My Choice-based Art Room

Happenings in the art room....

2007-01-06T07:26:00.000-05:00

Collage Critter by first grader

2006-11-14T20:30:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving Turkey by Sarah grade 4

2006-11-14T20:27:00.000-05:00

Sarah is working on this turkey at the collage center.

Cinderella and the Pumpkin Carriage by Brianna gr.3

2006-11-14T20:25:00.000-05:00

How cute and clever is this?

Monoprinting on Tile

2006-11-14T20:19:00.000-05:00

The students loved this lesson and had the option of coloring their paper prior to printing it. These are Sargent fluorescent oil pastels which are just so yummy looking!

Printmaking and other happenings

2006-11-14T19:51:00.000-05:00

I have been taking lots of pictures in art but have not posted to my blog so this is long overdue. We have been busy with found object sculptures and starting some printmaking.
On the other hand, some things that have been running through my mind as I watch my classes: (I may begin to ramble here)
* the use of "safe" symbols like the heart, flower, names, etc. I think I am going to place a ban on using these images in class. I know it is censorship but I do not see growth in some of my students and it is so frustrating.

*students creating same art. I need to set up a chart like Bonnie that has the names of students with the centers they visit so they can see where they work and how they need to try other things.

*art idea sheet. I may create one of these that I can give to students when they look like they are not being productive. I've noticed some students not using their time well and by having them fill in a sheet that explains what they plan to do, it may help with their focus.

*messy classes. I have closed the collage center for two classes because they "trashed" it and did not clean it up. The classroom teachers say they are the same way in their room, but that is no excuse and I will not have it in the art room. It is messy enough due to its size (sharing with music) a students craeted mess is uncalled for.

Students are still creating some WONDERFUL STUFF so I will post some examples here.

Halloween Art

2006-11-01T05:59:00.000-05:00

Students of all ages have a deep interest in creating holiday art and Halloween is one of their favorites.

Star Wars Collage by Trevor grade 2

2006-11-01T05:52:00.000-05:00

Two collages based upon the ever popular Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Syth.

They finished it

2006-11-01T05:47:00.000-05:00

This is the completed Star Wars ship that two third graders had been working on. You can see the work in progress here.

Collage and oil pastel sunset

2006-10-09T19:35:00.000-04:00

Collage Creations

2006-10-09T19:27:00.000-04:00

I am still putting magazine photos into the collage center and the ideas the students are coming up with are just wonderful. I know this is more work for me (cutting out the pictures) but sometimes the students won't take the time to find an image, carefully cut it out and then create something with it. Most of the time (last year) they would look through dog magazines and cut out a dog and glue it to a piece of paper and that would be it! I think showing them examples of other students' works can be quite inspiring.

Creative Uses with Magazine Photos

2006-10-09T19:20:00.000-04:00

Dogs in Space by Curtis, grade 4

2006-10-09T19:07:00.000-04:00

"Buckeye Misses You"

2006-09-27T17:53:00.000-04:00

"I made this for my Mom because she had to give her dog Buckeye to an orphanage. She kept biting people."

Bounty Hunters by Ben and Billy, grade 4

2006-09-27T17:46:00.000-04:00

"We made bounty hunters that hunt pants. They are on a hover craft. We made this at the collage center."

Fairy Godmother by Ana, grade 5

2006-09-27T17:42:00.000-04:00

Dog Collages by grade 4 artists

2006-09-27T17:22:00.000-04:00

Star Wars Spaceship

2006-09-27T17:17:00.000-04:00

Two third grade boys are working on this spaceship from Star Wars. They are also making the roof to it and will finish next week. They are using techniques they learned from our paper sculpture lesson in grade two.

Kindies Building Structures

2006-09-24T09:04:00.000-04:00

The foam blocks ("Why do these feel funny?"one girl asked) and Legos were pulled out in the middle of a kindergarten class when they got a bit "squirrely" and did not want to draw another picture. It was good to see them building together because this group of students desperately needs to work on their manners.
I need to go to some more yard sales and get some more stuff for my other school!

Can we come in at recess?

