Van Gogh Inspired Irises!

The fourth graders are in the process of finishing up their Van Gogh inspired paintings.  We started off the project discussing background, middle ground and foreground.  The students took great care to create their images with these three components.  We used a combination of acrylic and watercolor paint to apply color, and for an extra challenge, the fourth graders were required to mix primary colors to make their purples and greens.  They will be hanging soon in the school lobby!

Coil Pots!

Before winter break the third graders made their clay pots.  They learned all about the coil method and they mastered the technique of using the slip to attach each piece.  After the pots were fired in the kiln, the students applied several layers of glaze.  The pots went back into the kiln to be fired one more time and here they are!  Everyone was excited to take them home!

Paul Klee inspired Cats!

The second grade students had a great time creating their Paul Klee inspired cats!  We began by reading the book "Cat and Bird."  The drawings in this book are in the style of Klee, and we used a step-by-step process to make the line drawings of the cats in Klee's style.  The next step was to apply color.
The students got to use chalk pastel to smudge the pigment around the page.  The cats have so much personality, and you can view them in the lobby of the school!

Hot Cocoa In Still Life

The first grade students started off the new year learning the concept of "still life."  We decided to create a still life of our favorite winter beverage... Hot Cocoa!  The students drew their cups in perspective to show depth.  We used oil pastel and watercolor paint for the color application portion of the project.  These paintings are located in the first floor hallway of the school near the stairs.  They all look good enough to drink!

Learning About Composition!

The Kindergarten students enjoyed learning how to create a composition by framing their hand drawing with multiple partial hands around the page.  They got to choose how much of their hands would be displayed as they cropped each one.  The next step was to add color.  The kindergarten students used oil pastel for the hands and watercolor paint for the background.  They all are colorful and interesting!

Dia De Los Muertos

Happy Dia De Los Muertos!  The 2nd grade students studied about the customs and traditions practiced during this holiday.  The 2nd graders used their pencils to form the shape of a skull, and then added details to decorate them in a festive way.  The last step was to apply color using oil pastel.  The students gave their images lots of personality!  These are on display in the school lobby.

Diebenkorn!

The 4th grade students went on a field trip to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in September to view the Richard Diebenkorn exhibit.  While we were there, we also got to do a wonderful project with a piece made by Marsden Hartley.  The piece was created in 1914 and is called Berlin Abstraction.  When we returned to school, the fourth grade students made their own Diebenkorn inspired images using chalk pastel.  We discussed the geometric shapes that Diebenkorn used were much more free form compared to Piet Mondrian, who we studied late last year.  The results were wonderful and they are on display in the lobby of the school!