2nd grade Portraits

The 2^nd graders learned about facial “mapping” or proportions in art class. We discussed the relative placement of facial features and the shapes of these features. The students practiced drawing faces in pencil and then used craypas for their final version. They designed a shirt, and then painted a uniquely patterned background. The elements were all glued together to create a beautiful and highly personal self-portrait composition.

Leaf Rubbing Watercolors and Craypas Leaf Drawings

The Second graders looked at Fall Leaves in the Art Studio. They created leaf impressions by rubbing crayon on paper with the leaves underneath. Then they painted with watercolor and discovered the crayon wax resisting the paint. Finally, they observed a leaf, drew it with craypas and glued it onto their composition.

My Garden-

In the Art Room, we read the book My Garden by Kevin Henkes in which a child imagines what her magical garden would be like. The room was abuzz as the Second graders were conjuring up images for their gardens. They drew in craypas and then water-colored their fantastical  landscapes. They posed for photos which were added to the gardens. They also had an opportunity to write a description of their gardens which was all compiled to create a bound book. 

 

 

Mexican Suns

In the Art Room we looked at the colors and handicrafts of Mexico. We discussed the significance of the Sun in Ancient Mexican Culture, agriculture, tourism and daily life. The students painted assorted papers with bright colors and added texture. Then they cut the papers into unique Sun Faces.

Many Views of Mt. Fuji

The second graders learn about the Japanese Culture in their classrooms so we explore the Japanese art of George Hokusai in the Art Studio. He created over 100 views of Mt. Fuji. The students created their own versions using oil pastels and watercolors on a long skinny paper similar to the format of much Japanese art. They also learn to fold an origami house which they add to the composition and practice Japanese calligraphy with bamboo brushes on rice paper to make a unique signature for their landscape. 

Bird on a Limb - 2nd grade

The 2^nd graders learned all about birds in the art room. Their unique characteristics include feathers, wings, beaks and talons. They drew their bird in colored pencil, drew a branch in oil pastel and painted a background in watercolor.  Some chose to add a nest and eggs to their compositions.

 

Fall Still Lifes, many styles, different grades

In the Fall I set up a still life in the middle of the art room with apples, gourds and pumpkins which I use for Second through Sixth graders to create a still life in an age appropriate style or technique. The Sixth graders were inspired by cubist artists like Picasso and Braque. They drew a simple line drawing from life, fragmented it with black marker and then filled each section with one color "family" of colored pencil. The Fourth graders were limited to a colored paper and black, white and the complementary color craypas for their still lifes while the Fifth graders could only tear construction paper. The Second graders looked at Cezanne's fruit paintings and created mixed media still lifes practicing drawing fruit, decoupage, wallpaper patterns and more.