Clay Creations: Oceans

Third graders each made a clay octopus and underwater scene with Ms. Wanamaker after reading Tickly Octopus by Ruth Galloway.

They loved this project!

Wayne Thiebaud Cakes

Here is a quick, one day project that the kids just loved. We have just finished our pinterest-inspired tints and shades ice cream cones and we have been talking all about artist Wayne Thiebaud. Today we showed the children how to draw cylinders, stack them, and decorate them to make fanciful cakes. We provided some pictures of beautifully decorated cakes from a local bakery. The kids LOVED this project! This would be an excellent project to leave for a substitute.

James Rizzi Cities!

Our student teacher, Ms. Wanamaker, was so inspired by a recent James Rizzi presentation by fellow art teacher, Kristyn DeMint (www.herdabbles.blogspot.com) that she decided Rizzi cities would be the perfect project for fifth graders in our art classes. Using tempera paint, colored pencils, and pieces of cardboard to raise the cities, fifth graders have been constructing art inspired by Rizzi. It's hard to see from the pictures, but the city "pops" out. Each layer has cardboard behind to make it appear 3D, much like Rizzi has done in many of his works of Art. What a cool artist and what an AWESOME student teacher!

Day of the Dead

Here is a very simple Day of the Dead project. Fourth graders designed calaveras inspired by the folk art traditions surrounding the Mexican celebration.

The Colorful World of Peter Max!

We are lucky enough to be working with an awesome student teacher in our Art classes. Reyna Wanamaker is from the University of Toledo and has been with us since the beginning of the year. She recently taught the third and fifth graders all about the art of Peter Max.

Max is a Pop Artist. Pop artists use themes from the popular culture of their time in their Art. Peter's use of black outlines and bright colors came from comic books. He was also inspired by planets, stars, and astronomy in general.

Here are some of the "cosmic" works of art the fifth graders created, inspired by Peter Max!

Silly Pumpkins

First graders just made these silly pumpkin faces using oil pastels and cut paper. It was a great project to practice drawing and cutting shapes and using scissors and glue! It was cute to see the range of expressions the children came up with!

Clay Owls

Here is another lesson we just finished after reading The Little White Owl. I first heard about this adorable book from Kristyn Demint and her blog, http://herdabbles.blogspot.com.  She always has such great ideas and her art program is awesome.

Second graders made these fun little pinch pot owls in one 55 minute class period. One group used colored model magic and one group used watercolors to paint and decorate their owls. They were a huge success and a project much loved by the 7 and 8 year olds!