Imperfection Self-Portraits

     For these self-portraits (with Miss Marin Ryan), the second graders learned the big word "imperfection".  We discussed that there can be imperfections in artworks. We even have imperfections on our own faces, (such as scars or a missing teeth) and it's okay to not be perfect!  In fact, being imperfect is something we all have in common.
     After learning realistic facial proportions and how to draw difficult features like the eyes and nose, the students drew their own self-portraits and were challenged to include at least one imperfection.  They also learned how to use a watercolor wash to create a realistic skin color, and added the rest of the color by layering colored tissue paper (we used watered down glue, but liquid starch works too). 



Suffield Art Fest 2011



Cory F. with his Animal Friends painting.





     This afternoon was the first ever Suffield Art Fest in the Community Room of our beautiful new Suffield Fire Station.  The Suffield Historical Society put on this neat show of local Suffield artists.  Some of our students at Suffield Elementary were lucky enough to be invited to participate in this show along with the talented adult artists.  Artwork was also on display from Suffield students from the Falcon Academy of Creative Arts, Field Middle School, and Field High School.  The show was a wonderful celebration of creativity and artmaking in Suffield, and hopefully the Suffield Art Fest will become an annual event!



Spring Program and Art Show

    Last night was our spring program and art show where our fourth graders and fifth grade chorus performed songs about hard work and effort.  It really was a wonderful night and the students did a fantastic job!  Here are some photos of the artwork on display.



 

    Six fifth grade students worked with my student teacher (Miss Marin Ryan) to paint the forest backdrop used for the short play some of our chorus members put on last night.  Here are some photos of their collaborative effort.



Ugly Bugs

     To start these "ugly bugs", the kindergartners first listened to the story The Very Ugly Bug by Liz Pichon.  In the book, an "ugly" bug learns to like and value her appearance when she frightens away a scary bird.  We discussed the idea that the things about us that make us different from one another are what makes us special and unique.  The kindergartners decided that being an ugly bug is a good thing!

     To make the bugs, we folded papers in half with the primary paint colors inside.  We discovered that the primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) mix together to create the secondary colors (orange, purple, and green).  When the paintings were dry, the students cut them out and used construction paper to make eyes, legs, wings, counting strips (see Erika's bug above!), etc.

     We made leaves for the background by drawing with oil pastels and then painting with liquid watercolors.  The artists tried to make their leaves very realistic by including veins and by mixing the liquid watercolors until they were just right!

Zig-Zag Paintings: Busy vs. Relaxing

     The fourth graders recently finished "zig-zag paintings" (with Miss Marin Ryan) which show them doing a busy activity from one angle and a relaxing activity from the other angle.  They started the project by discussing the similarities and differences between Mark Bradford's Los Moscos (2004), a very busy multimedia print, and Andrea Zittel's RUAGH Furniture: Lucinda (1998), a calm and serene installation.   After this they learned how to draw "super stick figures" as a skeleton for making realistic pictures of themselves, then painted the scenes with tempera paint.  They paid careful attention to using warm, bold colors and many objects and lines on the busy side, and keeping the relaxed side toned down and simple. 


The photos don't do these tricky paintings justice!  They are really neat to examine while walking down the hall because you see a different scene when you turn around and go the other direction!

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Alexander Calder Inspired Circus Animal Sculptures and Drawings

     Our second grade artists just completed a unit about American sculptor Alexander Calder's Circus.  Before introducing the lesson to the students, I started by just showing them photographs of different animals (elephants, tigers, giraffes, dogs, parrots, and a mouse).  We discussed the similarities and differences between the animals and what special features each one had that an artist would need to include when they were making an artwork of the animal.  Then, without looking at the animal photos, the students followed my verbal instructions:

Begin by drawing a line for the ground at the bottom of your paper.

Draw an elephant standing on the ground.

Draw a giraffe standing on top of the elephant.

Draw a tiger standing on top of the giraffe.

Draw a dog standing on top of the tiger.

Draw a parrot standing on top of the dog.

Draw a mouse running by on the ground.

Add additional details to help viewers understand that your drawing is of a circus.

    Students completed these whimsical drawings in about 10 minutes, and then spent a little more time outlining, coloring with crayons, and painting with watercolors.

     To continue the unit, we watched video clips of Alexander Calder performing his miniature circus and discussed his work.  The kids were fascinated by the sculptures that could move and interact with one another in the artist's miniature circus.  For their sculptures, we started by making little clay pinch pots that we flipped upside down to create circus stools.  Then the kids chose their favorite animal from their animal tower drawings to sculpt.  The artists were challenged to make their animals interact with their circus stools in some way.  The sculptures were finished with semi-moist underglazes and clear glaze. 

THANK YOU to Miss Christina G. who won an art contest to "draw your own sun" with 8th Continent Soy Milk and won our school a Dick Blick art supplies gift card!  Christina came early to school a few times and helped me plan this lesson, and she chose the underglazes from Dick Blick's web site to order and use for these artworks!