The First Projects of the Year!

This year in art class we will have lots of different projects using different kinds of art tools and materials. On certain weeks, we will have “Apprentice” weeks. These weeks will involve being an ‘apprentice’ to a master artist. We will study an artist and their artwork. After learning about the artist we will create a project based off of some of their work. On other weeks we will have “Artist” days. This means that my students will have to be the ‘master’ artist. They will come up with their own ideas and decide what materials they want to use to create their project. I believe doing these two different kinds of weeks will create a balance of learning about art history and giving the students full creative power!


In first grade we are studying the artist Henri Matisse (prounounced On-ree Muh-teece). We learned that Henri Matisse loved art so much that even when he couldn't paint anymore because he was too old, he enjoyed cutting paper and gluing it together. Because our theme this year at North Elementary is ocean, we studied his artwork called Beasts of the Sea. After looking at his shapes, we learned that organic shapes are shapes that use curved lines and geometric shapes are ones that use straight lines. Can you name a couple organic and geometric shapes? The first graders then started to cut our their own 'beasts of the sea.' We worked on cutting and gluing just like Henri Matisse.

Second graders are learning about the artist Paul Klee (pronounced Paul Clay). We looked at several of his different paintings that he made about different fish and the ocean. We also talked about how Paul Klee used all different kinds of lines to create his pictures. Zig zag, wavy, bumpy, dotted, and straight lines are all used in Paul Klee’s artworks to create his picture. Another line we talk about is a horizon line. A horizon line is where the sky and earth appear to meet each other. We started our projects by folding up our white paper into rectangles. Klee loved to use rectangles in squares in his artwork. Afterwards we drew pictures of things in the sky and things we see in the ocean. After working in pencil, we traced our lines with waxy crayon. Next week we’ll be painting with watercolor paint!

Third grade studied the artist Michelangelo (pronounced Meek-uh-lange-uh-low not Mike-langelo). Try saying it in your best Italian accent! We watched some short clips from a cartoon movie about Michelangelo. After discussing some of the facts that stood out to the kids, we talked about how Michelangelo loved making art with people in it. He studied the human body and liked to draw in a realistic way. We got out a big white paper to practice drawing people. Next week is the most exciting part of the project…but we’ll keep that a secret until then!

Fourth graders started working on a project based off the master artist Pablo Picasso. Pablo Picasso was introduced to the students by a special guest lecturer Pablo Potato (yes, a Mr. Potato head with a rearranged face). We studied Pablo Potato’s face and then talked about abstract art. We learned that an abstract artist will change the color, size, shape, and space of things in their painting. We then brainstormed about different faces; puppy, clown, mean, excited faces. Afterwards I gave each student two pieces of small white paper. They were to draw two totally different faces on them. After drawing and coloring the faces, we will cut them out to rearrange them next week.