2nd Graders study TEXTURE

Second grade artists are studying the amazing Maurice Sendak and his wonderful story "Where the Wild Things Are."  We looked closely at his illustrations and had a texture scavenger hunt, and then practiced drawing textures using lines and shapes.  Students drew different wild things and chose the best one to turn into a watercolor.

Here are more amazing Wild Things on our online Student Art Museum:
http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?project=996439

2nd Grade Kandinsky-inspired Weavings

Second grade artists learned about the Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky and looked closely at his use of line on his abstract artworks.  Then students took a line "for a walk" and created a linear design with a black crayon.  We added textures with texture rubbings after deciding upon a cool color or warm color scheme.  Then we created a loom for weaving by carefully cutting five slits into our papers.   Students began weaving the opposite color scheme into their looms with strips of paper.  Using a white crayon, students added texture to a black piece of construction paper, and glued their paper weavings to this to create a frame.  Last, students added more lines around the border with oil pastels.

1st Grade, 2nd Grade, and 4th Grade: Current Art Projects

 First Graders are studying Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh, and creating their own version of the "Starry Night" using oil pastels.  Here are some students demonstrating Van Gogh's technique of using short strokes to add color to their papers.

 Second Grade artists looked at Pablo Picasso's Rose period paintings, and then we discussed the art element of VALUE.  Students mixed red and white to make tints of red, and red with black to make shades of red, and created these heart paintings that are full of patterns!

 Fourth Grade artists have been studying the American artist Wayne Thiebaud, who just celebrated his 94th birthday in November!  Here students have already sculpted their cup cakes out of clay, and are adding color with glazes.  Stay tuned for more news next week!

2nd Grade Cityscape Paintings

Second Grade artists looked at some of the Fauvist artists for color inspiration.  We discussed how the Fauvists used bright imaginary colors in their artworks.  We drew a scene from our very own city of Austin, and added imaginary colors to the buildings with watercolors. 

 Students chose the time of day to illustrate in their cityscape paintings, and added unique features to that time: bats, stars, clouds, birds, etc. They each created a unique view of the city of Austin!

Check out all of the finished paintings on Artsonia, Zilker's Online Art Museum!

http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=853703

2nd Grade Geometric Shape Robot Collage

 Second Grade artists are busy reviewing the geometric shapes and creating crazy robots with them!  All students are using their imagination to invent their own individual and unique robots.  We are also remembering how to safely use scissors and glue in the art room.  Look for these amazing robots in a display soon - they are too cool to be kept hidden in the art room!

2nd Grade Flower Sculptures

After my second graders had studied American artist Georgia O'Keeffe and created their own enlarged flower paintings, we talked about the difference between form and shape. We had our two-dimensional paintings, and we were going to now create a three-dimensional flower sculpture.  We used a plastic bowl as a mold to form our flowers into a bowl shape.  Students then used the slip and score method to add the stigma of their flower.  Finally, we glazed the bowls.  I used a low fire glaze, and did a combo bisque and glaze firing in one.  The colors came out bright and vivid!  Students are excited to bring these home soon!

1st & 2nd Grade Eric Carle Collages

We are learning about the phenomenal artist and author Eric Carle in second and first grade art class! We read some of his books, including "Mister Seahorse," "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," and "Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?" We discussed how Eric Carle created his own papers by painting them and scratching textures into the wet paint.  After the papers dried, he would then cut them out to create the beautiful animals in his books.

Students painted their papers first.  This was a FUN day!  Students rotated around the table and painted six or seven different colors onto their construction paper.  Before the paint dried, students used tools to scratch lines into the wet paint, just like Eric Carle.

The papers were dry for the next class, and students traced shapes on the back to create their animals, as well as added fun things such as sequins, pompoms, glitter, and oil pastel details.  Some classes made butterflies:

Other classes created tropical birds:

 And still other classes made seahorses.  They are all so lovely!  Look for first grade classes' artwork to be displayed in April for the School-wide Art Show!