"TRYING" NEW ART SUPPLIES: DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!!

KIDS...IF YOU ARE WATCHING THIS...DO AS I SAY...NOT AS I DO!! 

DO NOT EAT STICK GLUE...IT IS AN ART SUPPLY! 

PARENTS...DON'T BY THIS & EXPECT YOUR KIDS NOT TO LICK THEM!! HA HA

Black Glue Debacle

I haven't done black glue line projects in forever! I love the look, but always struggled with the glue bottles I used clogging up(I used regular glue bottles and just mixed up the paint and glue and poured it in!).  I found some bakery bottles at Dollar General the other day, and thought they might work really well for this project. They were $1.50 for two 4oz bottles.

So this morning I was excited to mix up a batch and give it a try.  I decided to use donated glue(Washable) & donated black tempera paint(Washable).  I really need to learn to do a test/sample first?!?!  I mixed up a huge cup of the mixture and poured it into the bottles I purchased.

I'm a hot mess when it comes to pouring stuff?!?!??! 

 I drew out a turtle, and traced him out.  Now I will say the glue does squeeze out generously from these bottles, but that was not the real issue.  The glue mixture seemed extremely "wet".  It started blobbing out from the initial line I drew.

When I picked it up( TRYING to keep it flat)...the black glue mixture ran.

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!  I JUST MADE 8 BOTTLES OF THIS STUFF!?!?!

So I mixed up enough for one bottle using REAL Elmer's glue(except no substitutes) & a good brand of black tempera paint(not washable!!!).  You can see the difference!!!  I picked up the one on the left and moved it...and it did not run at all.  So...LESSON LEARNED!!!! Use the good stuff...because you almost always will get what you paid for!! 

(Now I have to go empty the other 7 bottles and make a new batch!!!) 

REVIEW: Elmer's Purple Liquid Glue

Have you seen this?

I purchased a small bottle for 99 cents so I could try it out.

YEP! IT'S PURPLE!  ha ha  So it delivered on that front.  It was very "wet".  I noticed after the fact that it is "Washable". I'm almost never a fan of "Washable" products.  This seems more watery than regular washable glue.  I'm not sure if how they make it purple causes that or not.  I also noticed that the "feel" of it is different as well. It isn't "tacky" feeling?!?!?! I got some on my figures when I connected the paper together...can't really describe it how it feels other than different.  

It delivered on drying clear as well!  I do feel it warps the paper a little more than regular ELMER'S GLUE ALL.  I don't use Elmer's Washable on a regular basis(because of it warping paper & not being a strong as Glue All)...so I can't compare.  I do think it might be a good investment for Kindergarten so they can learn better glue control....though I'll probably stick with good ol' regular Elmer's Glue All.  

Nonobjective Abstract Collage w/ Focal Point - 2nd Grade

That's how we roll at The Grove....Make a project at the start of the year that uses as many vocabulary words as humanly possible to give the students art whiplash! ha ha ha  I'm doing(and my student teacher will be taking over) a unit on abstract art work.  I realized that I sometimes stay away from the topic because I'm afraid they won't "get it".  Last week we created Cubist self portraits, this week these lovelies, next week we'll look at Matisse's later work, and the following week we'll create paper sculptures.  The kids really seem to be enjoying looking at & creating this "crazy" art!

I've actually been pleased with how this project has been turning out.  I've really enjoyed teaching the many ways focal point can be accomplished.  Many have gone in the same direction in their collages, but if asked...they could name at least 4 different ways to achieve focal point(some maybe more). 

Second Day of Two Day Inservice

You want to see how different art teachers are...take a look at the projects they did today during our second day of inservice!!!  We had 50+ art teachers...with the group split in half.  Both days the groups did studio projects, did reverse unit planning(off of the studio project...placing it in the new curriculum), as well as worked on another unit for another grade level off of the new curriculum.  I believe most teacher enjoyed the 2 days & what we had planned.  However, it was what was not on our schedule that made the time so wonderful & rich!  You get that many art teachers together(which happens too little)...and the ideas that start flying around are enough to make your head spin! 

We are going to start meeting once a 9 weeks in a general session, try to have professional development days at least once a 9 weeks, and encouraging using some of our 5 professional days given us by the district to visit other art teachers!!  So hopefully...connecting will continue throughout the year!!!  

THE CICADAS ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!! -Kindergarten

Do you have Cicadas where you live?  I don't remember them in Ohio.  We had Locust, but I don't remember Cicadas?  Here is a link to learn more if you so desire ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada ).  I first encountered the cicada my first or second year teaching in TN.  This version of the bug comes out every 13 yrs.  There are annual ones...and I read there was a 17 yr one as well(but I'll have to wait a few more years to see if that is true).  So they come out of the ground after 13 yrs..and transform into this otherworldly looking creature.  They leave their "shells" behind...and the kids love to pick them up and play with them.  I decided to do a lesson on cicadas with my Kindergarten students to get them prepared. I had a powerpoint, MP3 of their mating song(which is very loud and very annoying after awhile!!!), and some of the "shells".  The kids LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Gross is good at this age I guess! ha ha  We then created collage cicada!  I hung them up  in the hall & created a stir!!!  The whole school is now cicada crazy & kids keep bringing me the little buggers!!

Alien Sculptures - 2nd Grade

This lesson came out of the Chihuly lesson from the fall.  The students cut the water bottle in half and then wrapped it with tissue paper.  Yarn for hair, pipe cleaners for arms, and whatever out of the scrap box to finish them off!  (googlie eyes added by me with hot glue just to make sure they didn't come off)  The students loved it...and I was so happy to see the

 fun personalities come out as they added to their bottle creatures!!