Learning about artists and artwork @ school

All of the classes worked the last 2 weeks on learning about artists then producing an art project like that artist. The 1st week we studied Vincent VanGogh and his work. The 2nd grade made a windsock and were asked to create a scene that showed the wind blowing like the swirls in his "starry, starry night" painting. Some did day scenes and some did night scenes but all of them had great swirls and clouds. Some included trees or people and some did not. We did not get pictures of these but they seemed to enjoy doing it. The 1st grade also made a windsock using the sunflowers theme. I brought library books about VanGogh to use for reference and to give them a story. Both groups were able to demonstrate how the windsocks worked at the end of class.
The kidergardeners drew and colored a pot of sunflowers. It was a good lesson on size in drawing and what a pot looks like.

The second artist we studied was Eric Carle and his tissue paper creations. The 1st and 2nd grade each got 7-8 different pieces of painted tissue paper and a drawing from A House for Hermit Crab so they got lots of practice using his construction technique. we discussed how he painted the papers and cut the pieces to create the illustrations for his books.  

The kindergarten got to use Draw me a star as their project and had to cut the tissue into several different shapes to do the project.  This was a great way to end the month of paper projects. The afterschool art club made painted tissue paper too. It is a great technique to learn and fun to work with the papers.

Vincent's boats are getting color afterschool

This week we started putting color on the boats and finishing the detail on this painting. We hope to be done next week. The students learned how to mix different concentrations of color and how to put 2 colors side by side without them mixing. We did not use a resist but painted wet-on-dry with great results. Some of the students will refine their masts next week as a few lost proportion in the drawings.

After school art class tackles VanGogh's sunflowers

It is taking a bit longer than we thought but the results are well worth the time. We are using one of Vincent Van Gogh's many sunflower paintings as our subject on a small canvas. First the students drew or transfered a drawing to the canvas--they learned how to make graphite transfers--many prefered to draw freehand. Next we painted the emerald green pot and began the sunflowers and their leaves. Some have chosen the traditional wood table as a base others are putting their own mark on the painting by changing to a tablecloth. We expect to complete them next week and smudge in a background behind the flowers. You can see a copy of the painting in the background. Each student has their own brush pack and is taking care of cleaning and replacing the brushes in addition to setting up their own paint palette and keeping up with wash water. This is really a great group. I am looking forward to the boats on the shore painting next.