4th Grade Pop Art Cupcake Sculptures

Sculpting with clay.

Adding details with a pin tool.

 Adding color with glaze.

 Finished works after firing in the kiln.

3rd Grade Laurel Burch Dogs or Cats

 Artists in third grade are studying American artist Laurel Burch and her colorful depictions of cats and dogs.  Students drew different versions of cats and dogs with playful patterns, and personified the animals by giving human emotions to their facial features.  Students then chose the best idea for the final drawing, taking in account the sized of their shapes and patterns, because the next step was to outline the final drawing with glue.   Once the glue had dried, students planned out vivid colors using the color wheel, trying to choose complementary colors, or colors opposite each other on the color wheel.  Finally, students carefully started to add the color with oil pastels, trying not to cover up the now black glue lines.

 Students chose two different colors for the background behind their dog or cat, trying to maintain the high color contrast.  Last, students had to go back over the glue lines with a small wooden stylus to get any oil pastel off.  Check out the finished art here on Artsonia, our online art museum!

http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=885104

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

Fifth Grade Positive Negative Collages

Fifth Grade Artists are studying positive shape and negative space with these collages.  First, we connected to mathematics, and talked about types of transformations, such as rotation, reflection, and translation.  I demonstrated cutting out a shape, and students agreed that it was  an example of reflection.  We then discussed the criteria: using some geometric and free form shapes, and creating at least two "double shapes" that would show reflection twice. 

The cutting is tricky, because student had to really concentrate on only cutting around the edge of their shape, so that the negative space left is an exact mirror of the shape that was cut out.  The contrast of black against the color background is really pleasing on these.  Thanks to the website Arts in Education for the great lesson plan!

See the finished works here at our online art museum on Artsonia!

http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=874407

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

Kinder Mondrian Collage Prints

Kinder artists are studying Piet Mondrian and his primary color compositions. We looked at several of his paintings and talked about the shapes, lines, and color that we noticed:rectangles, squares, rhombus, straight lines, primary colors, black, and white. Students then used primary colored papers to arrange their own composition. The next class, we printed the black lines using a piece of straight-edged cardboard and black paint. Here are some photos of the printing in action:

Fifth Grade Art News

from Jamie Pettit, Zilker Art Teacher

Fifth Graders Explore Line, Shape, and Overlapping!

This semester Fifth Grade Students will be learning about using the elements and principles of design to create a name design for the cover of their sketchbooks. Students are also learning about Linear Perspective and how to use perspective techniques to trick the eye into seeing a three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional piece of paper. Students will also create a still life painting of parts of a bicycle, and a three-dimensional clay sculpture.

Students Explore Art
 Throughout this year students will be exploring the great art, artists, and cultures of the world.  Each student will develop skills to understand and appreciate artwork.  We will also participate in hands-on activities and develop critical thinking skills. More and more, the arts are playing a vital role in education and learning.  Unlike many other subject areas, the arts introduce students to ways of thinking that are based on imagination and judgment.  The arts encourage students to think and learn in a variety of ways, helping them to develop increased language and learning skills.  This year your child will begin to see the world through the eyes of an artist and develop critical thinking skills that will last a lifetime.

Artsonia: Zilker’s Online Student Art Museum
Artsonia is a secure online art gallery used to showcase the wonderful art that our Zilker artists create. You can share your child’s art with distant family members and friends, as well as leave supportive comments in each child’s artist guestbook.  Last names are never shown publicly, and each child has a screen name, so it is a safe and secure site. You can also buy items with your child’s artwork printed on them, and 20% of the revenue is commissioned back to Zilker’s Art Program.  Artsonia is a wonderful way to increase students’ self-esteem and pride while encouraging their participation and appreciation of visual art.   Check it out atwww.artsonia.com 

Artwork: When does it get sent home?
Grades 2 – 5 typically work on longer projects that take several weeks to complete. Kinder and 1st grades have shorter projects.  I keep artwork for different displays at Zilker, the AISD offices, the district art show, and other venues.  Students will get all of the artwork back after the displays have been taken down.  If you have any questions about grading, or would like to see what your child is working on, please email me or call me and I can set up a time for you to peek “behind the scenes.”  Otherwise, keep a look out in the hallways or for a note home about displays elsewhere! In April, every child will have his or her artwork displayed in the School-Wide Art Show.


Welcome Back! Summer was relaxing but I really missed Zilker’s great artists.  This is my seventeenth year teaching art, and fourteenth year here at Zilker. I feel very lucky to be a part of the Zilker Community! Thanks for a great start to the 2014 – 2015 School Year.

Jamie Pettit
Zilker Art Teacher
jamie.pettit@austinisd.org
www.zilkerelementaryart.blogspot.com

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 Art News

Fourth Graders Explore Shape, Line, Pattern, and Form!
 
This semester Fourth Grade Students will:
-Learn about lines, what they express, and how artists use them to create movement and interest.
-Learn about geometric and free form shapes
-Look at line, shape, pattern, texture, and value in fine artwork
-Create their own works of art, including an name design for the sketchbook cover using elements and principles of design, and an Aboriginal dot painting using shape and pattern. Students will also create a three-dimensional sculpture using cardboard. 
 
Students Explore Art
 Throughout this year students will be exploring the great art, artists, and cultures of the world.  Each student will develop skills to understand and appreciate artwork.  We will also participate in hands-on activities and develop critical thinking skills. More and more, the arts are playing a vital role in education and learning.  Unlike many other subject areas, the arts introduce students to ways of thinking that are based on imagination and judgment.  The arts encourage students to think and learn in a variety of ways, helping them to develop increased language and learning skills.  This year your child will begin to see the world through the eyes of an artist and develop critical thinking skills that will last a lifetime.
 
Artsonia: Zilker’s Online Student Art Museum
Artsonia is a secure online art gallery used to showcase the wonderful art that our Zilker artists create. You can share your child’s art with distant family members and friends, as well as leave supportive comments in each child’s artist guestbook.  Last names are never shown publicly, and each child has a screen name, so it is a safe and secure site. You can also buy items with your child’s artwork printed on them, and 20% of the revenue is commissioned back to Zilker’s Art Program.  Artsonia is a wonderful way to increase students’ self-esteem and pride while encouraging their participation and appreciation of visual art.   Check it out atwww.artsonia.com   
 
Artwork: When does it get sent home?
Grades 2 – 6th typically work on longer projects that take several weeks to complete. Kinder and 1st grades have shorter projects.  I keep artwork for different displays at Zilker, the AISD offices, the district art show, and other venues.  Students will get all of the artwork back after the displays have been taken down.  If you have any questions about grading, or would like to see what your child is working on, please email me or call me and I can set up a time for you to peek “behind the scenes.”  Otherwise, keep a look out in the hallways or for a note home about displays elsewhere! In April, every child will have his or her artwork displayed in the School-Wide Art Show.
 
Welcome Back! Summer was relaxing but I really missed Zilker’s great artists.  This is my seventeenth year teaching art, and fourteenth year here at Zilker. I feel very lucky to be a part of the Zilker Community! Thanks for a great start to the 2014 – 2015 School Year. 
 
Jamie Pettit
Zilker Art Teacher
jamie.pettit@austinisd.org
www.zilkerelementaryart.blogspot.com