Week 4

1st Grade - We are studying the artist Helen Frankenthaler and her soak stain painting technique.  After looking at several of her artworks, I demonstrate how watercolor paint.  We learn a three step process: go for a swim (with your brush), drag and dry, and pet the paint.  Afterwards we are ready to go!  This is a very exciting project because we get to do something we never normally do and that is to paint on the table.  Yes, we paint right on the table.  When we finish our painting, we take a piece of watercolor paper and push down on top of the painting. All those beautiful colors 'soak' into the paper and 'stain' it.  The kids were really creavitive with the whole process and really enjoyed being surprised by the results.

2nd Grade - All 2nd graders are finishing up their Paul Klee pictures.  This week we are watercolor painting the pictures that we created with crayon last week.  The watercolor paint goes right on top of the crayon, but doesn't cover it up.   The results are pretty magical.

3rd Grade - We are finishing our study of Michelangelo and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  Last week students went underneath their desk and paintings on the 'ceilings' of their tables to get a feeling of how Michelangelo might have felt.  This week we are back on top of the tables and just finishing things up. Next week we'll be starting a new project.

4th Grade - Our Pablo Picasso projects are wrapping up.  This week we are cutting out all of our eyes, noses, ears, etc. and glueing them onto a new sheet of paper.  After that we draw and color in a new face.  The results are fantastic.