Miro Inspired

We watched two short elementary appropriate videos on Miro & his work.  We talked about abstracting animals and looking for the shapes that make up the animals. We also reviewed the symbols Miro used in his work and discussed other symbols that might like to add. After coloring the animals and symbols with crayons, students went back to a painting station to put a watercolor wash over their picture (watered down liquid water color).

Here is the video the kids liked the best!  I kind of was worried they would think it was too weird, but the LOVED IT!!! ha ha  I'm glad my humor and 5 year olds are on the same level! 

 

Drawing An Animal & Habitat

Students have a lot of choice when it comes to selecting an animal & it's habitat!  This is a great time to bring in some of the science standards, and possibly writing standards.  They can write about their animal and where it lives.  

 

School Picture Day for Animals: 1st Grade

In our new scope & sequence we have portraits across all grade levels. I don't know about you, but doing the same thing over and over all day long for a week at a time.....it's just too much for me to handle.  I get so bored!  So I decided to spice things up in 1st grade!  We did animal school pictures with patterned backgrounds!  We still talked about proportion, symmetry, and bust....but had a little fun with it!  I'm really proud of the kids for the amazing work at the start of the 1st grade year! 

Mixed Media Critters: 1st Grade

I believe it was on Mini Matisse that I saw a fun check board painting she was doing with her students.  I loved the idea, but had to think where I wanted to take it from the check board "base".  My first graders loved getting to paint the check board!! There were varying levels of success, but all looked nice once completed!  The next class time I had them trace the original pencil lines with a black crayon.  They then created a "critter" to place on the check board.  I told them to think of it as a school picture for their creations!  The faces crack me up!  I love the expressions.

Even More 3rd Grade Clay Masks

Here are even more of the 3rd grade clay mask project.  

If you are just tuning in...scroll back and look at the other posts!!  

Hard to tell from the picture...but the owl is actually vertical! The student asked if he could have his mask stand up.....so I told him if he could figure out a way for it to stand up & be stable...GO FOR IT! So he did!! 

Some kids will always go rainbow!!! :)

  I'm sure if I had sparkles..they'd be all over that too!! ha ha

I really love this one...but mostly because it is kind of disturbing(in the best possible way).  The color seems kind of zombie/undeadish..  The black really helped to step up the creep factor!! 

Plast'rcraft by Pacon

http://pacon.com/?s=plast%27r+craft&orderby=relevance

I got this amazing big box of Plast'rcraft by Pacon this summer, and decided to test drive it with a student I give private art lessons (she had just finished 4th grade).  I'm not a 3-D person...but LOVED this project & product! 

We started by creating an armature using plastic water bottles & masking tape.   My student created a rhino/bear creature....and I made the fish.

The directions are simple!  However, I should have thought things through a bit.  Precutting  the Plast'rcraft into smaller strips would have been best for a project such as this.  Cause once you get messy....it is harder to backtrack. 

The product went on well...and clung to our armature.  If you like the texture of the gauze, then you can leave it.  If you want a smoother surface...just dip your finger in water and rub.  The plaster fills in the spaces nicely for a smoother finish.  

I think having a solid armature is important.  The masking tape we used came from Dollar General, and wasn't the greatest.  I ended up using the Plast'rcraft to "hold" things together.  Next time I'll make sure my tape is a better quality.  

We still need to paint them, but they turned out great!  I was amazed at how strong they came once the product dried.  I know...should have guest plaster based products would do such a thing!?!?! ha ha  A project like this in a classroom would work, but would have to be broken up into 3 different class times more than likely.  Day 1, sketch & create armature.  Day 2, cover armature in Plast'rcraft.  Day 3, paint sculpture.   Managing supplies is also essential.  It is going to get messy...so be prepared! 

I have an idea one doing step 1 & 2 the same day...but that post will have to wait till I actually give it a try!  Stay tuned...and try Plast'rcraft by Pacon!  It is really fun stuff!!!

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More Clay Masks: 4th Grade

Lots of cats & dogs...but there are a few other interesting...ummm...creatures?  

Once again..these are painted with acrylic & the students were limited to 4 colors.

There is something about this one I love!  A bit messy in how it was painted..you can even tell from the paper I had them work on top of compared to the other students.  However, there is something very lively about this guy!!!  

The stripe one looks amazing in person..did not photograph as well.  The green one makes me laugh!! Reminds me of The Mask movie...but kind of Veggie Tales!  LOVE IT!

This dude looks like a Furby & Gizmo had a baby!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Clay Masks: 3rd Grade

I do a clay "mask" project with my 3rd graders every year.  Usually I find a few gems in the mix, but this year they are AMAZING!!!!!  It is interesting how different years are like that.  

The previous week we created Echo Masks from construction paper.  We talked about the purpose/function of masks & looked at how different cultures created their masks(materials & design wise).  This week we reviewed vocab & information on clay.  They were given the inspiration of animal/human hybrid.  Some went more animal...some more human, but all are wonderful works of art!  

This is my teacher example...I had fun with him!!!