4th Grade St. Basil's Cathedral Architecture Drawings

As the first lesson of our architectural unit, fourth grade artists are studying St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, Russia.  We looked at its unique colors and patterns, and at its signature onion domes.  Then we practiced using markers to make different values and textures, using techniques like hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling.  Finally, we got to design the outside of our own towers!

 Our last step was to carefully cut out our building and glue it to a bright colored paper. Special thanks goes out to Deep Space Sparkle for this inspiring lesson plan!

Check out more finished artworks on Artsonia, our online student museum!
http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?project=998266

4th and 5th Grade Abstract Pattern Designs

To start off a new school year in art Class, fourth and fifth grade artists are getting into their "artist state of mind" by reviewing the Elements of Art.  Students arranged lines, shapes and colors in a repeated and planned way to create abstract patterns.  These bright artworks will decorate the cover of their art sketchbooks, which we use all year long.

Check out all of the amazing designs at Artsonia, our online student museum!

5th Grade: http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?project=985881

4th Grade: http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?project=985870

4th Grade Sewing

Fourth Grade artists are busy finishing up their Radial Design sewing.  Students have learned at least five different kinds of stitches: running, straight, cross, satin, as well as decorated or fancy running stitch.  Students designed their work to have a symmetrical balance, and a few have radial balance, which is two or more lines of symmetry.  We are sewing into burlap, which is loosely woven, and makes it a little easier to line up the design because of the grid-like pattern the fibers have.  These will be on display for our School-wide Student Art Show in April!

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!

4th Grade Still Life Bulletin Board

 I am so proud of my fourth grade artists!  They created outstanding still life paintings using shades and tints of one color.  These are on display right now in Zilker's hallway.  It was very difficult to pick which ones to hang...I managed to squeeze 32 paintings on the bulletin board, and that of course is only about half of my fourth graders.  All of them are on our online museum here at Artsonia:
http://www.artsonia.com/teachers/members/exhibits/artwork.asp?id=834601
If you do not see your student's work online, you may need to give permission for it to be seen.  Contact me at jamie.pettit@austinisd.org, and I can send you the link for approving the art to be seen. 

Quick shout-out to the blog  http://kaknoblach.edublogs.org/ for this great lesson idea!  

4th Grade Still Life Paintings

We started our lesson distinguishing between three subjects in art: portraits, landscapes, and still lives.  We discussed the differences between these subjects, and then students each got a photo of a Vincent Van Gogh painting.  Students had to decide which subject category their particular painting belonged in.   A few were tricky!

 I searched for a real pumpkin, but alas, in early September none were to be found in Central Texas.  I did find a rather realistic one from Michael's as a substitute. Students drew the pumpkin carefully, paying attention to the sections and how many they could see on one side of the pumpkin, as well as the free form shape of the stem.  Then we divided the background into different shapes with lines.

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On day three we talked about mixing white with a color to make a tint.  Each student picked one color, and then we carefully mixed the color with white to get different tints.  Students then added the tints to the lightest side of the pumpkin. Here are students mixing their tints.  The next day we also mixed colors with black to make different shades. When the paintings are finished I will post a few photos, and post the link to the Artsonia exhibit page.  Happy painting until then!

4th Grade Self Portraits a la Matisse

Fourth Grade artists are painting their self portraits.  We looked at several of Henri Matisse's portraits and talked about his use of simple stylized lines in the people's faces, as well as his extensive use of pattern in the backgrounds behind the people.  In one portrait alone we counted fourteen different patterns!  Students carefully drew their faces using proportion.  We talked about facial proportions and measured with rulers to correctly place the eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and eyebrows. Then students drew five or six patterns in the background.

Students had the most fun adding the brightly colored paints.  Last we added oil pastel for fine details in the background.

Check out the finished portraits with oil pastel details here at our online museum at Artsonia!

http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=786811