Matisse Inspired: Fish Bowl

Here is what’s happening in the art room this week for 2nd Grade! 

 

Matisse Inspired: 4th Grade

This year instead of doing clay house/building facades, I decided to do an interior space looking out.  We used Henri Matisse's Egyptian Curtain as our inspiration.  We discussed addition, subtraction, etching, and other clay techniques..and how they needed to apply them in their work.  

I had students paint their work with watercolor. I've shared this in the past...I do not have a vent or the extra funds for glaze. So painting them with watercolor works just fine for us! 

Tweaking An Old Project...

We all have projects that we do every year.  Sometimes it is because that is what's in our curriculum...and sometimes it is because the skill is needed & the project is good!  However, after you've been teaching for almost 20 yrs...some project begin getting a bit stale.  Thank goodness for Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and blogs....RIGHT!!!  I do like to be an innovator though & not just rely on the internet.  I like re-imagine a project based on the needs of my students & the skills I'm really wanting to make sure they have before leaving me to go to middle school.  

In 4th grade we've had Clay Facades as part of our curriculum...pretty much forever.  It is a great lesson that can go in so many different directions according to students interests & units being taught.  However...I was bored with them.  If I'm bored...than my students are not going to be super excited either.  So what exactly was I trying to get across with this lesson?  

Structure.  Purpose.  Attaching.

  Addition.  Subtraction.  Craftsmanship.  

So what/how could I teach those ideas in a re-imagined way.  I thought about interior/exterior structures.  I thought about my students need for more art history.  I thought about units that would carry over ideas for painting, clay, collage, and drawing.  

Put that in the blender and set it on high!

The past two years my students have studied an artist as part of a unit, and created multiple projects based off of that inspiration.  For the clay lesson this year...they were to use Egyptian Curtain by Matisse as inspiration.  We looked at different types of curtains, discussed what would go on a table, and talked about what could be outside the window.  We looked at the structure of windows and how they are put together.  Then they created their wall hangings in 3-D Relief form...having to add, subtract, and draw in the clay to create their image.  I love them!  

Last Year We Were Inspired By Monet

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: "Cut-Out" The Excuses

This is week two for Sunday Devotional With Mr. E! It is a new weekly feature(at least my plan is weekly) combining my faith as a Christian...and my passion for art!!  If this is not something you are interested in....just move on to the posts about art/arted.  If you ever have questions about faith...feel free to e-mail me.  I may not know all the answers...but I can try to answer your questions...or find someone that can!!! As always...thanks for reading!!!

"His master replied,'Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!'  
Matthew 25:21

2nd Grade Matisse Inspired Collage

Henri Matisse is my favorite artist.  I probably shouldn't have a favorite, but his color palette & patterns speak deeply to my artistic soul.  He was a person who was born to create!  It was at the very fiber of his being.  Life could not keep him from it. During his last ten years or so, he suffered from many physical issues.  These issues kept him from continuing his art as a painter. I'm sure many would have given up/quit.  He had numerous "excuses" available to him, but he did not choose to use them.  He found a different way to continue what he knew he was meant to do using paper cut-outs and the help of assistants. Some would say that this work created out of his adversity was his best! 

In Matthew 25:14-30 we read about the parable of the talents. It is a little long for me to repost here, but please take a moment & go read it ( LINK TO SCRIPTURE ).  A master is leaving town for a time, and he places three servants in charge of his talents(money).  One servant is given five talents, another two, and to the last only one talent. It doesn't give a reason why the money was given as it was, but you don't really argue with the master when he's handing out such things.  The first two were wise with what was given them, and doubled the money for their master.  

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things;  I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!'
Matthew 25:21(NIV)

 The servant that was given only one talent had hid his talent while the master was gone.  When he returned the talent, the master was not pleased.  He had done nothing to profit the master with what was given him.  His excuses got him no where with the master.

The Lord gives gifts to His children and desires for us to use them for His glory & honor. We need to ask God to reveal to us what these gifts are & how they are to be used.  We can not fall into the trap of comparing our gifts to others, or wishing we had gifts that God just hasn't given us.  Each gift is given for a reason, and God has a plan for it (and YOU!).  We need to find that "THING" that is at the very fiber of our being...our heart beat.  What is it that brings you true JOY & God glory & honor?  Do you love to clean, organize, work with children, sing, speak to others, teach, fix things......WHATEVER!?!?!?  God uses all things!!!  Your gift may not look like mine, but it is important to the body of Christ.  It is needed. YOU ARE NEEDED!  Not because God can't do it without you & your "talent".....but because he chooses to use you and desires your relationship with Him to grow.  

Matisse had no time for excuses in his life.  He had to be about the business he knew he was meant to do.  What about you? Are you making excuses?  Are you about the business God has given you to do?  Are you living a life free of excuses in regards to using the "talents" God has given you?

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, please help us be a people of purpose....Your purpose. 

May we leave behind the excuses that are born out of fear/doubt.  

Allow us to use the "talents" you have given us to bring glory & honor to You & You alone!!

In Your Name Lord Jesus

AMEN  

More Purple Robe Inspired Work: 1st

Here are a few more finished pieces.

There are so many good unfinished ones....I hope I can find some time to get 

my kids to finish up their work.  

Matisse -Egyptian Curtain

The Egyptian Curtain (oil on canvas) Henri Matisse ,1948

I love Matisse! He is my fav. artist(though Van Gogh is a close second). When Ms. Luquire and I were discussing lessons, Egyptian Curtain was brought up because the students had been working on INTERIOR & EXTERIOR spaces. She came up with this lesson that used black construction paper, construction paper crayons, and textile themed printed paper. The 1st graders LOVED this project!!! I think that they turned out AMAZING!!!