2006-09-24T08:51:00.000-04:00

Two 4th graders asked if they could come in at recess to work on their drawings. My battery pack died before I could take the second drawing of a wrestler named John Cena. He brought in an action figure from home to draw. This is a portrait of Curt Schilling drawn from a photo. These guys worked so very hard on their drawings. They both have OT issues and I sat with them a bit during art class showing them how to draw the body using "sausage ovals." Their recess is my lunch time so I ate my turkey sandwich while I sat with "J" and helped him with the drawing of the wrestler. Side note: these boys have a history of getting into "mischief" i.e.trouble and having to lose their recess. The fact that they chose to work on their art during their play time says a lot about choice-based art education.

Collage Center

2006-09-23T14:52:00.000-04:00

Grade 1, 2 and 3 students were treated to the collage center this week (their favorite). I showed them different examples of collage and introduced collage artist Claudine Hellmuth and her "poppets". Her poppets are made using photocopied heads and adding collaged bodies with arms, legs and details added with marker.
I am hoping that this year the students will take their collage work to a different level. Some students will still grab the precut paper shapes and glue them to a background paper without any though to changing the shape, etc. I am going to "hang around" the collage center and question the students as they work to (hopefully) make them think about the choices they make while they work.

Underwater at Night by Cody, grade 2

2006-09-23T14:51:00.000-04:00

Fun Stuff to Draw

2006-09-23T14:46:00.000-04:00

This is some of the stuff that the students can draw. Next week I am going to put them in a basket near the drawing center so they can use them again.

Alex's Dog Sophie

2006-09-19T20:07:00.000-04:00

Alex(grade 2) drew his dog Sophie. He told me she's "half black lab and half boxer".

Buddah

2006-09-19T20:05:00.000-04:00

"I'm gonna draw this because it looks Chinese to me and my Mom likes Chinese things."-Joey, grade 1

Emily's Woman with Abstract Background

2006-09-19T20:02:00.000-04:00

I love this wooden statue that I got at yard sale for FREE! Emily (grade 3)did a wonderful interpretation of it using oil pastel.

Gato by Marcos

2006-09-19T19:55:00.000-04:00

Marcos (grade 3) speaks Portuguese and very little English right now. I need to have a classmate explain the lesson to him in his native language. Here he drew a cat ("gato" he called it) using the mannequin. Notice the universal sun in the corner.

Bryan's Batman, grade 3

2006-09-19T19:52:00.000-04:00

Object Drawings

2006-09-19T19:31:00.000-04:00

The classes are continuing with their wonderful still life drawings. Much to my surprise, there are only a few students that are not happy with just having the drawing center open. I promised them the collage center will open next week and the following week it will be the paint center. Today I showed the classes the plastic texture sheets that can be used as an added element to their drawings. These sheets are always found in the drawing center but it seems that I need to remind the students about them. I have a few godzilla and dinosaurs figures and the texture sheets really make the drawings stand out. Here are some drawings from the past couple of days. I really like how Sarah drew this cat using the ceramic kitty I picked up on a trip to Cozumel. As I was cleaning my art room after school I dropped the cat and it shattered! No more breakables for me!

"T" (grade 2) uses oil pastels to color his sunset picture

2006-09-13T21:31:00.000-04:00

Mannequin to Star Wars

2006-09-13T21:28:00.000-04:00

Ben (grade 4) used this mannequin to create a character from Star Wars.

Scarecrow by Kevin, grade 4

2006-09-13T21:23:00.000-04:00

Kevin was very happy with his scarecrow drawing and he's one of my students that always works in 3-dimensions so I was quite pleased with his work. Note to self: I need to do some sort of lesson on how artists show sunlight. The ever present corner sun is evident in so many classes.

Anthony's Godzilla

2006-09-13T21:20:00.000-04:00

I was so proud of Anthony (grade 1) when he drew this Godzilla. He was so happy when he finished his drawing and wanted to take it home right away.

Great White Shark Drawing

2006-09-13T21:16:00.000-04:00

Thomas (grade 2) worked on this shark drawing for two weeks. He added oil pastels today. I still have the laminated calendar photos available for students that wish to work from a photo.

