I have been active the past month in the role as an arts educator visiting grade five classes in a couple of elementary school classrooms here in the city of Thunder Bay. This is through the Community Arts and Heritage Education Project or CAHEP. I have been actively getting placements in schools through this program since 2006. This year the learners have been given the opportunity to learn relief block printmaking. Not only do they get to try a brand new visual arts technique but learn about the principles of design and explore colour theory in the process. This years theme for the program is Thinking Outside the Box. Here is the Project Overview for the second and most recent venture: Project Title: Construction This project uses relief block printmaking as the basis for the creation of hand printed imagery that utilizes several stages of process from start to finish. Learners were given the opportunity to use two surfaces to create a two colour print on paper. One surface was left solid and the second surface was carved into using special cutting blades to produce a relief design. Prints were produced by using careful registration of paper and application of ink to both sides of a block in two separate printing sessions. To begin, the learners were encouraged to think about and share dialogue revolving around the concept of the word structure. Using photo reference they focused on a particular section of either a manmade or nature made structure. They enlarged the chosen area and proceeded to develop it and construct a colour print that would allow it to be viewed in an entirely different way. This is where adhering to the theme of “thinking outside of the box” came into play. Learners were also challenged by utilizing the principles of design in their respective works of art. During the project they learned about such important areas such as line, shape, positive and negative space, rhythm, repetition, texture, composition, contrast to name but a few. Using linoleum cutting tools they were able to carve their images into a soft composite material (softoleum). Ink was applied to the relief surfaces using brayers and prints were made in two colour combinations on paper using traditional hand printing methods. An emphasis was made on using complementary and split complementary colour combinations in the prints that would allow for real contrasts and impact in the images. The students printed a solid colour square first and then the cut side of the block with their design was printed over top in a contrasting colour. Materials used: Softoleum blocks, linocutting tools, water based printing inks, soft rubber brayers, registration boards, subi printmaking paper, rubbing sticks, spray adhesive, white foamcore board panels, spray adhesive Individual panels contain 6 prints are stacked vertically with an overall measurement 25.4 cm (10 inches) in width by 101.6 cm (40 inches in height). Each image explores the concept of structure in two colours. The finished results have been very good. I have put together a display module where an equal number of prints (6) are affixed to a foamboard panel in a vertical format. Four of the panels will be hinged together into a four sided column and set on a table to allow for 360 degree viewing. The results of these sessions will be presented to the public in a day in Feb. at a Community based Arts Fiesta held annually in our local auditorium. Then the works will continue as a display in a public space such as an art gallery or other public accesible space for a longer duration through the month of March. Below are some photos that were taken during different stages of the projects. cutting the softoleum using linocutters reference for the drawing on the block is from a colour rough sketch water based Speedball inks applied to the block using a rubber brayer that was rolled out onto brayer from plate glass surface registration of block on simple cardboard with foamboard strip taped on top. The paper is held in place with push pins and the paper is set over the inked block and burnished using a plastic rubbing stick using constant pressure in a circular motion. back to back prints hung to dry on a clothes line. One of several stations set up for application of different colours of inks to the blocks. zig zag design - orange printed over top of a solid violet square detail from square print panel - spiral shell design printed in green over red (complementary colours) another detail from a print panel spider web study - yellow over top of a solid red square four panels each with six prints that will be hinged together to create a four sided column display Each print is 14 x 14.6 cm (5.5 x 5.75 inches) and there are a total of 24 prints in total. .
An art sub plan using paper sculpture.
This printable Line Scavenger Hunt makes a fun introductory activity when learning about the role of Line as a versatile element of visual art.
5th grade students painted a 12 section color wheel and then assembled it into an eyeball to complete their art project.
In fourth grade at Brimfield, we are just finishing these oil pastel animal enlargements. We talked a lot about different kinds of...
Students love creating cave art paintings! Lots of art materials are used for this layered project. I like to have my students create these projects at the beginning of the year to build their conf…
An abstract scraper painting project is a great middle school art lesson that incorporates color theory and painting without a brush!
O'Keeffe's paintings make great inspiration for kids' art projects, so let's check out 10 of the best Georgia O'Keeffe projects for kids!
In this project our little kids learned about portrait proportions. They learned that, no, the head is not perfectly round, but rather an upside down egg shape. They learned that eyes are not way up high on the head, but are in the middle of the head. They learned that, no, hair does not come out from the top contour edge of the head, but instead comes downs from the top contour of the head and may sweep across our eyebrows. The nose is between eyes and mouth and the mouth is made up of two parts - upper lip and lower lip. The neck is not a skinny stick jutting down from the head, but is instead a rather thick 'stem' with curves out on both sides and is as wide as the space between our ears. Voila! Proper proportions. The first step for this project was to collage squares of paper all over our paper, in a neat and orderly fashion. This means starting at the top corner and working our way across and down. I had precut a variety of paper squares, sourced from old books of different fonts and coloration, sheet music, and painted paper. We were mindful of not putting two squares of the same paper next to each other, rather, we went for a balanced and varied look. We used acrylic gel medium (my favorite) for pasting our bits of paper. The rule is - brush gel medium on your paper (just where the single collage paper will be adhered), then glue down the collage paper, and then brush more gel medium over top of the collage paper. So, glue under, paste paper, glue on top. This ensures the collage paper is properly sealed to our paper. The kids got the hang of this routine pretty quickly. We dried with a blow dryer so we could move on to step two: drawing the face. I did face drawing demonstration on the white board while the kids followed along using thin brushes and slightly watered down black acrylic paint. Yes, they drew directly with paint brushes! As always, I 'talked out loud' as I drew, so the kids can hear my thought process and connect art vocabulary to line and shape. This was all we managed for session one. Work in progress In the next class we added a slightly see through wash of white paint (I used gesso) to our background, behind the head. We added color to the eyes and lips (the kids know that the upper lip is darker than the lower lip) and added a white ink stamp to the black hair for a decorative effect. This is one of my all time favorite projects I've done with the little class. An instant framer! Kids 5-6
Using 8” by 10” photographs, each student traced a simplified contour drawing of their face. They transferred the drawings onto colored paper and “fractured” them by dividing the picture into smal…
After my success with reduction printing using printing foam with grade twos last year, I was keen to try this technique again wi...
