2nd Grade Kandinsky Weavings

Second Grade artists are learning about the artist Wassily Kandinsky  We looked at many of his abstract paintings and talked about his use of different kinds of lines.  We then "took a line for a walk" around our paper, making it change from straight, curved, looping, spiral and wavy.  We added crayon textures to our line drawings and then added either warm or cool color watercolors on top of that.  Next we turned that watercolor into a paper loom to weave on.  We talked about weaving the tabby weave: over and under, over and under.  These photos show students demonstrating that step.  Students had to pick the opposite color scheme of their watercolor to weave with.  Look for the finished project coming home soon!

3rd Grade Clay Fish Sculptures

 Zilker third grade artists are sculpting fish out of clay!  Here students are adding the final touches: texture and lines as well as details like eyes and gills.  Students will glaze the fish after they are bisque-fired in the kiln, and then I will glaze fire them.  Students worked very hard on their designs; I hope you enjoy them when they come home!

2nd Grade Clay Akuaba Dolls

Second graders are learning about Akuaba Dolls.  These dolls are made by artists in Ghana, and they are members of the Akan tribe. The Akan tribe gives the dolls as wedding presents because they represent the wish for the couple to have healthy babies.  Students created these dolls out of clay, and here they are painting the traditional African colors of red, yellow, green and black onto the dolls with glaze.  Look for these to come home soon!

1st Grade Self Portrait Collages

First Grade Zilker artists are making their self portraits using paper and glue.  We have discussed symmetry, and are folding our papers in half so that we get two shapes exactly alike when we cut to achieve perfect symmetry.  Students are having a fun time adding small details to their clothing, like pockets, buttons, patterns, zippers, and belts.  These are always a favorite project for parents! Each portrait has a distinct personality, just like its creator!

4th Grade Self Portrait Paintings

Zilker fourth grade artists have been busy creating wonderful self portrait paintings based on Henri Matisse's style with bold patterns and simple facial features.  These are amazing, and will be on display for this year's school-wide art show in April.  I cannot wait for everyone to enjoy them!  Here  are some photos of students painting the pattern backgrounds.

Kinder Patterns

Kinder art students have been busy creating beautiful patterns in the Zilker art room recently.  We used crayons first, pushing hard with our muscles to put down a nice layer of waxy color.  In these photos you can see students adding a color tempera wash over the crayon patterns, creating a wax-resist painting.  Be sure to come see our musical on March 7, and you will discover what the kinder students created out of their patterned papers!

5th Grade Mexican Bark Paintings

 Fifth Grade artists are studying a type of folk art from Mexico called bark paintings, or amate paintings.  These paintings come from a place in Mexico called Guerrero.  The artist there are self trained, or have learned the art from relatives or friends, which is why it is considered to be a form of folk art. 

 Students first chose an animal to draw as the center of interest, then surrounded the animal with plants and flowers.  Next students added a pattern around the border of their drawings that included overlapping shapes.  Here students are adding bright imaginary colors to their drawings just like the Mexican artists do.  After we are finished painting, students will add texture and details with a black pencil.

3rd Grade Laurel Burch Cats & Dogs

Third grade artists are studying the art of Laurel Burch.  We looked carefully at her brightly colored compositions, focusing on her dog and cat paintings. We used glue and oil pastel.  Look for these finished art works in the School-wide Art Show in April!

Let it Snow!

 It is officially winter now, and it finally feels like winter in Austin, Texas!  We have been sweating through most of December with temperatures in the high 80's...yes, 80's! After these few cold fronts have passed through we now have all of our hats, jackets and scarves out of  storage.  It is also a brand new year, and what better way to welcome students back to the beginning of 2013 than with a snow-themed bulletin board display!  The beautiful cardinals were painted by fourth grade artists, and I found that amazing lesson over at Deep Space Sparkle, so thank you Patty!!  My fourth graders loved this simple, bold painting with the red cardinals against the turquoise sky, and the brown branches and few white snowflakes complete the beautiful compositions.  My kinder artists also worked very hard on their torn paper snowman collages...decking them out with branch arms, scarves, and hats.  Kinder students really practiced controlled tearing, utilizing their fine motor and manipulative skills.  Maybe, just maybe, this display will inspire some real snow in Austin this winter!

1st Grade Starry Night Over Austin

 First Grade art students are studying the art of Vincent Van Gogh.  We looked at many of his paintings and discussed his unique brush strokes that create such vivid textures in his colorful paintings.  We then read a great book called "Vincent's Colors" from the Metropolitan Museum of Art that shows many of Van Gogh's artworks accompanied by his own words describing them, from letters to his brother Theo. Then we studied one of his most famous works of art "Starry Night."  Students recreated their own versions of starry night and made it closer to home, over the city of Austin.  Students also recreated the textured strokes using oil pastels.  This project is so wonderful because in spite of everyone doing the same subject matter, each child's art comes out so unique with their style of applying the oil pastels. Enjoy!