A Fresh Start.....Drawing

2006-09-13T20:28:00.000-04:00

Here I am at the beginning of a new school year. Full of possibilities for the students and myself included. This will be the third year of doing a full choice program and I spend a lot of time wondering how to introduce the centers in a "fresh" way so it's not the "same old same old."
I start each year with drawing. I put magnets on the back of some art visuals (reproductions from calendars as well as photos) and categorized them and hung them on the whiteboard and we discussed what kind of art they are interested in making. (landscapes, portraits, animal portraits, still life, etc.) I also set out my collection of still life objects on a table and offered them to the students if they wanted to draw their own still life. My collection is basically made up of goodies I've purchased at yard sales...mainly toys. They love to draw them and after I preface my lesson with a schpeel about not actually playing with the toys but to draw them, they do quite well. It was nice to see everyone drawing for a change and I am reluctant to open another center next week. I find that when the new center is introduced (it would have been collage), the interest in drawing drops dramatically. There are some classes that will still be doing just drawing next week because there is about 90% of unfinished work that will not get done if there is another choice. Surprisingly, it's the younger classes that are ready for another center. The older students need more time to work on their drawings. Here are some examples from just today. This first drawing was done by a second grader that combined 5 toys in one drawing. Clever....he came up with that idea on his own.

Some more cool art!

2006-07-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

T-Rex Sculpture by Alex, grade 1

2006-07-26T06:59:00.000-04:00

Students view the artwork and write letters to artists

2006-07-26T06:56:00.000-04:00

A variety of Army Tanks and a Star Wars SpaceShip

2006-07-26T06:34:00.000-04:00

Plaster gauze Olympic Torch by Tim, grade 4

2006-07-26T06:33:00.000-04:00

Plaster Gauze Masks, grade 4

2006-07-26T06:31:00.000-04:00

Sick Cat with Spaghetti and Meatballs and Water, by Hannah, grade 1

2006-07-26T06:29:00.001-04:00

Alien Painting by Alex, grade 1

2006-07-26T06:29:00.000-04:00

Wrestler Ray Mysterio by Mathew and James, grade 3

2006-07-26T06:28:00.000-04:00

Rainbow Fairies Collage by Nicole, grade 2

2006-07-26T06:26:00.000-04:00

King Kong Crayon Drawing by Lucas, grade 1

2006-07-26T06:25:00.000-04:00

King Kong by Lucas, grade 1

2006-07-26T06:24:00.001-04:00

Poodle with Fries and Girl with a Burger

2006-07-26T06:22:00.000-04:00

The Park by Sara, Alana and Helly, grade 3

2006-07-24T22:18:00.000-04:00

This park was created over several weeks and there is just so much to look at. The girls made people and pets using wood sticks wrapped with pipe cleaners and cut out faces from magazines. There is a swing, a slide, a water fountain, trash cans and flowers pots. A very creative use of materials.

WWE Wrestling rings are popular

2006-07-24T22:04:00.000-04:00

Wrestling is still so popular and 5th grader Mitchel created this one using cardboard, paper and lots of hot glue. He also built a ramp and a red satin curtain for Jon Cena (a wrestler for those not in the know, including me!) to walk through on his way to the ring. By the way, Mitchel made one of the gold championship belts a few months ago. Wrestling is a favorite subject matter for him.
This ring was stored in the art room for months so we could display it in the show. It was a big influence on the artwork of other students including the two wrestling rings made by a 2nd grader (it's called a cage match) and a kindergartener.

Creativity flows at the West School

2006-07-24T21:57:00.000-04:00

The art show was a huge success. I was, once again, so proud of the work my students produced. I put all the pictures I took throughout the year in a slideshow using iphoto and it even had the cool Ken Burns music in the background. I set up my computer in the hall and many parents stopped to look at the pictures. Some parents had me email their pictures to them too. Next year I need to take pictures in EVERY class or at least take a class photo so everyone will be in the slideshow.
I am posting some highlights from the show but the pictures do not do it justice. Enjoy!

Board transformation

2006-07-24T21:46:00.000-04:00

Here are the finished boards in one area of the school. They are located near the gymnasium and cafeteria. The students love to see the artwork but it is difficult to keep their little hands off of it. Something usually gets ripped or is knocked down prior to the show so I am constantly taping something all the time. I wish there was a "safer" spot but this is a high traffic area and many people can admire the art here.

Next art show....

