Week 12

1st Grade - Boo!  Watch out for those first graders they might just scare you.  After studying how Pablo Picasso liked African masks, we made our own crazy mask.  Using colored construction paper, we drew and cut eyes along with creating a shape for our mask.  After getting the basic mask done, we flipped it over and started creating our designs.

2nd Grade - Groovy Gradation!  All second graders are studying Peter Max and how he used gradation.  Gradation means to gradually move from one color to another.  It looks very smooth through blending.  We connected gradation with what is happening with the leaves outside.  After looking at a couple pieces of Peter Max's artwork, we started creating our own leaves.  Some students drew realistic leaves, while others made up their own creative leaves.  Next week we will be painting our leaves with a new watercolor technique!

3rd and 4th Grades - After working on our masks for the last month, we have finished them!!!  This week I will be hanging up several artworks from each class for the "Scare Away Drugs" contest.  During art class this week, we will have an 'Artist' day.  This means the students can choose what kind of artwork they want to make and how they will make it.  This is very rewarding after such a long project like mask making!

Week 11

Have a safe and enjoyable fall break!

Week 10

1st Grade - All first graders are finishing their Jasper Johns painting this week.  We have been practicing painting with stencils.  The students first picked out a colored paper and a stencil and went to it.   Some are writing their names and others are just using different colors to create a "mess." (as one student called it)

2nd Grade - All second graders will have an 'artist' week.  After finishing their Chuck Close painting, many are learning about tempera paints and how to use them.  This "artist" week students will be able to practice their skills more with a project of their own. 

3rd and 4th Grade -  All of South has been working on their Red Ribbon Week "Scare Away Drugs" masks.  This week we are finishing up coloring our paper plates and we'll start decorating the mask with yarn, beads, etc.  If you have any of these things at home make sure to bring them in!

Week 9

1st - All first graders are studying the artist Jasper Johns.  Jasper Johns was a painter who used lots of letters and numbers in his artwork.  This week we are exploring art through using stencils.  Using tempera paint, we place a stencil on our paper and begin to create.  Some students are creating their names, other students are using numbers, and a few are making the whole alphabet!

2nd - In second grade we are finishing up our project where we studied Chuck Close.  Last week we learned that Chuck Close created a portrait by using his fingerprints.  We started painting with our fingerprints.  The students had a blast!

3rd  and 4th - All of South Elementary is working on their Red Ribbon Week masks.   Last week we started designing our masks.  This week we are starting to put them together.  Most students got their mask colored with marker, crayon, or colored pencil.  Next week students will be adding decorations to their mask.   If you have any decorations that your child could use please send it with them!

Week 8

1st Grade - All first graders are starting an "artist" week.  I am adding tempera paint to the painting center.  Tempera is a thick, creamy paint that is much different that watercolor paint.  We also have the choice to use oil pastel this week since we have used these once this year already. 

2nd Grade - Second grade is starting to paint their self-portraits.  We are doing it in a very interesting way with our fingerprints.  Chuck Close made a portrait where he used only his fingerprints to creat the picture.  An example of his work is below.

3rd and 4th Grade - This week all of South Elementary is starting their Red Ribbon Week project.  Each year the students make a "Scare Away Drugs" mask.  We will be using a paper plate and then anything the students bring from home (yarn, string, buttons, etc).  On October 29th the masks will be judged by the teachers at South.  The categories for this year's contest is Most Creative, Best AR Book Character, Nicest Looking, and Funniest.  Good Luck!  Below are some examples of the students' first ideas!

Week 7

1st Grade - We finished up our Keith Haring characters by adding oil pastel and then displayed them all over the school.  We learned that when your art is out where everyone can see it, it is called public art.  The first graders had a lot of fun with this one.

2nd Grade - We started learning about an artist names Chuck Close.  Chuck Close loves painting and drawing portrait.  A portrait is a picture of a person.  We started drawing pictures of ourselves while looking in a mirror.  This is a self-portrait.  Next week we'll start painting them!

3rd and 4th Grades - After having several "Apprentice"  weeks of studying Pablo Picasso and T.C. Steele, all of my classes at South started their first "Artist" week which means they choose what they want to make and how they will create it.  This is a great time for everyone.  Many of my students are bursting at the seams by this time to do something of their own.  It is very exciting for me to watch them go.  This week we had a drawing center and watercolor painting center open.  Many students did both of these!

Week 6

1st and 2nd graders are studying the artist Keith Haring.  We remember his name by rubbing our hair and then acting like we ring a bell; hair-ring.  Keith Haring was a famous artist who made lots of public art.  We talked about public art and how lots of people see it.  Mr. Haring made his art down in the New York City subway stations.  After studying Keith Haring, 2nd graders went outside to make contour drawings of each other's bodies.  We did this at a place around the school where lots of people go, so we made public art.  1st graders each picked a colored piece of large construction paper and drew people on them.  After drawing the bodies we cut them out.  Next week we will be using oil pastel to create designs on our cutout body.  Down below is a picture of Keith Haring creating his artwork in a New York City subway station.