Monday, September 28, 2015

eagle art crew 2015-2016

My small after school art club is up and running this year with 16 phenomenal little artists! We meet once every week for an hour and a half and create incredible works of art. Due to the small group, I get to do more interesting and in-depth art projects and techniques I wouldn't normally get to do with a large group!

I'm really excited for this year. It's my third Eagle Art Crew and I have learned so much over the past two years perfecting my program. I still have a long way to go, but this year's group is so talented!


Each year I provide my EAC members with a hardbound sketchbook and a baggy of quality art supplies to help them start off on their adventure as an artist. The sketchbook and supplies are for the student to use as they create and do their weekly sketchbook assignments and warm-ups! This is something my students always look forward to. It makes them feel special and like a REAL artist!

I always start off our year with a self-portrait project. The kiddos at this age are starting to discover who they are in our world and self-portrait helps with their awareness! This year's project is super fun and exciting.

We used the iPad to take "selfies" and printed them out. We only cut out the face!

We then created a big playing card using LARGE white paper and a smaller black paper. The faces were glued down and we started our zentangle designs in our Kings & Queens' robes. Students are allowed to add any personal and meaningful objects into their drawings. I have figures holding paintbrushes, basketballs, pets, and more! 




The EAC kiddos are really enjoying this project. It's a keeper! I can't wait for the remaining year where we make spirit guide ceramic vases and paper marbling experimentation with much much more!

Friday, September 25, 2015

fourth grade: Georgia O'Keeffe poppies

Every year my 4th grade puts on a beautiful Veteran's Day Musical Performance in November. This year I am hoping to join in on the festivities by making one of the most iconic symbols for remembering; the poppy.
In art, one of the most famous paintings including a poppy was created by artist, Georgia O'Keeffe. My 4th graders each studied her along with some history of why the poppy is so important to us. We talked about how O'Keeffe used exaggerated, vibrant colors, harmonious blending and gradients, as well as ZOOMED IN cropping of her artwork.



Each student made their very own practice poppy in their sketchbook where we studied VALUE.



The next time we met, I introduced to them concentrated liquid watercolor and very special water color paper. We drew our ZOOMED IN poppy drawing and set to work focusing on harmonious blending between red, yellow, and water.


You see that little white cup there? That's salt. The little artists LOVE making "magic" happen with the crystallization of sprinkling a little pinch of salt over their watercolors. We talk a little about the science behind why the salt does this to the colors and then they go to town!