News from the Art Room:
The beginning of the school year always brings such excitement in the art room! Students of all ages find enjoyment in looking at, thinking about, and creating art to reflect the beauty of our world and our imaginations! And now, the colorful changes of the Fall are just around the corner, waiting to inspire us for our NEXT artistic creations in October!!
Here were the classroom expectations during the first 2 weeks of art class:
Every student in grades K-3 drew their own Self Portraits. We looked at famous portraits from artists like Leonardo Da Vinci, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso, and Jacob Lawrence. We talked about how all artists draw in their own special way! We practiced “careful coloring” with our pincer grasp and using small wrist and finger motions to color all the “peekaboos”!! We currently have every completed self portrait on display across the art room and the hallway outside the art room, creating a massive art installation! It is titled “The Many Faces of Memorial School”!
Here were the classroom expectations from the last 2 weeks in art class, while students were finishing up the following projects:
Prek: Sunflower mixed media collages: ripped colored paper, tempera paint, and glue. We learned how to rip paper and apply glue and paint to create seeds by “jumping our brush”.We had real sunflowers to look closely at and touch! We then read the book, “In the Garden with Van Gogh” by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober.
Kindergarten: Sunflower brushstroke paintings: tempera paint (and real sunflowers to look closely at). We looked at Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers Paintings and talked about how he painted and perceived them at different times in their growth and decay. We then learned how to use a paintbrush and take care of our brushes and paint. We practiced brush strokes like Van Gogh, by swishing marks to make petals, and jumping our brush to make seeds. We then learned what a “background” is and painted around our sunflowers so carefully to complete our paintings. Ask your child about “Dip, Drip, Wipe the Tip”!
1st grade: Abstract Overlapping Shapes: rulers, sharpies and watercolors. We learned how to create the illusion of depth by overlapping one shape or line under or over another. We were inspired to use straight lines and practice using rulers as a drawing tool after looking at the paintings by Piet Mondrian. “Broadway Boogie Woogie” is one of our favorites! We then completed our beautiful abstract art with watercolors and practiced painting our overlapping shapes CAREFULLY! Abstract art is so unique, imaginative and FUN!
2nd Grade: Illuminated Letter Designs: metallic sharpies, metallic paint, and watercolors. Students learned about the ancient art of drawing Illuminated Letters. First done in the Medieval times over 1000 years ago, these special letters were sparkling gold, and “large and in charge” at the beginning of text in very important ancient books, like “The Book of Kells” from Scotland. We were able to view several photographs of the authentic ancient illuminated letters! The students then designed their own “Illuminated Letter” for the first letter of their name, and embellished it with different golden, silver, and bronze Sharpies and paint. We also recognized that these types of letters can be found in the beginning of some Disney Movies, like “Sleeping Beauty”. They are beautiful and inspirational!
3rd Grade: Sunset Silhouettes: Oil pastels and cut paper. Students learned how to create a double blend effect with oil pastels, that create a look of a sunset or sunrise. Even like tye-dye! Then they cut out a black silhouette to go over the vibrant colors of their sunsets. We viewed many professional photographs of actual sunsets with silhouettes to inspire our own ideas. Some students even experienced seeing this awesome moment during a real sun set, when the world seems to turn to black shadows, while the sky glowed in vibrant colors! What a beautiful thing to witness!
Art at Home:
Any students who create art at home are encouraged to bring their masterpiece into art class on their art day. We have a “Share Chair” set up and have already had some little artists bring their work to discuss and share with their peers! Memorial School is full of such confident artists!
Cheetah Pride in Art:
We are working hard to fill our art room “cheetah pride tracker”. After students earn cheetah tickets during art class, they place a sticker on the tracker. When we fill the tracker, we will be having grade level art room celebrations! More information will be sent home when each grade level reaches their goal for the first time this year!!! That moment is coming SOON!! There has been SO much Cheetah Pride being demonstrated by students in the art room already!
Art To Remember Fundraiser
Art to Remember is a fundraiser that art classes participate in each year. This is our 8th year participating! The above works of art will be sent to this company and they will create personalized order forms for each child. Students will get their original works of art back. This fundraiser helps to purchase materials, and enhance our art program here at Memorial School, so thank you in advance for your support! Keep an eye out in the next month for further information. Here is the website if you would like a “sneak peek” www.arttoremember.com .
Contact:
Please feel free to reach out to me anytime via email or parentsquare if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule an opportunity to be a “Visiting Artist” during this school year!
Sincerely,
Carolanne Vining
Art Teacher, M.S. Art Education
cvining@easthamptonct.org
