A Color of His Own

We read the story A Color of His Own, by Leo Lionni.  The story chronicles a chameleon who doesn't understand why his skin changes color wherever he goes, yearning for one color of his own.  He finally meets another chameleon and forms a quick friendship where they stick together and stay the same color wherever they go!  We discussed why the chameleon changes color - for protection and how the color of their skin changes to allow them to "blend in" with their surroundings.  They then created their very own unique chameleon by deciding where it would live and designing the background and how they would then design the inside of the chameleon's skin by matching it.  They certainly used their critical and creative thinking skills to predict the patterns and designs in their chameleons today - and of course their best craftsmanship as they colored! Here are some to enjoy....

Contrast Unit

In these next two projects the students studied the art element of contrast.  They learned that contrast is a big difference between design elements such as colors - both light and dark and hue, and types of line -like straight and wavy.  The first project had them making circles on their papers and then selecting and coloring inside the circles with light colors.  They then selected and colored the background with dark colors.  As a finishing touch to add texture they then selected both light and dark pom poms to glue in the coordinating areas.  The second lesson was reinforcing the idea of landscape and horizon line but adding contrast.  We used bright and light colors in the background with paint and then added our darkest color, black, to add ground.  This was a great visual representation of the concept of contrast.  The horizon line was made by creating a "mixed- up" line of both wavy, straight lines.  Here are some examples of the results of both projects...

Vincent Van Gogh Unit

We read two stories about Vincent Van Gogh.  Students observed and discussed his artwork and how he became a famous artist.  They learned that he painted differently than artists before him and people learned to love his bright colors and bold marks and repeating lines/shapes.  We studied some of his landscapes as well as flower series such as Starry Night and his Sunflowers and Poppies.  We took on two projects to learn his style.  The first one was a landscape that was paper collage and oil pastels on bright colors.  We studied horizon line, where the land meets the sky, and his signature style of bold marks and bright colors.  The next project reinforced these ideas and methods, but we used paint.  I thought is would be nice to get their little motor skills practice with oil pastels first so when the took on wet paint they would be ready for the motions.  Here are some of the beautiful results of both projects....

Torn Paper collage - Frederick

This project started by reading the story Frederick by Leo Lionni.  We looked closely at the illustrations.  Students noticed that the mice were not drawn, but made by collage.  I demonstrated how artists can use their hands to make are by tearing and gluing paper.   This was new for most of the students and many wondered why we were doing it?  "What if we didn't have scissors?" I asked.  There are many ways to make art and tearing paper is one of them.  It is a great project to strengthen those fine motor muscles.

We tore oval shapes for the body, and ears of the mouse.  Circles for the eyes, and a skinny piece for the tail.  The next class, we were able to finish our projects.  In the story, Frederick the mouse is telling his mice friends all about the colors he observed in nature.  I wanted to have our mouse think of the secondary colors (orange, green, purple).  We learned about the primary colors (red, yellow, blue) when we did our snake prints.  For this project, I demonstrated how to mix colors: red + yellow = orange, yellow + blue = green and red + blue = purple

Primary Color Pattern Snakes

Here is the project that preceded our Pineapples.  This was a multiple class lesson. The students first discussed and analyzed patterns of all kinds.  We looked at pictures, clothes, and our environment to find patterns.  They then did a pattern worksheet showing me patterns of lines and colors.  After a demonstration showing them how to print triangles in a row by turning the triangle to make them fit together like a puzzle, the students created their own pattern prints using primary colors of red, blue and yellow.

Then next class we discussed the fancy art word composition.  Students learned that an artist makes a complete composition by making their artwork interesting.  They can do this by adding different colors, lines, and varied placement of objects on paper to make the eyes travel around!  To do this the students had to think critically and creatively about where they were going to draw a snake head and tail on either end of the triangle prints.  Snake you wonder?  Yes, we read the story Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh in which there is a snake who counts his mouse to eat!  The students were quick to guess that I chose that story based on the patterns prints they made because of the snake!  Snake skin has lots of beautiful patterns.  When finished with their snake heads and tails students were encouraged to add to their compositions by giving their snake a home in the background, i.e. lake, forest, desert.

Pineapples and Printmaking! Oh My!

