Animal Shape Collages - First Grade

We read the book Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert and were inspired by the bright shapes and colors. The first graders chose from many paper shapes and colors to create animal collages of their own. 

 

 

Lighthouse Seascapes Weather Study - 3rd grade

The students looked at various sky and sea paintings ranging from the 19^th Century European JMW Turner and John Constable to Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper. The children drew a horizon line to separate the sea from sky, added land and then painted in tempera. They chose the weather and time of day for their scenes. Afterward we studied lighthouses, taking note of their shape and construction. The children each drew a lighthouse to add to their scene along with boats and other exciting objects. 

 

 

Giant Rainforest Tree Frogs

The First Graders' classroom rainforest study is enhanced in the Art Studio with rainforest art projects. The students each build a giant tree frog and then paint it with vibrant colors and add eyes. The frogs are displayed for their Rainforest Animal Book Publishing Party.

Batik Flower Drawings 4th grade

The Fourth graders drew close-up versions of the flowers they observed in wax crayon. Their papers were then crumpled up and washed with a blue paint. To achieve a special Batik-like effect, the papers were then ironed. 

Matisse motivated mixed media fishbowls

We looked at Gold Fish painted by Henri Matisse in 1911. The students drew fish using craypas, and then watercolored fish bowls. They used tempera paint to make a patterned background to give the illusion of a room with depth. They also created a table using wallpaper. Finally, all the pieces were assembled and some students chose to add greenery, similar to Matisse’s composition. 

 

 

Kindergarten Create-a-Shapes

The Kindergarteners started with 2 rectangular papers and cut them diagonally. They glued their 4 new papers to create a shape of their own. They drew patterns and shapes with craypas on their shapes, then painted with watercolors. This is a great lesson about diagonal lines, patterns, cutting practice and watercolor. The results demonstrate how using the same basic supplies can result in unique creations. 

 

 

 

 

Gyotaku Fish Printing

The Fifth graders had the choice of printing with a real fish or rubber molded fish. They brushed ink onto the fish and printed onto muslin. Then they glued their fish onto a watercolored background.