1st Grade Wintery Landscapes

1st Grade Artists dove into collage with these whimsical Wintery Landscapes.

We spent 1 class using printmaking techniques to create many different textured
and patterned papers.  Each student made a background paper for their artwork
and many other colored papers that we shared as a class.  

Students loved using everyday objects as printmaking objects.
Learn more about our painted paper week here.

We were then ready to put these papers to work. 
This project is inspired by Cassie Stephens 1st grade landscapes. 
Check out her lesson here.

Students had many choices built into this lesson to decide just how "wintery"
they wanted their landscapes to be.  They created a ground by cutting and gluing a
wavy strip of paper; white or green.

They were then ready to start cutting their tree tops.  1st graders had a choice of using circles. ovals, or triangles to create their trees.  These shapes were cut from the many painted papers we created as a class.  Firsties cut many different sized shapes of their choice and arranged them on their background learning about overlapping to create a strong composition. 

Finally, we added tree details using printmaking techniques again to 

add line and dot patterns inside the trees, and of course a little snow!

What do you think of our finished products?

They almost make me ready for a little snow!

Painted Paper Sunflower Collage

2nd grade artists recently learned about Vincent van Gogh's sunflower paintings. 

Click here to learn more about them!

First they examined and analyzed his work for the feeling and emotion that the artist was trying to convey.  They used that idea to create their own sunflower works that expressed emotions.  

2nd graders discussed how they could alter the shape and color of the 

flowers, stems, and petals to change the emotion in their work.  

We usually think of sunflowers as happy but these young artists learned they can be so much more! 

Finally, they got to work. They used the papers they created during 

painted paper week (check it out here) to create their own sunflower works of art.  

Finally, 2nd graders learned about haiku poetry and its 5 syllable, 7 syllable, 5 syllable pattern.

Each student wrote a haiku about their work.  

Check out some of their work below - I am so impressed with both their art and poems!

I am happiness

My sunflowers are so proud

I am so happy

By Vivi G. in 2M

I am very sad

My petals are drooping off

I am very lonely

By Ava L. in 2M

It is really sad
The sunflower is droopy
It is crying loud

by Gavin M. in 2M

This flower is sad

it misses it's grandfather

it is all alone

By Nikola P. in 2K

My flower is weird

What a funny sunflower

What a silly guy

By Izzy C. in 2K

What would your sunflower Haiku say?

1st Grade Painted Paper Collage Landscapes

After the painted paper week - check out our link here -1st grade artist got busy collaging.  

They used their knowledge of shapes to create painted paper landscapes.  

They first learned that every landscape has a foreground, middleground, and background. 

After creating the background and middleground, students selected 

2 different shapes to create trees in the foreground. 

They chose between circles, squares, and ovals.

Finally, they returned to printmaking to add tree trunks, branches, and patterns.  

How do you think they turned out?

 

Check out the inspiration behind this lesson - Cassie Stephens' Painted Paper Landscapes.

Monster Mania!

Kindergarten artists have been finding their inner monster in art class!

First they explored all different types of lines.  They used this wonderful video from Scratch Garden to get them thinking about what a simple line can become.

Next they used oil pastel and watercolor in a resist technique to create colorful line art.

The next week in class they were so excited to learn that 

we were going to turn their line art into MONSTERS!!!! 

They read a few great books for monster inspiration and to advise on the hazards of glue! 

Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberly and Too Much Glue by Jason Lefebvre

Finally, students tore and cut scraps of paper to finish their monsters with faces and accessories. 
We discussed how monsters could have many of the same features that people do, 
such as eye brows, eye lashes, nostrils! 

The finished products are great. I love the individuality of each monster!

The monsters below are from Mrs. Libby's kindergarten class.

 They took them and used them as inspiration for a writing prompt!
Students were prompted to use learned sight words (or popcorn words),
such as look, like, my, for, see, and the to describe their monsters.
They did a great job!

Next time you're at Fuller Meadow check them out in person!

Kindergarten Monster Madness

Kindergarten artists have been constructing monsters over the past 3 weeks in art class. We started out by reading a few great books for monster inspiration and to advise on the hazards of glue! Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberly and Too Much Glue by Jason Lefebvre

  

K's created symmetrical heads using an "smoosh and spread" technique with paint inside a folded paper. Students then tore and cut scraps of paper to finish their monsters with faces and accessories. The finished products are great. I love the individuality of each monster!

2nd Grade Windy Trees

How can we use colors and textures to create mood in art. 

Mrs. LaVangi's 2nd grade artists have been exploring abstraction and value in their artwork. They created abstract backgrounds using brush strokes, watercolor wash, and primary colors to create secondary colors. Artists used these techniques to create the feel of a windy day. Next they learned how to use highlights and shadows to make their trees have form.  Finally they are having a blast using collage to finish their perfect fall trees.  Take a look!

What do you think of their fall artwork? Did they capture the look and feel of a windy day?

PreK–12 STANDARD 2.1 Elements and Principles of Design: Identify primary and secondary colors and gradations of black, white and gray in the environment and artwork. Explore how color can convey mood and emotion For example, students mix light and dark values of colors or predict the results of overlapping and blending primary colors.