Weekly Update 02/24/14 - 02/28/14

Sixth Grade

This week we looked at the principle of design pattern. Students spent time drawing unique patterns and then we discussed drawing techniques for our upcoming Oaxacan animal drawings. Be on the look out for those.

 

Seventh Grade

Seventh graders have been working on grid drawings this week. We finished our contour line drawing self-portraits and are moving on to create a collaged background for them next week.

 

 Eighth Grade

After finishing our pottery glazing (look for pictures soon of the finished products) we spent some time practicing still life drawings. Students got to choose objects from my still life collection and arrange their own compositions. Then they photographed them and worked on practice sketches.

Underground Railroad Quilt 3rd Quarter

We recently finished our Underground Railroad secret message themed quilts in the 8th grade. After each student finished their square we put them together and hung the finished quilt in the hallway.

Value Scale Landscapes

In 8th grade art we just finished a unit on value and to cap it off we created simplified landscapes that incorporated a 5 point value scale. Students drew simple layered landscapes and then painted them using 5 values (dark on the bottom------light on top). We discussed atmospheric perspective, and how colors on the horizon appear less saturated than those close to the viewer. Check them out:

8th grade Op Art-Quarter 3

Study of Op Art styles and the element of art Line.

Weekly Update 1/27/14 - 1/31/14

Long time no update, I know! We've been a bit crazy around here with all of these snow days and my updates have been lacking lately. Hopefully the weather is on its way back to a more normal forecast (fingers crossed). Here's what we did this week:

Sixth Grade

Sixth graders worked on some elements of art this week. We looked at texture and shape. For texture the students spent one day making texture rubbings from texture plates. Then we spent a few days cutting up our rubbings and using that paper to create some collage creatures. The students used the texture from the plates to represent things like fur, slime, scales, feathers, etc. After that we talked about organic and geometric shapes (more on that next week).

Seventh Grade

This week in 7th grade we discussed architecture and proportion. The students began drawing the KY governor's mansion (which is celebrating its centennial this year). We talked about who/what the governor is and what an architect does. After discussing some drawing techniques for our architectural drawings, the students began drawing. Some of our drawings will be submitted to a contest hosted by the Governor and First Lady in March.

Eighth Grade

8th graders spent the week studying value and paint mixing. First we practiced creating value with black and white paint. Students made 5 point value scales and mixed their own grays.

Next, we discussed landscapes and monochromatic color schemes. Students drew 5 layered simplified landscapes and we discussed atmospheric perspective. Students chose a color and began painting their landscape. By putting dark shades at the bottom and light shades at the top we created the illusion of atmospheric perspective.

Underground Railroad Quilt

I finally got the class quilt from 1st and 2nd quarter 8th grade art up in the lobby this week. Each student studied the way that slaves used quilt square patterns to (theoretically) pass along messages to help each other get to safety in the North. Then students designed their own squares which had a secret message which would have assisted an escaping slave. We made these out of paper, each student collaged their own square.

Positive/Negative Space still life 2.0

Quarter 2 still life compositions exploring positive and negative space.

Weekly Update 12/2/13 - 12/6/13

Sixth Grade

Sixth graders worked on pattern this week. We started out by creating unique patterns and discussing repetition and visual interest. Then we looked at the art of Alibrijes in Mexico. Artists in Oaxaca have been creating these amazing carvings since the early 20th century. They provide a great way to incorporate Mexican art and history into a pattern lesson, because the artists used so many great patterns in their work. 

Seventh Grade

Seventh graders continued working on our self-portrait project. Last week we finished using grids to create detailed line drawings of ourselves. This week we made collages on cardboard that we stained using tempera paint. Lastly the students cut out their portraits and glued them to the background. The white and black portraits look great on the colored backgrounds, and the texture provided by the magazine images really looks great. Look for photos to be posted soon.

Eighth Graders

Eighth graders have been looking at still-lifes and positive/negative space. To do this we created still life drawings, but instead of putting the detail in the positive space (which would be what is traditionally done) we put a lot of detail in the negative space. The result are some very striking images, which should be done on Friday.

Coil Built Pottery

8th grade pottery projects are fresh out of the kiln today. These students looked at the pottery of Pueblo Indians and learned about coil building techniques. Students were tasked to create a vessel of some type and to decorate it using a pattern. These functional art objects turned out great, I know the students are excited to take them home today.