5th Grade Contour Line Bicycle Drawings

5th Grade artists are studying contour line, and drawing from direct observation a common, everyday object: a bicycle! I brought in my bicycle, and students drew parts of the bicycle using a viewfinder to help them frame their composition.

Contour line can be tricky because you have to look at the object you are drawing more than down at your paper, which is what we automatically want to do.  You are also not supposed to pick up your pencil, instead making a long continuous line, but I allowed students to take their pencils off of the paper, as long as they placed it back on the line when they began drawing again.  I call it "modified contour line."  The view finders can be seen sitting on the tables in the below photo.

                                                     

After practicing at least five contour line drawings of different parts of the bike, students chose two different views of the bike to make into their final watercolor.  To further abstract the work, students are adding imaginary colors to both the positive shapes of the bike, and to the negative spaces behind and around the bike shapes.  Students are also using different brush techniques to add the color.

These are turning out spectacular...I just LOVE the bright colors!  Be sure to look for them in the hallway in April for the School-wide Art Show!

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!

Winter Happenings in the Art Room: Kinder, Fifth Grade and Third Grade

 Kinder is creating amazing patterns that will be transformed from two dimensional pieces of paper into  three dimensional sculptures!

Fifth Grade has just finished studying the great Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci, and have made horse sculptures out of clay.  Here are sneak peeks of students painting glazes onto their bisque-fired horses; next step, another round in the kiln for the glaze firing!

 Third grade artists are learning all about perspective and depth in two-dimensional artworks, as well as the art element of VALUE.  Here students are creating a winterscape, and using size and color to show depth.  They are mixing lighter and dark values of gray, and learning how to place objects in the background, middle ground, and fore ground.

Check back next week for an update on First, Second, and Fourth Grade artists!

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