 This post is a bit out of order.  I will get back here and add the two previous lessons as soon as I can.  But briefly - we did a lesson previously that studied pattern.  So...to reinforce the idea of pattern and see what they remembered we looked closely at the fruit pineapples.  Why??  Because pineapples are full of wonderful patterns.  From the colors, shapes and lines - patterns are abundant.  After discussing the many different patterns of a pineapple we learned how to draw them.  We discussed how all the shadows on the pineapple have cool colors (blue, purple and green).  They used these colors to outline and add shadows to their own drawings.  They then used bright and warm colors of brown, red, orange and yellow to add the highlights and complete the pineapple.  They finished their artwork by adding a table line and a dark cool shadow under the fruit so it appeared to be sitting and not floating.

Next Kindergarten students are learning about the printmaking process...see description in picture directly below:

Fall is all around us.....

Fall is in full force in the Kindergarten art room!  These few weeks we have been working on being observers as the seasons changed.  We looked closer at the trees and how the the leaves are changing into beautiful warm rich colors before they fall off the trees.  We studied pictures of trees as the leaves change and fall and noticed how we can start to see the shapes of the tree branches as they become more visible.  The students notices that the branches twist and turn as the reach to the sky and ground.

 We worked on a paper bag sculpture of trees to capture the new changes of the season.  The students were able to use their fingers, hands and whole arms to squeeze, bend and twist their paper trees into shape...all beautiful.  Tissue paper leaves were added to complete their designs.

Next we traced and drew many leaves after studying several different varieties of real leaves.  Students noticed the shapes, colors and even details like the veins of the leaves.  They used realistic colored crayons to add color inside their leaves, some solid and some changing colors.  They then used a "magic" technique of adding wiggly white circles of white crayon around their leaves.  The magic happens when added the blue watercolor wash over the entire paper and the crayons resist the paint.  We talked about imagining the leaves had fallen into a pond and were creating ripples in the water - they were all excited to see the magic white rings appear when adding the blue! They are beautiful.  Warm colored leaves in contrast with the cool blues of the water!

Back to School

Summer was wonderful for myself, as I hope it was for all my Placentino students and families.  We are back at school now, deep into some wonderful learning in the Kindergarten art room.  This was my first Fall back to school teaching so it has been a busy time of the year.  Lots of new faces in my room and lots of new projects to share.  Here is a quick catch up of some of the projects underway these past few weeks...

Kandinsky Circles

Students learned about abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky.  They learned he created famous artwork in the early 1900's and was from Germany.  The style of artwork he made was abstract - which the students understand is artwork often times made with simple shapes, lines.  They studied a few of his paintings but focused on his Concentric circles.  They observed he repeated the circle shapes inside squares.  We discussed that his circles were kind of wiggly - not perfect.  Students also noted that his color palette was often bright and juicy colors.

Our little artists then got their turn to create their own circle painting like Kandinsky.  They drew 3 circles in each square - one small, one medium and one large.  They then traced over all their pencil lines with Sharpie marker (which they understood we had to use so when we painted watercolors on top the marker wouldn't wash away).  The students finished off their circles by adding many bright watercolors to each shape in their piece.  They did great!

Sunflowers

Students were able to look at several photos of sunflowers, one of my favorites.  They noticed the different textures that sunflowers have when you look up close the the blooms.  Students saw the petals were smooth and soft and the inside looked bumpy or rough.  This project allowed them to practice drawing, cutting and gluing.  Some even took the challenge to practice curling paper to add a pop-out look to their petals. Others chose to leave them smooth and flat.  The very last step involved using circle shaped sponge tools to stamp on brown paint to show that the texture on the inside looked bumpy and realistic.

Abstract Sculptures

We reviewed what we learned about abstract art - remembering our Kandinsky style circles.  We then looked at several examples of abstract sculptures.  We talked about what made a sculpture unique and different than a 2-D drawing.  Students learned that a sculpture is artwork made with 3-Dimensions, or it has shape and form.  Students noticed many simple lines in the examples we looked at.  Wavy, zig-zag, swirly, straight and curly q.  After a quick discussion on materials and how to use them - model magic and coated wire - the students set to work sculpting their own abstract artwork.  They really enjoyed this!

Owls....HOOT!

 

 

We read the story Owl Babies by Martin Waddell.  After the story we looked at some photos of owls.  We discussed what we noticed about owls.  They have BIG eyes that help them see at night.  They have lots of fluffy beautiful feathers - some quite fluffy.  Their bodies are ovals shaped and sometimes they have pointed feather ear-like tufts on their heads.  Students then got to create their very own owls at night using oil pastels in light colors to contrast on the dark paper.  They then added fluffy torn paper feathers to the owls body - some even gluing them down in a pattern!