2006-05-08T20:53:00.000-04:00

The West School will be having the art festival on Tuesday, May 9. I also have two days to display the work but I wanted to get a head start by covering the ugly bulletin boards so this is what I did on Friday after school. (covering bulletin borads is my least favorite thing to do) I am taking before and after pictures because over the course of two days, the halls are completely transformed.

"The Polar Express" by Sarah, grade 3

2006-05-06T23:28:00.000-04:00

"I got my idea from the movie. I really liked the special effects in it."

Spongebob Squarepants by Robbie, Evan and Daniel, grade 3

2006-05-06T23:26:00.000-04:00

Pariscraft and papier-mache masks

2006-05-06T23:25:00.000-04:00

"The biggest ice cream cone in the world" by Bailey, grade 2

2006-05-06T23:23:00.000-04:00

Big first grade paintings.

2006-05-06T23:22:00.000-04:00

Second grade art.....creative kids!

2006-05-06T23:20:00.000-04:00

Kindergarten art in the hall.

2006-05-06T23:18:00.000-04:00

Best Friends by Lauren and Michaela, grade 3

2006-05-06T23:13:00.000-04:00

Michalea and Lauren love working together so they used papier-mache self-portrait masks to create their art titled Best Friends.

Hansen School Fine Arts Festival 2006

2006-05-06T23:00:00.000-04:00

The annual art festival took place on Wednesday, May 3. It was a lot of work this year, more so than last year. I spent a lot of April vacation typing up artist statements and gluing art. I am very lucky to have a substitute come in for two days so I can hang the art but I was so behind this year as far as having the art ready for display. It's been tough sharing a room with music this year. I can't leave anything out like I normally would so I have to pack away all the art when I leave to go teach at my other school. Next year I am going to have to plan the art show differently and see if I can get some helpful parents type or even mat the work. It would be a huge help. (I think I say this every year and the art show creeps up on me so fast and it's too late to ask for help!) Anyway, the art that the kids produced this year was fabulous. They are so darn creative and continue to amaze me. All the hard work was worth it. Here are some photos from the show. Enjoy!

Dolphin by Amanda, Kelly and Colleen, grade 3

2006-05-01T01:15:00.000-04:00

This artwork was started with the little plastic dolphin. The girls wanted to make something using the dolphin in it and came up with this mixed media piece. I really like the way they made it look like the dolphin was jumping out of the water....clever!

Penguins on Ice by Kristina, grade 2

2006-05-01T01:03:00.000-04:00

"I got my idea to make this because we are learning about penguins in class. I know that they can swim very very fast!"

Origami cat on a surfboard by Leiandra, kindergarten

2006-05-01T00:51:00.000-04:00

Spaceship Drawing by Maximus, grade 1

2006-05-01T00:19:00.000-04:00

I tried very hard to get Maximus to leave this wonderful piece at school for the artshow but he really wanted to take it home. At least I have this picture to show you!

Origami cat by Stephanie, grade 1

2006-05-01T00:06:00.000-04:00

Spaceship by Bryan, grade 2

2006-04-16T10:44:00.000-04:00

Boat by Danya, kindergarten

2006-04-16T10:23:00.000-04:00

Lots of sculpture

2006-04-16T10:01:00.000-04:00

The students are loving the sculpture/collage center and have been building some very interesting sculptures. There are lots of boats, space ships and tanks being created. Often times, one student will see a particular sculpture being stored on a shelf for the art show or it will be work in progress and then they will want to make the same thing. I used to struggle with this....should I let them "copy" someone else's idea or encourage them to make something else of their own. I tell them to try to change it somewhat to make it more personal. Usually it will come out looking very different!
Here is a boat made by Eduardo (gr.2).

Fishing Game by Kelly, grade 3

2006-03-20T00:56:00.000-05:00

Colored pencil car with moveable wheels by Jose, grade 5

2006-03-20T00:42:00.000-05:00

Large paper deer by Zachary. He makes huge paper animals every week!

2006-03-20T00:13:00.000-05:00

Two more Star Wars characters...a popular theme in this 3rd grade class.

2006-03-15T22:51:00.000-05:00

Cut paper animal with moveable parts.

