Radial Symmetry/Flower Garden : K-1st

We are in person teaching....but my document camera died!!! AHHH!! 

How do you teach in pandemic time without a document camera?  Well, I recorded my demo and just showed it to my class so they could all see the process.

Here is the Radial Symmetry/Flower Garden project I'm doing this week with my littles!! 

Art At Home: Spring Drawing With A Twist

Here is a fun drawing you can do at home...with an outdoors twist!!! 

Time for Review: Kindergarten

So we have a month left of school, and I'm wanting to start reviewing some skills/concepts with my kindergarten before summer break.  I knew that they had their kindergarten graduation coming up....so I asked the kindergarten team if they had a theme or an idea of something to help fill up the background of the stage for their performance.  They suggested flowers.  I like to try to help/connect with classroom teachers where I can...and where appropriate in my curriculum.  This was an easy fit!!

I wanted to have a project where I could review painting procedures, work on filling up their page, and practice our lines.  This did that for me!!!  They are doing great with painting & lines, but filling up their page is a challenge for many of them. 

Spring Break Sketches

While my family was on spreak break down at Orange Beach, Alabama....I brought along my sketch book to the beach!  I wanted to make it a priority to create while on vacation.  I was hoping to make more than these three, but at least it was something.  I'm loving the turtle...and might do some more like that!! What did you create over spring break?

Mixed Media: 2nd Grade

I love doing mixed media projects with my students.  Each "layer" of the mix adds so much to their work...and their excitement builds as their art work progresses! 

Here is the breakdown of this project.  

DAY ONE

Draw the vace & flowers with pencil, trace with Sharpie, and do a watercolor wash overtop.

DAY TWO

Using color pencil, go into the work and add some cohesion to the vace and flower by adding "some" color.  I talked to them about blending & value when using colored pencil.  

DAY THREE

Students created two or three collage flowers to add to their vases.  We discussed proportion/size to make sure they looked like they belonged with the other flowers. We also used bubble wrap to print some metallic color onto it

3 Day Group Spring Mural

Thought I'd do a video for this one...

The last full week of the 9 weeks I have "Finish Up Day" for my students.  I give them their art work back, allow them to work on refining and finishing, and I call them back to grade & do a portfolio review with them.  So what do I do with the days are are not a part of the full week? There are usually only 2 or 3 days in those situations. I usually create collaborate murals.  I have each of my classes create a part of the board...or finish unfinished pieces from other classes.  With it being spring...and our school in need of cheer & happiness(after terrible state testing)...this is what we came up with!

I incorporated the "dots" flowers into the kids work.

The Dots Final Form: SPRING

If you have been trekkin' along with me this year...you may have seen my 1st day of art painting project morph. It went from a beautiful hanging Wall of Dots.... to Fall Leaves...to Winter Mittens & Hats.  Now it has arrived at its final state of being....Spring Flowers!  

The students, teachers, and parents have all commented how much they've loved seeing this project progress through the year, and have been wondering how I'm going to top it next year. 

?!?!?!TOP IT?!?!?!!?  

I'm not sure if I can "Top It".  I have some fun ideas floating around in this crazy brain of mine, but I do not see it as topping what I've done in the past.  Each year is different...each project has its own life...and it all should be appreciated in that time & in that place.  I hope none of you place such pressure on yourself.  Yes, you want to bring new life & energy to your program, but don't view it in light of having to "Top" the year before.  Let each year be its very best...because you are being your very best.

If you're new here...or missed my past posts about The Dots...here ya go!

                                    http://www.artwithmre.com/2015/12/the-dots-winter.html 

The End is Just The Beginning...

There is a wonderful children's book I read to my students that talks about nothing ever ending...because the end is just the beginning of something new.

The end of #aheartadaychallenge is just the beginning of......

#SpringSketchFri

We would love for you to join in the fun!!  This is a once a week posting of a spring inspired work from your sketch book.  The others involved in #aheartadaychallenge didn't want things to end....so they are beginning with something new!  It has been fun & encouraging to share our work with one another...adding a little bit of accountability for us artists to create!!!! Plus, it is only once a week..so not as much pressure as once a day!!!  Your creations can be made from any materials...focused on anything spring....so very flexible!!!  

All you have to do is create...and post Fridays on social media.  You can hashtage it #SpringSketchFri on Twitter (you can tag me also @ArtWithMrE )...or post it on www.facebook.com/ArtWithMrE .  This was originally set for March...but if people are enjoying it...we could do it through April as well!!  

Can't wait to see your work 

THIS FRIDAY!!!!!

Oh Georgia!

          

I tend to put some of my best student work on my blog....I think most of us do that.  However, like you....some of my students struggle to follow directions, complete tasks, or give me their best work.  Aren't we all like that from time to time? 

So how do we motivate the student that is not meeting grade level expectations?

PATIENCE is a big thing!  At the end of the school year...I know it can be in short supply.  Many of our children need to be loved & encouraged through the struggles.  Sometimes those struggles are not reflective of their feelings/abilities for art...but go deeper into personal/home life issues.  Not that we need to make excuses...but have understanding.

Next...don't let them get away with it!  Call them out on what they are doing wrong.  They won't grow if they don't know...or aren't made aware that you expect more from them.

Spend time with them...set down and work beside them with one of your examples.  Model good artist behavior...model good craftmanship.  Things like this are better caught than taught.  They "catch" you doing the right thing...they may try to "copy" that behavior!!  

Not long now...you can do it!!!  Help your kids finish out strong!!

Spring Flowers:2nd Grade

I wanted to do a fun spring flower picture in one class time...but was not wanting to go "still life" or "Georgia O'Keeffe".  I had the students work on wet on wet with the gouache.  We discussed color mixing...and possible combinations to avoid.  I allowed the students to blot their painted background with a tissue to remove excess water & to lighten up the over all feel.  I then had them paint directly on top of the colorful background(they did not draw first..scary for some...other thought it was fun/exciting).  I feel the results turned out wonderful...and it looks amazing in the hallway!!  Really brightens things up!!!

Chirpin': 1st Grade

         

As you may have read...I'M SO READY FOR SPRING!  Nashville is warming up...so my projects are taking on a much springier feel!!!! ha ha  I LOVE THESE 1st GRADE BIRDS!!!  I told the students we were going to create fun, colorful, springy birds.......and man did they deliver!! After drawing their picture with pencils...I had the students trace their pictures with black crayon to form a bit of a resist. We used markers to outline/color their picture next.  Lastly, I sprayed their work with water.  I love the look...and the kids were so excited when the colors started moving.  The resist does create a small wall between colors so they don't get totally mixed up.  

CHIRP ON FRIENDS...CHIRP ON!!!

DENIAL PROJECT

So I've been in denial....denial that winter is going to rob me of time with my students.   I've missed 10 days of class time over the past 3 weeks.  BOOOO!!!!  I hate missing school...I really do.  So this past week I started doing these rain collages (because I want it to be spring...NOW!!!).  Well..it didn't work...because we missed Thurs. & Friday.  However...I'm loving these pieces.  We talked about composition, contrast, and reviewed the elements & principles.  I also tried out a class set of "glue sponges".  The kids loved the glue sponges...I'm a bit mixed on my feelings toward them.  Maybe I'll do a post on that later.