Human Proportions and Color Schemes

Third grade artists are drawing from observation, looking closely at the art room's wooden mannequins. We discussed Proportion, which is a Principle of Design, and looked closely at how the ovals and circles of the mannequins where proportionate to the human body. We learned to draw contour lines, smooth unbroken lines, when we were drawing the ovals and circles.    

Then, we started to add color with watercolors.  First, we studied warm and cool colors, and noted the difference between them.  Students had to chose to put cool colors below the horizon line, or above it.  Then, the next class students painted the warm colors in the opposite spot.

Painting was a little tricky because students were trying hard to control their paintbrushes and not paint inside the mannequin shapes.  They did an outstanding job!

Check out the finished art here on Artsonia, our online Student Art Museum!

http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?project=1027622

1st Grade Paul Klee Geometric Cities

First Grade artists are studying artist Paul Klee and creating their own architecture with geometric shapes. Students experimented with triangles, creating different shapes like rhombi, squares, trapezoids, and rectangles.  Students then arranged their shapes to create buildings, and added architectural details like windows, bridges, doors, columns, as well as different types of textures with construction paper crayons.

 Check out the finished works of art on Artsonia, our online student art museum:
https://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?project=994524

1st Grade Abstract Paintings

First Grade art students are learning brush techniques in painting.  Students first learned about the different parts of a paintbrush:

Students practiced just using the "toe" of the bristles to create a very thin line.  Then we practiced painting with the heel and toe, gently pressing down all the bristles to make a really thick line.  Students were amazed that they could paint such different lines with the same brush! After practicing painting different kinds of lines, students then practiced painting large shapes with solid colors.

Next, students tried out painting shapes or lines on top of colors.  It was a fun experiment to see which colors could show up on top of the painted backgrounds. The final touch was adding a few lines around the border, and painting their names.  To see them all, check out our online students art gallery at Artsonia:   http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=926366

1st Grade Paul Klee Collages

First Grade artists read the story "The Cat and the Bird" as an introduction to the artist Paul Klee.  As we read the story, students were asked to point out Klee's use of geometric shapes to create the building shapes, like squares, rectangles, triangles, and rhombus. We also looked at some of Klee's artworks and again noted the use of geometric shapes.  Students then used papers to create their own artworks of a city by combining the different shapes.

Students then added small details, such as doorways, windows, bridges, and balconies with construction paper crayons.  The results are beautiful!

See them all at our online art museum:      

http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=846613

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!