3D Drawing

I was thrilled with the bulk of my students and their creative Zentangle inspired crosses!  Here are a few examples of what they accomplished with the guidelines in the last blog post:

AMAZING!  Don't you think?  Frame worthy pieces of art ❤

Now for our next journal challenge: 3D drawing  The first 3 links show photos of project ideas.  The second 2 are YouTube how-to videos.  Students may copy one of these exactly or branch out on their own to create something totally different in the way of a 3D design drawing.  Designs may be in pencil, ink, color, or a combination of all.  The sky is the limit!  Google "3D drawing" and be amazed at the talent that is out there!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/686587905664645741/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/335799715962703837/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/762234305659413808/

https://www.topbuzz.com/a/6484277623244456458?user_id=6457613138782061577&language=en&region=us&app_id=1184&impr_id=6523677284488988937&gid=6484277628088877322&c=sys&language=en

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/ATpnEH6tC11f4jkO912HadIRV7lFKsgxJlWsXTd_7D65e1kKtj7tr4o/

This journal project will be due 3/11 (of course journals are always welcome to be turned in early).  Have fun with this one.  I can hardly wait to see what pops off the page 😉

So excited with the continuous line drawings that my Middle school students created!  Here are a few examples that just "wowed" me.  Enjoy

 

 

For our next journal assignment we will head into the world of Zentangle.  I remember when my son would doodle on the edges of his papers in school and get into trouble for it.  Now the "doodling" has a name and it has become a recognized art form!

For this assignment students will start with a cross shape (this week starts Catholic Schools week, so the form was an easy "base" to begin with).  Parents: Instructions with a few idea links are posted below (Google or Pinterest is full of examples/ideas, beginner thru advanced levels). Students have 2 weeks for this assignment (due February 11), but may turn it into me any time between now and then.   

Journal assignment #2:  Zentangle cross

Create a large cross outline in your journal.  Divide it into sections (no fewer than 7 sections).  Choose a design for each section (no 2 sections may be the same).  Your design may be black and white or colored.  **For maximum impact in your design be sure to alternate light and dark areas**  Extra credit: Add a border around the cross! (this may be one continuous design or different designs). 

http://janeeileen.blogspot.com/2012/05/zentangles-im-hooked.html 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/329255422736536880/   (follow the steps pictured)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/332070172503861437/  (follow the steps pictured)

http://elementaryartbox.blogspot.com/2012/09/zentangles_12.html (love this one!  Step by step directions!)

last one (promise)  https://katydidsworld.wordpress.com/my-patterns-7/

Given the results of our first Journal assignment I can hardly wait to see what the students create with this one!  

edit:  I stumbled on one more site with more Zentangle info and patterns than I could pass by!  Good luck getting out of this one 😉   http://tanglepatterns.com/

Middle School Art Journal Assignments

A New Year brings new assignments...woohoo!  For our first Middle School journal assignment of 2019 we will explore Continuous Line Drawing OR a drawing that is made completely from one line!  Below you will find links to examples as well as one of the best explanations I found. 

journal assignment:  https://thevirtualinstructor.com/continuous-line-drawing.html

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/306807793338712334/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/306807793336677347/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/306807793336539754/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/396105729709652618/

 

This will be assigned January 7 and is due no later than January 14. 

 

Oh my goodness, It's almost Christmas!!

It has been awhile since I posted, so I am going to play a bit of catch-up.  Much has been happening in the Art Room: Middle School projects have been completed and presented, the school auction has come and gone, Christmas projects are in full swing, and I took a trip to MoMA to see pieces that gave me goosebumps!

First off, the fall projects.  Amazing work by my 6th-8th graders as they explored Art History and Artists through history.  Below are just a few highlights...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, I lied.  Couldn't allow any of these amazing pieces to be left out!  As you can see the students did a little bit of everything  I was excited to see the variety of interpretations of artists (many did Bob Ross, Van Gogh, Jackson Pollock, etc), but no 2 pieces were the same.  Can hardly wait for the Spring project to roll around (heads up: Recycling!)

