May 2017 - Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers

Kindergarten and 1^st Grade

Project Title: Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers

Van Gogh's painting that inspired the project:

Still Life - Vase with Twelve Sunflowers
(1888-1889)

Description:

• Students explored Dutch artist, Vincent van Gogh's Sunflower painting utilizing Visual Thinking Strategy.  Students noticed brushstrokes, highlights and color mixing in his work.  K-1 artists designed a still life sunflower picture of their own using a variety of techniques and applying brushstrokes in their work.

Vocabulary: 

• brushstrokes
• highlight
• wet-on-wet technique
• color mixing
• still life painting
• stamping

Resources:

• Camille and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt

Materials:

• mixed media
• tempera paint
• tempera cakes
• soluble oil pastels
• texture paint

Examples of Student Artwork:


  

  

  

April 2017 - Abstract Line and Shape Project

Kindergarten and 1^st Grade

Project Title: Abstract Line and Shape Project

Description:

• Color mixing was introduced using primary, colored, tempera paint and a variety of lines and shapes.  Each abstract composition was further enhanced by introducing pink, turquoise and black accents.  The lesson provided an opportunity to reinforce the basic elements of art: line, shape and color.

Vocabulary: 

• line vs shape defined
• types of shapes
• freeform vs geometric
• color mixing to get orange, green and purple.

Resources:

• White Rabbit's Color Book by Alan Baker (Kindergarten)

• Painting the Town by Denise Minnerty (Grade 1)

Materials:

• markers
• tempera paint

Examples of Student Artwork:

March 2017 - Flying Machines

Kindergarten and 1^st Grade

Project Title: Flying Machines

Description:

• K-1 students were read Leonardo and the Flying Boy by Laurence Anholt as inspiration for creating their own flying machines.  Handouts were also provided showing gears and cranks to fuel the imagination.  Students then used colored pencils to develop their flying machines.

Vocabulary: 

• Leonardo da Vinci
• flying machines
• gears
• pulleys
• levers

Resources:

• Leonardo and the Flying Boy  by Laurence Anholt 

• Extraordinary Machines by Claire de Moulor

Materials:

• white colored pencils
• black Bristol board
• colored pencils and sticks

Examples of Student Artwork:

February 2017 - 3-D Clay Puppets

Kindergarten and 1^st Grade

Project Title: 3-D Clay Puppets

Description:

• Students formed a 3-dimensional clay head based on an animal.  They pulled out ears and snouts from clay and subtracted eyes and noses.  The heads were painted using a tint of one color, then details were added later.  Cone bodies were designed next and painted.  Varnish gives our puppets shine and added strength.

Vocabulary: 

• 3-dimensional
• puppets
• clay
• subtraction (in clay)
• tint
• sphere
• egg-form

Resources:

• Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type  by Doreen Cronin

Materials:

• assorted fall leaves
• oil pastels
• watercolor paints

Examples of Student Artwork:

   

   

   

January 2017 - Cat & Bird by Paul Klee

Kindergarten and 1^st Grade

Project Title: Cat and Bird by Paul Klee

Paul Klee's painting that inspired the project:

Cat and Bird (1928)

Description:

• Paul Klee was a Swiss artist who enjoyed nature.  He incorporated light and color in his work.  Dreams and his imagination inspired many of his ideas.  K-1 artists were introduced to Klee's Cat and Bird (1928) painting.  What resulted are these fun watercolor cats on diffusion paper.

Vocabulary: 

• Paul Klee
• diffusion paper
• imagination

Resources:

• Cat and Bird by Paul Klee

Materials:

• diffusion paper
• black Sharpies
• watercolor markers
• spray bottles

Examples of Student Artwork:

December 2016 - Kandinsky Color Study

Kindergarten and 1^st Grade

Project Title: Kandinsky Color Study

Sample of Wassily Kandinsky's art:

Color Study. Squares with Concentric Circles (1913)

Description:

• K-1 artists were introduced to the Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944).  The lesson objective was to experiment with a variety of color combinations while developing concentric circular rings within an abstract piece of art.

Vocabulary: 

• abstract art
• concentric rings
• water color crayons
• Wassily Kandinsky

Resources:

• The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock

Materials:

• drawing paper
• water soluble oil pastels

Examples of Student Artwork:

    

    

November 2016 - Fall Leaves

Kindergarten and 1^st Grade

Project Title:   Fall Leaves  

Description:

• "Frottage" is a French word which means "to rub".  K-1 artists chose a variety of fall leaves that had been collected to create a fall motif.  Warm or cold colors were selected to complete our backgrounds using the water color resist technique

Examples of art using frottage:

Vocabulary: 

• Frottage
• veins
• texture
• hot/warm colors
• cold colors
• resist

Resources:

• Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf  by Lois Ehlert

Materials:

• assorted fall leaves
• oil pastels
• watercolor paints

Examples of Student Artwork: