Clay Groggers for Purim

The 3^rd graders made hamantaschen-shaped noisemakers out of clay. The process was similar to baking hamantashen---We rolled out the clay and cut a circle for the base.  They formed a smaller bowl-shape for the “filling,” added a few clay balls for the noisemakers, flipped it over and then folded up and pinched three edges to form the triangular cookie. In the next class the kids could either use ceramic glaze or watercolor paint to decorate their groggers.

7th Grade Recycled Can Art

--> The 7^th graders turned “trash into treasure” by transforming smashed soda cans into unique works of art. We looked at examples of artists’ work from smashed cans for inspiration. The students chose a can and like Michelangelo staring at his marble from all angles, they got inspiration to create. They used acrylic paint, sharpies and collage supplies to make these whimsical pieces.  

Portraits & Words

In the Art Room, the 4^th graders’ Portrait Project was tied into their civics lesson and to the 2016 election. We looked at election posters and the common trends among them. The students also learned facial proportions and how to draw a face. They challenged themselves to draw and paint a realistic face. Also, the students chose words to promote making the world a kinder, better place. We discussed the Carmel Academy Values Covenant and other words that can heal and help. They glued their words and portrait on their hand-decorated backgrounds. The students should be very proud of the portraits and the beautiful messages of their chosen words. 

Mixed Media Still Lifes

The 7th graders chose from many glass bottles to draw. Then they divided their paper and used different media (Ebony pencil, colored pencil, collage, chalk pastels, oil pastels, watercolor paint and sharpie) to fill four sections.

Clay Pets

The 4th graders loved making their clay pets! They worked for 2 classes on shaping their animal, platform and details and then glazed them.

Georgia O'Keeffe inspired Cow Skulls

 

The students looked at Georgia O’Keeffe’s Cow Skull With Calico Roses painted in 1931. They learned that O’Keeffe lived much of her life out west in New Mexico and enjoyed the plains and desert scenery there. She would often find skulls on her nature walks and use them in her paintings. And her colors often reflect the western tones that surrounded her. The students painted backgrounds in sandy tones. They created their skulls by writing their names on a folded paper and then cutting around the name and adding horns from the scraps. In the next class they painted their skulls, tore their paintings, mounted them on a background paper, glued down the skull and made paper flowers. All this creates a unique version of the O’Keeffe masterpiece hanging in The Art Institute of Chicago. 

3D Cardboard Relief Sculptures Inspired by Frank Stella

The Fifth Graders Studied the Pop Art of Frank Stella. They learned how he wanted his paintings to look dimensional and eventually created sculptures working with corrugated steel. He composed some dynamic relief pieces with unusual shapes and bright colors. Inspired by those sculptures, the students drew concentric shapes on corrugated cardboard. The shapes were cut and painted solid and then patterned. Additional patterns were added with craypas, then the pieces were assembled with spacers to create more depth and finally the students collaged all sorts of fun items on top. This project has many layers and steps and the 3D sculptures are fascinating to see.