A funky side profile artwork to do with your students.
I can't believe it! March is already here and gone! March was Youth Art Month, and to celebrate, our county puts on an art show at our local public library! Art teachers from all across the county select 20-25 pieces of art to represent their school, so it's a big honor to be chosen. Congratulations to all of my artists selected this year! Great job students! I'm so proud of you!! Tiger collage, Jen Aranyi inspired landscape, Square 1 Art Wonder Self Portrait Faux Batik Fall Pumpkin Monet Chalk Print Rainbow Fish Kindergarten Rainbow Painting Sandra Silberzweig 5th grade Radial Printmaking First grade snowy penguins Art Rocks! Gems and Crystals Square 1 Art Owl
An inexpensive and highly engaging process art experience for young children.
Fourth Grade Art students are studying the art of architecture. We looked closely at the St. Basil's Cathedral located in Moscow, Russia. Looking at this whimsical structure gave us plenty of inspiration to design our own versions. We practiced creating value with black markers using cross-hatching and hatching shading techniques for the different gray values. Students are also using a variety of different textures and patterns to decorate their own versions of the cathedral towers. These are truly amazing drawings! A big thanks to the art blog Deep Space Sparkle for this amazing lesson idea!
Please Note: All images seen below are of my students artwork only. These photos/lessons are not posted in any particular order regarding the flow of my curriculum. OP ART- “3D PAPER CONE DRA…
4th grade artists are learning about the contemporary artist Heather Galler, Folk Art, and Landscapes. We created our own landscapes in the patterned style of Galler. We also considered our use of color and thought about how to create line, shape and color patterns. Download Heather Galler Slide Show Click Here!
I have seen variations of this project many times but have never tried it with my students. I am pleased with how our assemblages turned out! This was a great opportunity to clean out the junk in the classroom and teach about using found objects. My Primaries (or first grade) learned a little about American sculptor Louise Nevelson. There is a short clip on YouTube that explains about her artwork. I put a call out to families to donate … Read more... →
I love the imagination of God! He is Awesome!!!!!! All of us were individually created by this amazing God with an unending creativity! Every one of us is so different! Our personalities, our appearances, the way we walk, the way we talk. The talents we have and the abilities which our wonderful God has given us are truly mind
5th grade artists had fun learning about the artwork by Grant Wood, "American Gothic." We also watched the video, "Dropping in on Grant Wood...
Beautiful Kandinsky inspired Spring flowers created by kindergarten kids.
Inside you'll find an easy step-by-step Pop Artist Art Project Tutorial and Coloring Page. Stop by and download yours for free.
This project is inspired by the work of the famous artist Jasper Johns... Title: 0-9 Date created: 1961 I found these number stencils at Scrap RVA in Richmond, Virginia. Scrap RVA is an arts and craft recycle store...and it is awesome! I teach Scrappy Creatures and Japanese Stab Binding at Scrap RVA. If you are ever in the Richmond area you must add it to your do-to-list. You can buy a set of these graphic number stencils on Amazon, just click on the link below... You will also need a circle tracer as well. I got this one at Michaels with my weekly 40% off coupon. You can get it on Amazon by clicking the link below... The paper size for this project is 12x18 90# white multi use paper by Pecon. Students pick their 3 favorite numbers to trace with a pencil. The first number should be traced right-side up. The second number is placed over the first number but this time it should be traced upside down. The third number is placed over the first 2 and can be traced in any direction the student chooses...either right-side up or upside down. Any of the 3 numbers can be traced backwards as well. Using the circle tracer add 3 different size circles overlapping the numbers somewhere on the paper. Use a fine tip Sharpie to trace over all the pencil lines. Fill in the small spaces with lines using the Sharpie. Add shading in some of the corner points with a pencil. I just have the kids smooth out the pencil lines with their fingers or you can use a blending tool. You can order blending tools on Amazon by clicking the link below ... After you have finished all the corner shading start to add your color. I let my students choose between colored pencils or water colors. I use Crayola colored pencils and a mix of Prang and Crayola watercolors in my art room. Colored Pencils Watercolor Jasper Johns painted the entire canvas for his art work tilted 0-9 I only have my students paint inside the numbers and circles but you can try it either way. Let me know what you think and please share your results if you try this project in your class room. You can email me at [email protected] Check back for new projects and ideas every Thursday.
Ready, set, POSE! I use my iPhone to take photos of my students. I usually do this on a day during which they are intently engaged with another lesson, and pull one or two students at a time into t…
The revised edition of The Artful Parent Jean Van’t Hul’s book, “The Artful Parent – Simple Ways to Fill Your Family’s Life with Art and Creativity” is out, and it’s a GEM! It’s a complete update to the glue & play dough-encrusted, watercolor stained book we’ve all loved so well! Flipping through the pages is a […]
As an art teacher passionate about fostering creativity and critical thinking, I wholeheartedly embrace choice-based methodology. This appro...
Ideias de Arte usando diferentes materiais
“Chromatic Cascade” by Jen Stark, Los Angeles Jen Stark herself! Parking Garage Mural by Jen Stark, Los Angeles Jen Stark is a Los Angeles based artist known for h…
