Fourth grade Edgar Dégas and Jackson Pollock figure drawing

Fourth grade artists reviewed the artist that they learned about last year, Jackson Pollock. We talked about how his art is abstract and is more about the action of painting than the representation of what is painted. We used his style of painting to be the background for our Edgar Degas figure drawing project. 

First, we had fun dripping paint onto our papers and then blowing through a straw to push and mix the paint around on our papers.

We also reviewed warm and cool color schemes by painting one half of the paper with each color group.

Next, we watched a movie about Edgar Degas and wrote down our favorite 5 or 6 facts on a bookmark to put on the backs of our artworks. They use these facts to share with their families what they have learned about this project when they get to bring it home. We had a few kids volunteer to model some poses for us to practice our figure drawing. We tried to focus on having poses that included diagonals so that we could see more movement in our artworks like Edgar Degas did.  

We carefully cut out our figure drawing silhouettes and glued them to our warm/cool papers.

On the back of the artwork, students wrote six facts that they knew about the artist.

Learning Goals:
I can recognize the art of Edgar Degas.
I can recognize the art of Jackson Pollock.
I can tell some facts about Degas and Pollock's life and art.
I can paint in the style of Pollock.
I can draw a human figure with the correct proportions.

Kindergarten Paul Klee cats

Kindergarten artists read the book inspired by Paul Klee called, "The Cat and the Bird."

We also looked at the images in the Paul Clay's book entitled, "Animal Tricks."

We talked about the art elements of line and shape and used to them to create our own Paul Klee inspired cats. We also reviewed the art elements of shapes, lines and colors. We used shapes to draw the cats, lines to create a line pattern, and cool colors to use in the background.

We used cool colors to create line patterns in the background.

We reviewed warm and cool colors by putting images with these colors into a Venn Diagram on the board.

We like to write our learning goal on the back of our artworks to share with our parents what we were learning about when we take our artwork home.

Learning Goals;

I can recognize some of Paul Klee's artwork.

I can use lines to create a line pattern.

I can find shapes in an artwork.

I can separate warm colored markers from cold colored markers.

I can create my own Klee inspired cat.

Fourth grade Wassily Kandinsky Abstract art

Fourth grade artists are learning about the art and life of Wassily Kandinsky.  We viewed a powerpoint about his life and art, did a "turn and tell" with a friend to review the most interesting points about his life and art, and then began our own artwork based on Kandinsky's famous artwork with concentric circles.

Students divided up their papers by folding them into eighths and then chose a shape or two to use in their concentric shape pattern.

On day two, we painted using only the primary colors in every other box. Then we mixed our own secondary colors for the remaining boxes. 

The final step of the project was to design an abstract background for our artwork. Our papers are so big that sometimes a few of us need to work on the floor!

 

We used a concept map on the back of our artworks to share 6 facts that we learned about Wassily Kandinsky. This helps kids to have some discussion points to talk with their families about when they take their artworks home.

Learning Goals:

I can recognize the art of Wassily Kandinsky

I can tell some facts about Kandinsky's life and art.

I can create an abstract artwork.

I can use concentric shapes.

I can mix primary colors to make secondary colors. 

3rd grade Heather Galler Patterned Landscapes

3rd grade artists watched a powerpoint presentation about Heather Galler and learned about her life and artwork. We drew our own landscapes in her style and incorporated a LOT of pattern just like she did! 

After drawing patterns with permanent marker, we used our knowledge of the color families to create color patterns as well as line patterns in our masterpieces. 

Learning Goals:

I can recognize the art of Heather Galler.

I can create a Galler inspired landscape.

I can use line patterns as well as color patterns.

I can use overlapping and size to create space. 

Fifth grade Grant Wood Parodies

5th grade artists had fun learning about the artwork by Grant Wood, "American Gothic." We also watched the video, "Dropping in on Grant Wood," and talked about what a parody is. We looked a large variety of ways that people have done parodies of this famous American artwork. We then researched and designed our own Grant Wood parody, and then sketched 2 different ideas on a sketch paper. After choosing our best idea, we transferred it onto a larger paper. We loved looking at each other's funny and creative ideas! 

 

 

When we colored with crayon, we made to sure to include some of the coloring techniques that we have practiced such as: blending one color into another, layering colors, and color mixing.

 

Check out these unique masterpieces!

 

On the last day, we always try to have an extension activity like an "art challenge!" For those early finishers.

Learning Goals:

I can recognize the art of Grant Wood.

I can discuss the life of Grant Wood.

I can describe what a parody is.

I can create my own parody using characters of my choice.

I can use coloring techniques such as blending, layering and mixing crayons and watercolor paints.

Kindergarten texture tractors

We talked about landscapes and read a book about a pumpkin patch. We drew our own barn with a horizon line, fence, field rows, and a tractor!

After we drew the tractors, we took texturr plates and put them under our papers to rub crayons over. It was like magic to see the textures appear on our papers!

Finally, we did a little collage by cutting pumpkins out of orange paper and gluing them on to our artwork!

Learning Goals:

I can draw a horizon line

I can create texture with a texture plate

I can use the art elements of lines and shapes to draw a barn and a tractor

I can create part of a collage by cutting out pumpkins and gluing them to my artwork