polar bears lives, their decreasing habitat, and other characteristics about the animal.  Students learned how to combine basic shapes to create a polar bear.  Next class we learned a wet on wet watercolor technique and used salt to absorb the pigment to create an interesting effect to look like snow or starts in they sky. We talked about how we need to color carefully around the polar bear in order to use the negative space as our white color.  Here are some of their amazing paintings.

1st grade winter landscapes

To bring in the new year and celebrate the winter season first grade created winter landscapes. They learned  what a landscape is and how it differs from a still life and a portrait.  We discussed how objects in the distance get smaller as they are farther away.  They used sharpie to outline and bring out their bare branch trees and watercolor paint for their skies.

5th grade Geogria O'Keeffe Study

5th grade looked at O'Keeffe's art work. We discussed abstract art and how she enlarged and zoomed in on her subject which made her paintings look semi abstract. Students reviewed warm and cool colors as well as positive and negative space. They were introduced to values and used various tints and shades to make their leaves or leaf more interesting.

2nd Grade goes to the Taj Majal

We took a virtual trip to India to visit the Taj Mahal. Students learned about the architecture and why it was built. They are studying India in their regular classroom so this project was a good tie in to their curriculum.  We talked about symmetry, using size to show distance,  and one point perspective (which is a fairly advanced concept for 2nd grade but I like to give them options and provide a challenge for students who want to attempt).    We used watercolor paints to finish them up. They are amazing.

Solar System Art!

We integrated the 4th grade space science unit into art class. We talked about how to use value to create an image that looks more like a sphere rather than a flat circle. Students used tempera paint to explore color gradation and they also experimented with using watercolors to create a wet on wet technique in order to make a more realistic planet.  Students worked in collaborative groups to invent their own solar system.  They shared some very creative stories to explain the history of their solar systems.

4th grade Endangered Species

4th grade students researched an endangered animal.  Students used various media to complete their drawings. They learned about Endangered animals, texture, color, proportion and point of view.  This was their Square 1 Art project.

2nd grade documents the weather!

To tie in with the 2nd grade class study of weather,  we are painting pictures that show weather. This is part of the Square 1 Art project.  We talked about color and how to show movement using line. Students learned some new watercolor techniques and explored using crayon with paint.

1st grade Why is Blue Dog Blue?

Well the truth is sometimes 1st grade paints blue dog....

This is a square 1 Art project.  We read the book Why is Blue Dog Blue, by George Rodrigue.  Student learned how to draw a dog using basic shapes.  We talked about how color can represent different ideas and feeling.

Kindergarten paints Rainbow Fish!

In art class we read the book Rainbow Fish. We talked about the different shapes that make up  a fish.  We discussed how the scales are formed on some fish.  Students drew their own Rainbow Fish, they added color with oil pastels and then they used watercolor paint for the ocean, using a resist technique.  Finally each student added their shiny scale.