2006-03-15T22:33:00.000-05:00

"I got the idea from a video game. His arms move."by Ben, grade 3

2006-02-16T00:22:00.000-05:00

Golden Retriever tempera painting by Daniel, grade 3

2006-02-16T00:15:00.000-05:00

Darth Vader with a light sabre by Sarah, grade 3

2006-02-16T00:08:00.000-05:00

"The two sides are fighting each other" a wood sculpture, Jon and Mohammed, grade 5

2006-02-15T23:47:00.000-05:00

Egret

2006-01-22T09:51:00.000-05:00

Zachary(grade 2) created this life-size paper version of an egret. His class is learning about birds right now.

Collage by Monica, grade 4

2006-01-22T09:48:00.000-05:00

Basketballplayer and court by Alex, grade 1

2006-01-22T09:47:00.000-05:00

A house for lizard

2006-01-22T09:36:00.000-05:00

Second graders Eduardo and Jaron worked together at the collage center to build this house for Eduardo's "pet lizard". Can you see him?

Wrestling ring by Jamie and Katelynn grade 4

2006-01-22T09:31:00.000-05:00

Jamie and Katelynn collaborated on this wrestling ring. After they finished making it I mentioned that it was too bad they didn't have any wrestlers to go in the ring and Jamie said "I have them in my pocket!".

Popsicle stick loom weaving by Emily grade 2

2006-01-22T09:29:00.000-05:00

Emily was inpired by the poinsettia ribbon to make this holiday weaving.

"Star" pillow by Nesprolie grade 5

2006-01-22T09:28:00.000-05:00

Callie's doll

2006-01-22T09:26:00.000-05:00

"Bob" the finger puppet by David grade 3

2006-01-22T09:25:00.000-05:00

"Dad" Pillow by Brianna grade 5

2006-01-22T09:24:00.000-05:00

Burlap hand puppet by 3rd grader

2006-01-22T09:21:00.000-05:00

Burlap doll

2006-01-22T09:17:00.000-05:00

Burlap Doll by Emily grade 5

2006-01-22T09:09:00.000-05:00

Soft sculpture snowman by 4th grader

2006-01-22T09:02:00.000-05:00

What's been happening in the art room?

2006-01-22T08:46:00.000-05:00

I have lots to share over the past two months. After struggling through some technical difficulties I am able to post photos again.
The sewing and weaving centers were opened as well as the sculpture center. The sewing center was very popular during the month of December. Many students wanted to make pillows and sewn dolls to give as gifts. I hope they make more before the art show because they came out great! I can always print out the photos and display them alongside the art.
I also made colored felt available and sharp needles for "advanced" sewers that wished to make mini pillows that could be used as ornaments. I cut the felt into different shapes and they sewed them shut with embroidery floss, added a ribbon hanger and decorated the front with sequins and buttons. I did not get pictures of them but trust me, they were adorable.
The weaving center is also a busy one in the winter. The students can take their unfinished weavings to their rooms and work on them during their free time or indoor recess. I am weaving with first graders for the first time this year and they are doing quite well. I have partnered up advanced students with the ones that need a bit more help.
The sculpture center is now open but unfortunately there is very little to work with because the majority of the students are not bringing in the recycled materials to build with. There are maybe a handful of students that bring supplies in weekly, but even with me reminding them to save the stuff, very few actually do it.
Last week I began cup weavings with 4th and 5th graders. A new lesson for me as well. The 3rd graders finished up styrofoam printing. I will see if I can get some photos to post. Here are photos from the last 8 weeks. Enjoy!

Cardboard self-portrait by Diana, grade 5

2005-11-18T01:43:00.000-05:00

"This is the dress that i get to wear to a wedding that I am going to."

"The Tank" by Justin, grade 4

2005-11-18T01:12:00.000-05:00

Wooden Stick Dude by Marcus, grade 5

2005-11-18T01:07:00.000-05:00

Cardboard Man

2005-11-18T00:40:00.000-05:00

Cardboard continues to be a popular material to work with in art class. I love the colored masking tape.

"The Macaw"

2005-11-18T00:32:00.000-05:00

Each week in art class, Zachary will come into class and make some sort of animal at the collage center. "Miss Kinniery, today I am going to make a............." Right now his class is studying birds so for the past month he has made a variety of birds( egret, macaw, peacock) His mom told me that she hangs them in his room when he brings them home.

Santa Puppet by Taylor, grade 5

2005-11-17T22:09:00.000-05:00

Guess who's coming to town!