Tick, Tock!

Gerald Murphy

If you have ever seen Midnight in Paris, you would know the company that Gerald and Sara Murphy kept. Happened upon this painting when looking for new ideas for art projects. Gerald Murphy only produced a handful of paintings but was influenced by some of the greats of the 20's.

 He had unexpectedly taken up painting soon after his arrival in Paris, after seeing an exhibition of work by Picasso, Derain, Gris and Braque. ''There was a shock of recognition which put me into an entirely new orbit,'' he later wrote. ''If that's painting,'' he told Sara, ''that's the kind of painting that I would like to do.'' He began to study with the futurist artist Natalia Goncharova and, along with Sara, to help paint scenery for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Taken from this article: What a Swell Party It Was

After sharing Gerald Murphy's "Watch" painting from 1925 students were given circle stencils to create their own watch workings. Students created gears, screws and other watch parts,  outlining them in black sharpie.

In our next class students used the metallic watercolor paints - so cool! - to paint the parts.

Students cut out the round watch and mounted it onto black paper.

After School Art Club Watercolor Paintings and Some Reflection

My current after school group consists of six 3rd and 4th graders. They are a pleasure to work with. We created these flower watercolor paintings in the style of Georgia O'Keefe.

 Monday morning, with no school! We have a "snow" day today. Trying to decide what I will accomplish on this extra day. Will be cooking for the week with my son this afternoon; making chicken marsala, beef stir fry, portobello mushrooms with peppers and onions and some type of red sauce for pasta.

 Spent some time with a friend last night and received some good advice on my life situation. I need to take care of myself which exercise is going to become a top priority and look for and enjoy the positive things each day.

I've been so down and need to re-focus. So, while I do some clean-up and cooking today I am going to find 3 things to enjoy!

I think I know one of the things I will enjoy - the outdoors! Going to check on my garden and maybe find some time to clean out one of the beds.

3rd Grade African Crowned Cranes

3rd graders looked at photographs of the African Crowned Crane and we discussed how to step by step draw this bird.  We used 12x18 paper so that we could draw large, like this bird is.

Students could choose to use colored pencils, crayons or oil pastels for color.

They were asked to pay attention to detail and texture.

It always amazes me how different each piece of art is; how each person sees and interprets things differently.  I also notice who hears what I say and who chooses to go their own way. I know as an artist sometimes that works and sometimes that doesn't. As a teacher I struggle with that "freedom" for my students.  I can't grade on natural ability so most times my rubrics are about following directions.  When you put creativity as part of the rubric it gets lost in how you interpret that.  Anyone else struggle with this?

Winter Wonderland

Well, we don't have any snow outside but in art we have plenty!  The first week I taught 3rd graders how to draw evergreen trees. We created distance by making our trees smaller in the background.   We used crayons for color.  This week we used white tempera paint to winterize our pictures.  

Positive and Negative Space, 3rd Grade

I think this idea has been around for a very long time and I tend to go for new stuff but I have to admit that this project is a great learning experience and fun.  My students took off running on this idea and enjoyed the process.  What really surprised me was that no one complained about it being only black and white.  They understood the impact black and white have on this design.

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. 

Thank you MLK!!

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together."  Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

This mural is from http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/ and was done by my 3rd graders.  They thought it was cool how they each did a piece that turned into a mural.

Elementary Christmas Bulletin Boards

3rd Grade

This project is from deepspacesparkle.  

Love this and the kids really enjoyed the sponge painting.  

4th Grade

Students said this was their favorite art project ever.  Who wouldn't love to throw, spray, drip and sprinkle paint randomly?  We checked out Jackson Pollock and his action paintings.  I used this audio from MOMA to introduce Jackson Pollock.

3rd Grade Cityscapes

3rd graders learned about foreground, middleground and background.  They had to draw 3 sets of buildings, outline with sharpies and paint each area a different color.  They glued them all down in layers and ta-daaa. This lesson kept them thinking about the different areas and how when things get further away they look smaller.