Next up the auction pieces.  Every year I work with each class to create a special one-of-a-kind art piece for the school auction.  This year we did even more than normal as classroom stools (that were replaced with chairs at the beginning of the year) became classroom stools for the auction. Below are the many creations!

Kindergarten Self Portrait Chalkboard

4th gradeWeaving

6th grade Separate/Together

 7th grade lamp (Quite honestly one of my FAVORITE pieces of all time!)

1st grade Alphabet

3rd grade American Flag with self portrait "stars"

2nd grade shrink plastic rosary 

Stools in process.  Fingerprints from each student completed the bright, bold stools

Next up, Christmas projects.  I will only share a few so they remain a secret until being opened.  Really excited with the pieces the students are working on this year.  Some are yearly repeaters, while a couple are totally new to this year and may possibly become the yearly repeater 😉

5th grade Wisemen Mixed Media canvas: Watercolor, salt, sand paint, scrapbook papers, & Mod Podge

2nd grade Romero Britto Angel Nativity Canvas: Pencil, Sharpie, and Watercolor

Last up in this game of catch up, my trip to MoMA in NYC.  My first trip to the museum!  I must admit my favorite floors were the 4th and 5th where many paintings and sculptures reside that until the trip I had only seen online and in books.  THRILLED beyond words to see Van Gogh's "Starry Night" which coincidentally enough was the theme for my 3rd grade Christmas project!

The placement of Andrew Wyeth's famous painting caught me (and others around me) a little off guard.  Where might you ask is this gorgeous piece??  Hanging in the hallway right outside the ladies restroom and at the top of the escalator!

Another favorite piece is Picasso's "The Three Musicians".  I have used this piece as inspiration for a mixed media art piece with my 3rd graders multiple times.  I am looking forward to sharing this year that I actually got to see it.

Well, that's it for now.  I hope to be better about posting in the coming months.  Have a Very, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ❤

Fall has arrived!

Fall has arrived and with it comes the Fall Middle School project!  When I took over the classroom from my predecessor, I decided to keep the Fall & Spring projects as a part of the middle school program.  What I changed is having the "theme" of the project on a 3 year rotation.  That way (1) no project theme will be repeated while a child is in the St Francis program and (2) established plans are in place for the continuing rotation.  Last year the theme was Mannequin Heads & Altered Books...I think some of the students would like to do thsoe EVERY year!  Changing it up makes them challenge themselves artistically.  Next year the theme will be Wearable Art (kids get really excited about this one as well).

This year the students have a research aspect to the project.  They may research a period from Art History or they can research a famous artist from Art History.  Students will write a short (1 page) paper about the chosen subject, create a concrete art piece based on the research, and then make a 5 minute presentation to their class.  This will be my second go round for this theme with my 6th-8th graders.  The projects from 2015 were AMAZING!  I can hardly wait to see what the students come up with this year!  Below are photos from 2015.   You can see the sky is the limit as far as projects go!  ENJOY 😊

This 1st group of pictures showcases the entire middle school.  All projects were displayed in the school foyer for everyone to see.

 

 

 

This next group of pictures highlights some of the amazing work these talented students created.

Please notice Michelangelo in the front.  I love when their sense of humor is on full display 😂

"The Scream" by Edvard Munch transformed into sculpture

Picasso's "Still Life with Pitcher and Apples" again transformed into sculpture

Wayne Thiebaud cupcake painting

Romero Britto in Sharpie with glitter accented lips

Dali & Surrealism (I have to admit this was one of my favorite presentations!)

Pointillism morphed with Dr Who

Of course, Bob Ross made an appearance

Keith Haring movement sculpture

Renaissance art & architecture (I got to keep this one 💜)

This year's projects are due October 29.  They will be on display in the foyer through November 7th.  Be sure to check in.