Raccoon Portraits

Raccoons were created using chalk pastels and charcoal by k-4th graders.

Children chose watercolor, acrylics or chalk pastels to add a unique background.

Pageant of the Arts

 "Emu Woman" - Emily Kame Kngwarreye

 "The Connoisseur" - Norman Rockwell

 "Golconde" - Rene Magritte

 "Storm Boy" - Willie Seaweed

 "Starry Night" - Van Gogh

 "Starry Night"

Savannah, post pageant with niece Shaeye

As someone who is passionate about the arts, I am so fortunate to have had my children attend an elementary school that is dedicated to providing a strong fine arts program. This was the 31st anniversary of the school's award-winning Pageant of the Arts. Each year a new artist is selected and all students in first through fifth grade work on a reproduction of the masterpiece. In January, the 5th grade students begin learning the choreography (created entirely by some fantastic teachers) that accompany each piece. Fourth graders, who serve as narrators in costume as the artist themselves, begin memorizing their dialogue/introductions.

My daughter Savannah was chosen to be in the new piece, "Emu Woman" by Emily Kame Kngwarreye, an Australian aboriginal artist. Emily grew up in a remote desert known as Utopia and became an artist late in life, creating 3000 pieces in an eight year period until her death at 88. Her work was inspired by her cultural life as an Anmatyerre elder. The girls performing in this dance wore scarves in the same fashion as the artist herself. 

The pageant was held this past weekend and the children did a Wonderful job! Kudos to art teacher Mrs. Epps, Pageant Director, (and 1st grade teacher!) for the past 16 years, Mrs. Kutz, musical composer, Matt Cohn (from the musical group, Berlin) and the entire group of teachers, parents and volunteers that helped in creating another Fantastic Pageant!

*Due to statewide budget cuts (as well as across the US) this public school's art department is funded entirely by fundraisers and donations.
Note: (other artists celebrated were Albrecht Durer, Roy Lichtenstein, Anjana Kumar, Stuart Davis, Frederick Remington & Charles Russell.) 

Tropical Bird Posters

Amanda, 3rd grade

 Sophia, 3rd grade

 Nathan, 5th grade

 Emma, 3rd grade

 Avery, 3rd grade

 Alexa, 2nd grade

 Abbie, kindergarten

 Lacie, 3rd grade

Jenna, 4th grade

 Flynn, 2nd grade

Zoe, 3rd grade

This session my class theme is Wings, Fins, and Fur (birds, fish and mammals). Our first project was to create a dynamic tropical bird poster using oil pastel &/or watercolor. My K thru 4th group were encouraged to think about composition to keep the viewers eye moving around the space. Bird projects are always a favorite of mine!

Mini Master Samplings

Modigliani Style Portraits

 Oil Pastels on Black Paper

from this Lesson from Art Project for Kids

O'Keefe Flowers

Watercolor with Oil Pastels or Black Glue Outlines

Delaunay Inspired Eiffels

Oil pastel based on this lesson from last year

I bid my group of Mini Masters au revoir on this Good Friday. I've had a fun 5 weeks of introducing this group of 3rd graders to the works of Monet, Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso (and Contemporary Cubist, Sandra Silberzweig), Modigliani, Robert Delaunay, and Georgia O'Keefe. 

They were a fun and enthusiastic group, always eager and excited to dive into the next project. 

Sandra Silberzweig Inspired Portraits

My group of 3rd grade Mini Masters looked at the Cubist portrait work of Picasso and contemporary artist Sandra Silberzweig. This is the third time I've done an art lesson based on the work of Silberzweig. The children are always enthusiastic to get creating and really respond to her dynamic, vibrant work. These were created with minimal palettes of acrylics and children were encouraged to create a variety of colors, shades and tints. I was pleased with the diverse works from this lesson. Thanks to Ms. Silberzweig for inspiring a new group of young students!

Flower Power

Georgia O'Keefe Inspired

Romero Britto Inspired Collage

Original Post/Directions here

I have a very special student who has been coming to my classes almost consistently for over a year now. Here are two of her latest pieces. Beautiful work as always Jenna!

Matisse Meets Cezanne Still Lifes

 

                           


                           

I saw a version of this lesson first on Artsonia

My group of 3rd grade Mini Masters looked at the still life work of Paul Cezanne and Henri Matisse. From Cezanne, I wanted them to appreciate his love for light and shadow, tone and shade. And from Matisse, I wanted them to take away his love for color and pattern. (Of course, each artist is obviously worthy of a singular spotlight. And this is only simplifying aspects of their work, but I enjoy marrying the two artists' styles together - especially given my short, 5 week course.)

My students started by observing green, yellow, and red apples, and created contour drawings of them in different angles. They added color to their colored construction paper work using chalk pastels and charcoal shadows. They created a plate or basket in the same way.

For the Matisse background portion, I offered a variety of brightly colored patterned fabric as inspiration and encouraged them to become textile designers using oil pastels and watercolor. "This is not the time to be matchie matchie, poo poo". They had never heard this term, and were of course cracking up. But looking at Matisse's vibrant work, they saw it was fueled by a variety of patterns and colors.

I think these pieces came together beautifully. Nice job kids!

See Sofia, I told you it was frame worthy! : D

Here is a link to a similar lesson I did several years ago.
http://marymaking.blogspot.com/2010/11/cezanne-meets-matisse-apple-still-life.html