First

04/2014
1^st Grade Rodrigue Dogs

First grade students learned about the “Blue Dog “of Gabriel Rodrigue. After learning about his New Olean’s heritage, we discussed how surroundings and traditions influence artwork. We deconstructed Rodrigue’s Blue Dog in order to better understand what shapes and techniques were used to create his Blue Dog. Students then drew their own dog. They chose their own color for the dog and created its environment. These are currently on display in the front hallway. Rodrigue’s Blue Dog was also the inspiration for 1^st grade’s Benefit Rocking chair! 

1/14/2014

1^st grade Organic Forms

As a class, we discussed the word organic. Students were familiar with the use of the word in terms of organic food and produce, but not in art terms. Organic shapes are natural in form and have less well-defined edges that are flowing and curvy. After discussion, students were tasked with continuously drawing organic lines on their paper without lifting their pencil for 10 seconds. Students had to use their imagination to create different patterns and/or textures within each new shape created. New shapes were filled in continuously over several weeks in between the completion of other projects. Once finished, we cut into our organic forms and glued them so that they would pop off the page to create a 3-dimensional form. This project focuses on several key terms including organic shapes, pattern, texture, and 3-dimension form.

Side view to further display students' 3-dimensional abstract artworks. 

10/10/2013

Coil Mugs

Our first 1st grade clay project this year was coil mugs. As a class, we talked about the different vocabulary and techniques used in working with clay including pinch, coil, and slab. We discussed what techniques they had used in previous projects, so we can work to build on that knowledge. After demonstrating the coil technique, 1st grade students set off to create their own coil mugs. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the children picked up the coil method and even more impressed with how the mugs turned out! This week we will be glazing them, so keep an eye out for our updated mugs!

Super Self-Portraits

For this project, first grade students revisited shapes to create themselves as superheroes, using the first letter of their name as inspiration. They cut various shapes out of multi-colored paper to create their bodies, which was demonstrated and discussed thoroughly before getting to the building stage. It was then up to the students to create their superhero name, their power, and even incorporate a villain. Students had a blast turning themselves into superheroes, but had even more fun acting out their super powers in a quick role-playing session at the end of class! 

Blowing Colorful Emotions

The first project for first grade was talking about the power of lines. We talked about how lines can have "feeling" and "emotion." We drew out different kinds of lines and the students labeled them with emotions. Then, we incorporated color into the mix. We practiced by drawing sad, happy, mad, etc. lines using an appropriate color. Such as, a very zig-zaggy red line would represent mad. I also even had the students stand up and dance the emotion, such as the emotion of sad was a slow moving dance.

 Once we turned our emotions into a dance, drew emotions represented by line and color, we began talking about all the emotions that we feel. Students created an emotion sketch, which had 5 emotions that each student most frequently feels. Then, they were tasked with creating a line for each emotion and then adding a color to that emotion line. 

Students used oil pastels for their lines and then filled in the white paper with watercolor. Next time, we will attach photos of each student to their artwork to show each student "blowing" that emotion line, similar to blowing a bubble except it is an emotion represented through line and color.