WELCOME to the 2020 - 2021 SCHOOL YEAR!!!

Our Gates students are the heart and soul of our school. Our year will be filled with instruction, imagination, immense creativity, and of course, CREATION of magnificent works of art!

Painting: "Daybreak at Cassis", Winston Churchill, 1920 (google images, wikiart.org.)

"Lily Pads at Longwood" Digital Photo with Enhancements, Betty S. Blackburn, 2018

Hello, Gates Family!

Even when we cannot be at school for an extended period of time, CREATING and practicing ARTIST SKILLS can continue!

(Special Note: All lessons and ideas offered are designed so that they can be viewed and attempted by students in all grade levels, according to their individual skill level!)

Here is a list of ideas for observing, thinking, designing, and drawing in the days ahead:

Week 10...MAY 25 - 29, 2020

SCULPTURE!

Create a CLAY FLOWER

You can create a Sculpture-in-Relief (sculpture that is built up from a flat surface)!

Watch and work along with Mrs. BB to learn how to make your Flower Sculpture:

Https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rqgqo57BHHSVWatlXw5e12YgrQxHi_JY/view?usp=sharing

You will need:

• Clay - you can use any type of modeling clay, salt dough, playdough, etc.

• Your Hands - your own hands are your best sculpting tool!

Keep trying and ENJOY!

SCULPTURE!

Create a CLAY ROSE

You can create a Sculpture-in-the-Round (sculpture that is meant to be viewed from all angles)!

Watch and work along with Mrs. BB to learn how to make your Rose Sculpture:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ul9rfRxQNb9FEknlkGBIa2MRl8mLB2Sq/view?usp=sharing

You will need:

• Clay - you can use any type of modeling clay, salt dough, playdough, etc.

• Your Hands - your own hands are your best sculpting tool!

Keep trying and ENJOY!

Click on the links below to see Mrs. BB's ART lessons and activities from previous weeks!

"Be The Star You Are"....from star journal ideas by Dina Wakley

Art is a universal language, a form of communication that is a reflection of our world throughout history. As teachers of art at O. B. Gates Elementary School, our goal is to provide a positive atmosphere in which each child is able to learn about the elements, principles, tools, history, and aesthetics of art. We teach the basic artistic and life skills of seeing and observing, imagining, problem-solving, and critical thinking through lessons designed to fit the diverse developmental needs of our students. We teach all children to value and respect themselves, each other, and the individual creative abilities that exist in every person. Art is an essential part of our world and it touches almost every aspect of our lives. It is our goal to help our students develop a lifelong participation in and appreciation of the visual arts! (composed February 2002)

Betty S. Blackburn and Kimberly E. Ellington

Teachers of Children through Art

Every year, students learn and review our Art room TEAMWORK model of behavior. It is a tradition and standard ALWAYS as we move through the school year. Each letter in the word stands for specific skills we can use to create an atmosphere of cooperation and respect. Teamwork is represented as the "T" for our Gates STAR model, so our instruction is wrapped into our school goals as well. Please click on the link below to learn more about TEAMWORK in ART at GATES!

Mrs. Blackburn participated in a professional Book Study in 2016 with a group of fellow CCPS Art Teachers led by our Visual Arts Instructional Specialist, Mr. Mike Gettings. The book, entitled Studio Thinking, presents eight Habits of Mind in which artists engage in the creative process. These are the eight Studio Habits of Mind that we embrace in Art@GATES!

Mrs. Blackburn is currently in her 34th year of teaching and has spent 33 of those right here at O.B. Gates!

Email: Betty_Blackburn@ccpsnet.net
Location: O B Gates Elementary School, 10001 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone: (804) 768-6195