Fall is in full swing in the art room! Students have been surrounded by the beauty of nature changing in their world, sharing their experiences of all of the fun that comes along with it. I have set up a fall inspired still life for the students to view and enjoy in the art room, filled with sunflowers, corn, pumpkins, leaves, and gourds. We admired the view of the willow trees outside the windows each week as they changed from green to golden yellow. They are nearly bare now. We have been very busy exploring many different art processes during art class, and below you will find what the students have been learning in each grade level during the past month:
Prek and K students learned how to create leaf rubbings, and then transformed them into watercolor paintings. We first went on a leaf hunt and searched for real leaves that had fallen in the courtyard and playgrounds of Memorial School. Once we brought our leaves into the art room, we learned how to rub crayons across the paper, while our leaves were hidden under the paper. We were so excited to rub the crayons and then have our leaves appear, like magic! Then we learned the use and care of a paintbrush. We now know how to make our brush have a “happy hair-do”, and how to clean the brush and fix its hair so we can make our best paintings (DIP, DRIP, WIPE THE TIP!). We learned that watercolors are a beautiful art supply and that they can paint right over the crayon leaves, without them disappearing! Our leaf rubbings/paintings came out so warm, colorful, and filled with the essence of the fall time!
Currently, we are using tempera paint, and continuing to practice using our paintbrushes with great care. We are learning about color mixing while using the primary colors (red, yellow and blue), to make orange and green. We are using those colors to create our very own pumpkins, vines, and even some fun faces for our pumpkins! We read the book “Pumpkin Jack” by William Hubbell. It has inspired us to think about how a pumpkin grows, and then how it can be composted to create new pumpkins for the next year! We loved the story and had the best time making our very own pumpkin faces, filled with the most surprising and spooky expressions!
To enrich this learning further, the kindergarten students learned that sometimes, math and art collide, when we created SYMMETRY with our pumpkins faces! We used black paint to COPY the facial features from one side of our pumpkin shape, onto the other side, by folding and pressing. When we opened our paper back up, we found a complete, and funny/spooky/mad/excited face for our symmetrical pumpkins, where both sides were the same! We can’t wait to take these home next week!
1st grade students learned about leaf identification and how certain trees have very specific shaped leaves. Observing real types of leaves that have been dried and preserved from all different types of trees, we noticed how all sorts of leaves come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. We learned that the word “variety” means “to have many different types”. Variety is an art vocabulary word, and when we created variety in our art, we made our art more interesting! To make our sketches of leaves even more realistic, we learned how to overlap and make leaves go on top or under each other, as they do in real life. Then we explored and learned about how to create a variety of watercolor techniques such as resist, wash, and backwash. We used those watercolor techniques to create beautiful and painterly effects for our realistic autumn leaf paintings. We finished this work of art by listening to a read-aloud interactive book, “The Very Last Leaf” by Stef Wade.
2nd grade students worked so incredibly hard to complete their realistic self portraits, inspired by the artist, Frida Kahlo. Some are currently hanging on display in the hallway at Memorial school! We then began a new work of art, inspired by forests. We looked at famous works of art, depicting the vertical, upward movement and structure of trees, trunks, and branches. Students learned the difference between vertical and horizontal lines, and how to use them to create the illusion of being deep within a forest of trees that tower above, and surround us. We watched a 4K virtual video of walking through forests in the fall time, and discussed the feelings we get when in an environment like that, and shared our experiences with walking, hiking, and exploring forests. Resist and watercolor paints will complete these beautiful, magical, works of art and give them all their beautiful fall colors.
Art Fundraiser Announcement: Art To Remember!
In the next few weeks, students will be bringing home personalized art fundraiser order forms. Orders will be submitted and delivered before winter break, and all proceeds from this fundraiser will assist in purchasing more art supplies for the Memorial School art program! Keepsakes are of the highest quality, and will show your child’s precious work of art, created in art class this past month. Please keep an eye out for order forms, and reach out if you have any questions. To take a peek at our fundraiser,view items for purchase, and to check in for when your child's work has been uploaded, please visit: https://arttoremember.com/school/EDX49T
3rd grade students have begun their first choice art projects! It has been an exciting time in art class, and the energy to become our own artists has filled the studio space! Each student has chosen their first “choice art” project from a variety of different mediums and subjects. Some students are creating sculptures from clay, cardboard, and fabric, while other students are working with photography, paint, and drawing materials. Every 3rd grader needed to write a plan in their sketchbooks using specific art vocabulary to define their choice art project using specific art vocabulary. Then they jumped into a new, and fully authentic work of art! We learned that while making choice art projects, there are expectations. Students are learning how to use rubrics to determine how they are progressing with their work, while striving to master the use and application of different art materials with the best quality and care. Students are also learning how to maintain an organized, cared for, art studio environment while they gain access to every art supply in the whole room! Students are expected to keep their art work in their portfolios for the duration of the school year. If you ever want to have an update of your child’s work, or would like to view their portfolio,, please reach out anytime, and to arrange for that.
