Pumpkins with Shadows, 1st Grade

1st graders were given step by step instructions on drawing their pumpkins with shadows. We talked about the horizon line for our background and used tempera paint for color.

Word Art, 8th Grade

This artwork was inspired by Austin Kleon.  Check out his website:  http://www.austinkleon.com/newspaperblackout/

I loved his concept.  My students were quite inspired after viewing his blog and trying their hand at creating poetry with the horoscopes from the newspaper.   For their project they were given a few perimeters to follow:  create layers to the project, include words, and have a message.  These are from the end of last year but I still wanted to share them.  

3rd Grade Van Gogh Inspired Flowers

3rd graders really impressed me with these.  They listened to directions and also got creative.  I asked them to include the table top and background, a vase, and flowers which had to include at least one sunflower.  We decided it would be cool to sign our vases like Van Gogh did in his paintings.  I have started using liquid watercolors and really like the results.  The only problem I've had is if a student forgets to rinse their brush and dips into another color, but that's only happened a few times.  I've found the pan watercolors have gotten cheaper- are gooey and don't last very long. 

1st Grade Fall Trees

We spent two separate art classes to create our fall paintings.  The first week we talked about what a background is and than painted ours.  Where do kids get that whole idea that you paint the sky up high and the grass down low and leave a big white space in between?  How many times I said no white spaces I don't know.  

The second week we painted our trunks and used straws to blow the paint for the branches.  The leaves were made with q-tips.  Two paint spills and I stayed clean!

2nd Grade Autumn Leaf

First off, I'm back, I think....every time I think I have everything under control and scheduled something gets pushed off the edge.  So, I'm sorry I've been absent so long but I am going to try to post twice a week during the school year.
This project isn't difficult but makes a nice presentation.  I enlarged an oak leaf and had my students paint them with warm colors after drawing the veins of the leaf with crayons. The following week they cut them out and glued them to construction paper that I had hole punched.  Using yarn they "sewed" a border.  Happy to have my first fall project photographed and ready to hang in the halls.