12.08.2012

Classroom

These are some pictures of my new classroom. It's taken a while to get it organized but it's almost there.  I am thrilled to say that I have three sinks! Before the move I did not have any. I also have drawing easels for 24 students and an office. I often color coordinate things so there will be more detailed pictures soon on classroom organization.


















Keith Haring Prints


First graders just finished their printmaking unit. We looked at the artist Keith Haring for inspiration. Students used cardboard pieces to create the row of black printed figures. On day two they used flexible foam pieces to create the row of primary colored figures. We talked about movement and line on the third day when they added the action lines before matting the work. 









12.07.2012

Tree of giving thanks

In those days right before Thanksgiving when students were all excited for their vacation I decided to have them help me decorate a bulletin board that I had just taken down. I had them draw their hands first and then put their name on the thumb. They had to come up with four things they were thankful for to put into each of their fingers. They were allowed to color and decorate their hands any way they wanted to. I made the tree and branches from scrap construction paper and then had students choose where they wanted their hands placed. They were all very excited to see how it came out the next week they came to class and it looks great in my room!





11.29.2012

2nd grade fall mono prints


Each year I teach a printmaking unit for all grade levels. The second grade works on monoprints. We discuss the history, materials, and processes of making prints. They used creypas to make the trees and then folded their paper and rubbed the back to transfer the threes onto the other side. They then used their fingers to paint the leaves and grass and folded again to print. Once the paintings were dry, they used marker, color pencil, and crayon to color in the sky and water.


















11.10.2012

Firing up my new kiln!!!

It's been almost a year since we moved into the new school. I had this empty kiln room for six months and then my kiln arrived! The vent was installed, the electricity set up, and clay delivered. It was time to start the first clay project. I decided to make "Pocket Pots" with the fourth graders. This was my first time teaching a clay project with 100 students. The pots made it through the bisque firing but I had to call an electrician in to redo the wiring because the kiln could not reach glaze temperatures. Once we get that fixed I will be moving on to clay projects with the third grade!

10.22.2012

Enamel art with college students

I teach a class of college students about art methods at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. This semester we are focusing on high school methods. Students were given copper sheets, bench pins, and jewelry saws. After a demonstration they designed and cut their own pendents. During another class I showed them how to enamel the surface of their copper pendents.

10.13.2012

Animal observation drawings with pastel

First graders are learning about animals growing from babies to adults in their classrooms right now. I just acquired an assortment of plastic animal figurines and thought they would be helpful for my observational drawing unit. Each first grader was allowed to blindly pull a figurine from my assortment.  We discussed the many parts that animals have and using the space to fill up the paper. Once we finished drawing, students were given pastels to add color to their work. We did this in one 45 minute class period.

9.20.2012

First grade pastel pumpkins

After practicing blind contour drawings last week, students put their observational skills to use. I brought some pumpkins into class for them to draw and then apply pastel.