March 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! 

4^th Grade Underground Railroad Quilts

During 4^th grade’s Underground Railroad unit, Mrs. Abercrombie and I created an integrated lesson in which students learned about the purpose, use, and importance of Underground Railroad quilts. Students observed and analyzed the symbols used and their meaning. We discussed issues that the slaves may have encountered while on the Underground Railroad and important markers to highlight along the way. Students were then tasked with designing their own quilt, complete with their own unique symbols and a story guide to detail their quilts path. Students used printmaking to create their quilts and created individual printing plates for each symbol. Then they printed their plates together to create a printed quilt that would serve as a map to guides their travelers to safety.

3^rd Grade Monochromatic Paintings

Third grade students learned about value and monochromatic artwork, including the definitions of tint, tone, and shade. They learned how to mix paint to create varying values of tints, tones, and shades, and used them to create an abstract monochromatic painting. Students took their time to repeat and overlap a basic shape and then paint each new space with a different tint, tone, or shade. Not only has this lesson taught art vocabulary, it also worked on paintbrush technique and painting skills.

Kindergarten Matisse

Kindergarten students learned about the life of Henri Matisse. We observed and discussed his abstract paper-collage artworks, including the shapes, colors, and patterns he created. Students then created a long paper-collage artwork inspired by Matisse. They learned several different cutting techniques that would create texture and interest, such as spirals and positive or negative shapes. These creations are currently on display outside of the library.

Kindergarten Spring Collage Birds

With spring in sight, Kindergarten students created birds inspired by the paper collage style of Eric Carle. Students began by painting a whole piece of paper without any imagery or words but purely focusing on the fun of filling the paper with paint. Next class, we observed the shapes used to create a bird and students then cut those shapes from their painted paper. We discussed texture when creating the wings, using small overlapping pieces to give it the appearance of feathers. We hope these colorful flying works of art will motivate spring and bring some sunshine!

Junior Pre-K Owls

For this project, students began by simply discussing owls and their habits. This included the sounds they make, where they live, what they eat, and the amazing fact that they can turn their heads completely around! To continue to develop their fine motor skills, student’s traced round plastic lids to create circles for the owl’s eyes. Then, we used watercolors to practice painting inside the lines. During the next lesson, students where tasked with recalling the shape of a square and rectangle, and then gluing down multiple colored pieces as the owl feathers. They were asked to cover their whole paper, so their owl would not get cold during winter! Finally, students completed their owls with triangular beaks and pupils in the eyes.

These beautiful works of art are currently on display in Kathy Stanton’s office, so be sure to check them out when you are in our main office! 

Non-Objective Greenbaum Collages

10/9/2013

Update! Non-Objective Collages are currently hanging in the main entrance.

10/1/2013

Cut up and reassemble. 

9/25/2013

4th Grade students began their Greenbaum art project by discussing non-objective art. Non-Objective is definedas: representing or intended to represent no natural or actual object, figure, or scene. 

Students started to create their artworks by painting a large piece of paper with no purpose, objects, or intent. They were told to focus solely on experimentation of brush strokes, mixture of color, textures created through paint, and how the colors lay next to one another. This was the first step of the project and there are still 4 more steps! Next, students will add fine lines to their artworks using oil pastels and metallic pens. Be sure to check back for progress updates because this is a fun project for the kids!

Collage Self-Portraits

2nd Grade - Collage Self-Portraits

To begin this project, we focused on learning about the different styles of line that show movement or suggest movement, as well as the words "collage" and "self-portrait." We took turns drawing different lines on the chalkboard. We talked about how the straight or vertical lines can either look like they are standing still or jumping up, and how wavy, curvy lines look like hopping, running, and skipping. 

Once we were ready to use our knowledge of lines, we began our self-portrait collage using torn paper shapes. Too often we cut out our shapes but we wanted a different texture with out shapes. I demonstrated how to tear shapes out of construction paper and then they were off! Student chose their pose and tore out the shapes accordingly. 

Next, students will add details to their self-portraits and then add their movement/suggested movement lines to the background. This will define the actions that the students' self-portraits are acting out.

Can't wait to see what happens next!