Go Figure!

My third graders have been hard at work on their first sculpture project and I am so proud of the results!

We started out studying the artwork of sculptor Alberto Giacometti. We talked about how this artist struggled with confidence in his work and how he would modify his pieces so much in the quest for realism that they would become drastically smaller and thinner as he worked. It is hard to imagine this struggle when we see how beautiful his forms look and how much interest is added through their imperfections. Many of us could identify with how frustrating it can be to try to make things look a certain a way in our own artwork, so making this connection helped us to relax a little and appreciate the beauty in all the things we create!

Alberto Giacometti

Students then learned about the proportions of the human figure through a class-long figure drawing session. We discovered how difficult it can be to achieve accurate proportions in our drawings and some tricks to help us do so. Students then had the opportunity to pose and sketch their classmates in a series of interesting positions.

We used these sketches as inspiration for our sculptures, and students used pipe cleaners to make a wire armature for their figures. After gluing their sculptures onto a base, students posed and adjusted their figures to achieve a dynamic and interesting composition from all angles.

Students then worked to cover their sculptures in plaster. After a lot of wrapping and adjusting to make sure our sculptures stood securely, we were ready for paint! Students had their choice of colors of metallic paint to use to cover their pieces. We then practiced the dry brush technique and students had the option to dry brush black paint over their sculptures to make them look older.

There were so many skills and techniques learned and practiced in these pieces and they really challenged us along the way. I am so proud of how different all of these pieces look and how much care was put into every step of the process from deciding on a pose and creating an armature, to using plaster and paint!

 

 

My students are SO proud of these pieces and they should be!

Let's Sculpt!

My second grade students and Mr. Angelo's class have been learning about warm and cool colors and how they are used in art.

Using only warm  or cool colors, students were asked to create a small scale paper sculpture. We discussed and experimented with different ways to bend, fold and cut paper and how to use these forms to create an interesting sculpture. We talked a lot about how sculptures are meant to be viewed from all angles and students were encouraged to continue to turn their pieces as they worked and to look from above, below, far away and close up.

As students worked they took breaks to circulate the room and look at their classmates' artwork. We also studied the metal sculptures created by local artist, Albert Paley.

Albert Paley, Cross Currents

We discussed how Paley plans his work in paper and students were excited to see how similar their small scale paper sculptures looked to the large scale artwork of a successful artist!

I can't stop talking about how much I LOVE these pieces! Check out the use of shape, form and composition and how unique and interesting each of these sculptures turned out!

These students really took my idea for a project and ran with it, making it evolve into their own creation! I heard talk of how these sculptures looked like roads, playgrounds and obstacle courses, and students even added things like vehicles and figures and discussed plans to use their pieces with toys they had at home. Taking art outside of the art room and making it your own? I couldn't be happier!

This project also began the option of free sculpting, having students use extra time they may have at the end of a project to create their own independent sculpture. While many of us enjoy drawing from imagination, consider sculpting as a means of artistic expression in your free time!

Is This a Dream?

Earlier this year my fifth grade classes studied realism and surrealism and saw how artists can use different styles to convey meaning in their work. We discussed how surrealism distorts reality and how wild and interesting surrealistic artwork can be!

Students were then asked to select a dream or memory to translate realistically or surrealistically through collage. They spent an entire class brainstorming and writing down or sketching all the details that they remembered about their dream or memory. At this point there were a lot of wild ideas circulating around the room! We then took a look at some collage art and discussed different methods that artists use to create imagery through collage. Using magazines, students began selecting images to use in their pieces and began laying out their collages. Students were able to select the scale of their pieces and also had the option to focus on creating either a realistic or surrealistic collage or both.

Check out this student's realistic...

...and surrealistic...

...collage depicting the same memory!

I am SO impressed by the creativity in these pieces and the imagery that students created is really interesting and inspiring!

Crayons!

My fifth graders just finished a drawing from observation unit and the results are amazing! We started out learning how to use quick small drawings called thumbnail sketches to help plan a dynamic and interesting composition. Students then selected crayons to draw and arranged them in an interesting way. After their thumbnail sketches were complete, students selected their favorite composition and began to lay out their final drawing on black paper. We spent a lot of time discussing how to achieve realism in our drawings through observation. Students were encouraged to really study the crayons that they were drawing. As they sketched and refined their drawings we talked about scale and proportion, measuring in our drawings, and how to check for accuracy. I am always fascinated by how much visual information we miss in everyday objects and how much we can learn by really taking the time to observe. 

Students used oil pastel to add color to their drawings and practiced layering colors, blending, adding highlights and shadows as well as refining details in their work.

Check out this artwork!

 

Drawing from observation can be really difficult and often challenges the way our brain perceives visual information. I am so proud of all of my students for taking on this challenge and putting in their best effort!

Go Braves!

Students in all my classes have been hard at work completing personal ink illustrations for possible inclusion in the Canandaigua Primary Elementary School Yearbook. 

Students were given a wide range of school activities to represent artistically as well as the choice to illustrate whatever they were inspired to create.

In completing these drawings we discussed scale, composition, space, and line.

While only a small number of these drawing will be included in the yearbook and a few others will be making appearances in the principal's newsletter, I just had to share even more!

 

 

 

 

I am always inspired (and entertained!) by what my students create when given choices in their artwork and this project is no exception. I am so impressed by the creativity, skill and effort that went into creating each of these special illustrations!

What's in the Water?

My second grade classes and Mr. Angelo's class just answered that question! 

Using Pablo Picasso's painting, Night Fishing at Antibes as inspiration, students imagined what underwater creates might be living right here in Canandaigua Lake.

Pablo Picasso, Night Fishing at Antibes

After brainstorming different types of underwater creatures and their body parts, students created their own creatures using oil pastel. To create water, students made a collage using different colors of ripped tissue paper. A few layers of Mod Podge later and our creatures were in the water and ready to swim away!

I love how colorful and unique each piece is and the wild imagination behind these creatures!

Thank YOU!

This week all of my classes created Cards of Thanks to give to someone that they are thankful for.

We started out looking at some beautiful fall landscape images for inspiration. Students then drew trees using colored pencil and used their fingers to print leaves in fall colors onto their trees. Many students added some special touches and the air was filled with talk about who these special cards would be delivered to!

This was a fun quick project for a short week but an important one in helping students to realize the power of using their own art outside the art room and to communicate with others!

And finally, one more card for YOU!

 
Thank you to all my students for putting your best effort into your art and for coming to class ready to learn and full of inspiration. Thank you for inspiring me and being open to new experiences.

Thank you to my students' families for supporting your child and the arts and for giving me such a talented group of artists to create with.

Happy Thanksgiving!