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

Lois Ehlert Inspired Bird Collages

My experiment made from leftover paper from my 

Abstract Art Fun class collage project

I was inspired by this Winter Bird Art Lesson from Deep Space Sparkle. My Children's Book Art group looked at the collage work of Lois Ehlert in her books, Snowballs, Pie in the Sky, and Top Cat. My students created a variety of patterned paper using watercolors and acrylics. A background in chalk pastels was created and next some birch trees (inspired by Ehlert's work in Snowballs) using cardboard and black acrylics. Birds were then created using templates and placed around their base to create an interesting composition. This is a great project to utilize any leftover patterned or textured paper.

In Monet's Garden

My Children's Book Art Class looked at Linnea in Monet's Garden by Christina Bjork and Lena Anderson. This is a gem of a book that introduces children to the life and work of Monet and the Impressionist Art movement in general. Of particular interest to my students was the fact that Monet painted the same scene of his garden and Japanese bridge in Giverny for years, even after almost blind from cataracts.

The children created a first layer of sky and pond using watercolors. Acrylics were added to give their pieces an Impressionist flair. They were encouraged to load their brush in multiple colors to create this effect. And of course adding their image to their piece is always a fun addition.  

Chameleons, Cats and Crocodiles

Watercolor explorations inspired by this lesson from

Deep Space Sparkle

Chalk pastel

                             

Watercolor and salt and splatters

My Children's Book Art Fun class has looked at the illustrations from  Chameleons Are Cool, Skippyjon Jones, and Solomon Crocodile. They created works of art inspired by these artists' styles, techniques, and media. Artwork by ages 6-10.