Week of January 17th

  It may be cold outside, but we are busy creating and learning about art inside the art classroom. Here is an update on what we are learning in the artroom.

Early elementary students are working in clay making ceramic pinch pots. Pots are being fired in the kiln now so we can glaze and refire them this week. They are going to be fabulous! We are now aware that some art is functional as well as decorative. And wow, it is amazing to realize that one way we know about past civilizations is through the pottery and other artwork found in ancient ruins.

3rd graders are making an Egyptian cartouche. This is their very own name plate in heiroglyphics. They are really beautiful!

Grades 4 and 5 are drawing their self-portraits using proper proportion. Direct observation of self in a mirror answers questions about proportion, such as where to place the eyes, nose and mouth, and how wide to make the mouth, neck and shoulders. A second challenge is to draw another student in profile. Now copies of these portraits are cut up and rearranged to make an abstract piece in the Cubist style of Picasso. Now through one assignment, we have a new understanding of 2 Art Styles; Realism and Abstraction.

Mid level students are learning about a variety of printing techniques, such as, monoprinting, stencil, stamp printing, relief block printing, scratchfoam printing, and collagraph. The combination of printing techniques in a single art work will make exciting prints!