Snowflakes in Art Class

Snowflakes are a great project for sending kids off to Christmas Break.  They are an easy project for teaching cutting, folding and symmetry.

Here are links to the videos I recorded to use in art class for Snowflake Day!

Coffee Filter Snowflake

Copy Paper Snowflake

Learning about Henri Matisse in the Art Room!

"Creativity takes courage" - Henri Matisse

Kindergarten and Third grade have been learning about the art of French Artist, Henri Matisse.  In his early years of painting he was known as a "Fauve", the French word for wild beast. Fauve painters were known for their use of crazy, bright colors

 

Goldfish by Henri Matisse

Woman in a Hat by Henri Matisse

Below are paintings and collages by Kindergarten.  They are learning about secondary colors; orange, green, and purple.  They discovered these colors in Henri Matisse's goldfish painting

Third grade is learning about Henri Matisse in his later years.  With failing health and eyesight, Matisse began to move from painting to large scale paper cutouts.  Here is our group collage installation outside of the art room based on the collage The Parakeet and the Mermaid by Henri Matisse.

The Parakeet and the Mermaid by Henri Matisse

Collage by Henri Matisse

Third Grade Collages inspired by Henri Matisse

Books in the Art Room

I love to use books in my art class to get the kids ready for a new year!  Here are some of the books we read at the beginning of this year.

The Day the Crayons Quit was a fun book for Kindergarten and First graders!

In Second, Third, and Fourth grade, students read the book Only One You. Each student made a fish design that represented them as an individual.

Third Grade Only One You Drawings

In Fifth and Sixth grade, students read Beautiful Oops, Each student was given an "oops" and had to use their imagination to make something beautiful!

These students were given paper with holes in them.  Can you find the oops?

This student was given a torn piece of paper. Can you find the oops?

This student was given a paper with another piece of paper glued to it.  Can you find the oops?

Taking a Closer Look at Nature with First Grade

Looking up from a bugs view

Looking up at the trees 

Trout Lily 

 First grade students are taking a closer look at nature. First graders have been observing gardens and forests from a bugs view and using their imagination to create a mixed media piece of art.

cantaloupe in a raised bed garden 

great use of overlapping and tons of forest critters

overlapping and lots of color

This student just started but already off to a great start!