It's A Bug's Life!

I spend a lot of time with my fifth grade students introducing them to perspective. One of the "views" we discuss is a bug's! Students created watercolor resists of the world from a bug's point of view. They had so much doing this project!

Who I Am Silhouette

While students are working on a project, I trace their silhouettes using an old fashioned overhead. Most of the kids have NO IDEA what this "thing" is when I drag it out from the supply closet. They're delighted to find out we are only using it as a light source . . .

"I heard those things were used to write notes . . . "

"Is that the thing that makes that loud noise . . . "

Once students are traced we brainstorm 25 things that make them unique, and then discuss how to represent those ideas symbolically. After a discussion on using space creatively, students begin filling their silhouette with sketches, song lyrics, and poetry. I'm always looking for opportunities for my students to write in art class! The results are as dynamic as each student!

Personality Masks

What is a mask? Can it be used for celebration or to hide behind? Eighth grade students created a sculptural piece which addressed this question. Students were instructed to create a sculptural piece which they believed embodied who they truly are (a contradiction to the traditional mask concept) . . . or which concealed something about their true identities. Students had to mount their masks on an object or create a background which further enhanced their concept.

Monochromatic Portraits

8th graders are obsessed with themselves, and the art room is the best place to embrace that! Students worked with someone they felt comfortable with to take a digital photo of themselves. The only rule I gave them was that their face had to take up 75% of the frame.

Students converted the photos to grayscale and "posterized them" to see significant changes in value using Adobe Photoshop Elements. Photos were printed off to 8x10." From there the kids used a grid drawing method to enlarge their portraits to 16x20." Once they were drawn, students selected a monochromatic color scheme and began painting! (Paying particular attention to changes in value.)

Greek Inspired Vases

7th grade students spend most of the fourth quarter studying Ancient Greece and since I think paper mache is the best way to wrap up an already messy, wacky year . . . why not Greek inspired vases!?

Students researched traditional Greek and Minoan Pottery for inspiration. We used Simply Orange plastic juice containers for the armature. Students that forgot to bring a juice container had to use a balloon, which could sometimes be tricky . . . POP!

Peter Max Inspired Guitars!

7th graders created Peter Max inspired guitars sculptures using heavy tagboard, masking tape, newspaper, and paper mache! Rock on!

Koi Fish

Seventh grade students spend lots of time studying ancient China and Japan in history class. In the art room, we celebrate these rich cultures through the creation of watercolor koi fish paintings. Combing traditional Asian art, and the Hawaiian flair of artist Sherri Reeves, students drew several koi fish across their rectangular sheet of paper. (This is large! Apx 22x11" inches) Once the have drawn their fish they added sketches of pond life and traced over the entire image in crayon before painting with liquid watercolors. Prior to painting, students applied a 1" masking tape border aroudn the edge of their artwork. Once the fish and pond life were painted, student used toothbrushes to splatter for a whimsical / watery effect!