5th Grade Legacy Project

5th Grade artists are studying the art of the Totem Pole, which are created by Native American tribes who live in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and Canada. Each student is creating a design that includes their name, the years 2015 - 2016, and an animal or human face that is in relief. Two students are sharing one cylinder piece, and the pieces will be assembled into class totem poles once they have been fired into ceramic form. My plan is to have the three different totem poles installed by the end of May, before our 5th graders graduate from Zilker. The totem poles will be in the fifth grade courtyard, and will be  permanent art sculptures for future Zilker students to enjoy. For now, enjoy the process through these photos!

Visiting Artist Michael Hildago

Zilker parent and ceramic artist Michael Hildago visited Zilker art class on May 5th to give a demonstration to his daughter's Kinder class!  Mr. Hidalgo showed students how he creates mugs and pots on the wheel. 

He started a very large mug, and asked students what kind of details to give it to turn it into a monster mug.  Students gave ideas about eyes, nose, ears, arms, and hair.  Mr. Hidalgo also showed students how to attach two separate pieces of clay using the scoring method.

You can tell he enjoys working with clay!

Here is the finished piece!  Students really enjoyed having a real live artist visit our art class and share his techniques with them.  Thanks so much Michael!!

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.