Get In On the Action!

Do you have a desire to get involved in our class on Tuesdays and Thursdays?  Do you have any skills, knowledge, or experiences we can learn from?  Below are some topics we have coming up in class.  If you have anything to add to these topics, we would love to have you add to our class experience.  Please feel welcome but don't feel pressured!!!

The Renaissance

The city of Florence, Italy and its role in Renaissance culture

The following artists:  Ghirberti, Masaccio, Durer, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, El Greco, Rembrandt

Significant works by these artists:  The Holy Trinity, The Rhinoceros, The Mona Lisa, The Sistine Chapel, Rembrandt's self-portraits, Return of the Prodigal Son

Frescos

Figure Drawing

Relief Sculptures

Printmaking

Self-portraits from a mirror

Sculpting with clay

A Check-up

We are several weeks into the school year and now is a great time to think about how the class is working.  As this is my first year-round art class with homeschool students, I would love your feedback .  If you have a moment, would you complete the survey below?  It should take you no more than five minutes and your opinions are anonymous.  Of course, you are always welcome to get in touch via email, phone call, or in person!  

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/W6K9QH5

Thanks for your help!

What We Have Been Up To: Week Four

During week four, we looked at art and culture during the medieval period.  We discussed Gothic architecture and especially the use of pointed arches and stained glass windows.  

Students designed their own stained glass windows using the letters of their first or last name.  We drew out our designs on sheets of 8x10 plexiglass.  

We finished our designs with colored sharpie.

The complete designs use bold lines and color.  These designs can be put in an inexpensive 8x10 frame.   Leave off the backing and you have a great finished window look!

Coming Up!  We will discuss the artist Giotto and his use of shadow to create the illusion of three dimensions.  We will make paint just as Medieval and Renaissance artist learned to make their own paint.  We will use our paint to make paintings that show specific emotions.  You are always welcome to join us or add in any way to our lesson.  

What We Have Been Up To: Week Three

During week three of art, we began by discussing Greek art and culture.  We especially spent some time discussing the architecture of the Parthenon.  Student practiced using one-point perspective to draw buildings.  

Later in the week, we discussed the Roman Pantheon and how the round arch changed architecture.  Students began designing their dream home.  We began by drawing them out using pencil and covered over our final lines with sharpie.

They added textures and patterns in the large spaces using crayon and finished the piece with watercolor.  The waxy crayon resisted the watercolor and added interest in the big spaces.  Salt sprinkled on the wet paint also created textures in large spaces too.

The paintings came out bright and full of imagination!  One brave student even used linear perspective in hers!

 

This student chose to show his house as a floor plan

Do you see the hobbit hole?  

What We Have Been Up To: Week Two

During our second week in class, we discussed the culture of ancient Egypt and looked at some of its art.  We discussed the Egyptian formula for drawing the human body.  

Students drew self-portraits using this formula (head and legs in profile, chest and one eye from the front).  It was a good introduction to figure drawing and made them think about ideas such as proportion and anatomy (Where do your arms and legs bend?) without being overwhelming.  We will continue to discuss the human figure in future projects.  

 

Student could include symbols or real hieroglyphics that described them around their self-portraits. 

 

We also talked about using different thicknesses of lines to create interest.  I also demonstrated for them and challenged them to blend the color pencils to create new or varied colors.  

 

I am really proud of the work they did!

What We Have Been Up To: Week One

During our first week in art class, we discussed prehistoric art and spent some time looking at the cave paintings near Lascaux, France.  Students created cave paintings of their own using craft paper and natural drawing materials.  It was fun for me to begin to get to know this smart, energetic class through this project.  

Students drawing on crumpled craft paper (aka our rock surface) with charcoal and chalk.  They could also add color with red clay mud.

Our final pieces representing animals we see around us every day.  I especially loved the shark food chain pieces some of the boys drew!

Welcome!

Welcome to the class blog of the elementary art class!  We will use the blog this year to give you a view of what we are up and give you a chance to see the work the students create.  Please feel free to comment, to ask questions, or to join us in class at anytime!