In relation to the Land of Illusion collage work, we decided to cut out our shaded trees and collage them onto a water color landscape. The idea was to have the work pop out at the viewer while creating an ethereal image...
Shaded Tree Gallery
We learned to shade an simple object by changing the pressure and density of graphite on paper. Gradually changing from a value 10 (black) to a value 1 (white) we create the illusion of a three dimensional object.
The trees...
We have learned to quickly capture the gesture of an object in our classroom studies and now use this skill to draw the collection of trees on the SK playground. The kids kept these drawings simple with only an outline, or contour drawing, of the object. Later in the classroom we learn to shade a simple shape: the cylinder.
Jump into drawing
My first project with the kids was to begin drawing. We learn to sketch from life; each student took turns posing while everyone else sketched. This work was to "loosen" us up and to learn to capture the gesture of an object.
Fun coming back!
Coming back to SK after my maternity leave was exciting. Tracy had the kids started on creating illusion; giving the impression of a three dimensional scene on a two dimensional surface. Magic! The Land of Illusion project described how putting larger objects in the foreground, and smaller objects in the background will create depth–Tracy taught this by using a water color landscape then placed magazine collage images on top. We had a formal critique of the results:
Self-Guided projects
The 7/8 graders are required to develop their own art project–one self-guided project for each year. I mentor the students through this process and seek out opportunities to learn from other professionals in our community on the topic. Ryan and Mike came up with a ceramic dimensional landscape tile project. They made the calculations for needed materials, purchased and sanded the wood, and made the piece during art class and after school. I supplied the necessary ceramic supplies, equipment and gave them technical support along the way.
Collage works for 7/8's
Similar projects set up for the 5/6 graders are often expanded, adjusted, or completely changed for the 7/8 graders. Here the students started from a found image in a magazine then used color from magazines to rebuild the image in parts...
Critiques
A significant part of making and appreciating art is being able to talk about it. We continually critique our works learning from one another what works, what makes a composition exciting/intriguing/thought provoking, and what we might try to do next!
Gallery of plein air watercolor works at County Farm Park
Visiting Artist: Jennifer Thompson
Jennifer Thompson spent time with art students teaching them different techniques in watercolor painting. Jennifer is an exceptional watercolorist, MFA and dear friend from Eastern Michigan University. We then took our new found skills and made various plein air paintings at County Farm Park.
Cardboard City
For exploration in 3D design, students built a cardboard city. They discussed the elements that make up a city such as a post office, hospital, police station, etc. and divided the tasks of making all the parts. An amusement park, working elevators for skyscrapers, and LED lit patio for dinning were included.
City Parks collage!
In harmony with SK theme of "Cities" we created collages of our own imagined city parks. This project captured the creativity of all the kids, and they were further encouraged by a special critique mid-way through the work by architect/artist Perry Kulper. The idea was to create a composition, or a map of sorts, of what a park in Ann Arbor could be, if each one of us had the opportunity to make it. From hot lava geological features to amusement-park potato chip caves, many ideas where explored...
Visiting Artist: Perry Kulper
Perry Kulper, Ella's dad, so graciously spent the afternoon with the middle school classes. Perry shared about his schooling as an architect, early formal work, where his inspirations come from and about his exciting creative job now as a Professor of Architecture and as an artist at the University of Michigan. The students got to see Perry's drawings and collage works up close. We learned some invaluable information about the amount of time one of Perry's multi layered, complex works takes, and techniques on how to get better at something: do it everyday.
"Identity"
Because the kids love drawing so much, we continue our art with the school wide "Identity" theme by drawing portraits, many portraits. We have sketched one another, family, friends, pets, and ourselves. We have taken photo copy portraits, viewing them upside down, and drawn with some unexpected results. Drawing from an upside down picture bypasses our preconceived notions of what we think we can and can't draw, helping us see more easily the shapes, lines and forms that make up the image.
Gesture drawing
The 5th and 6th graders have spent a significant amount of time drawing from life. They started with contour drawings, then worked with shading and detail with still life, and now have some experience with rapid gesture drawing from life–each student took a turn making a 30 second pose for the others to loosely sketch.
Adventure in paper mâché
Karl's class wanted to create a costume for the school play The Odyssey. With some previous experience (by the kids), multiple class periods, a little encouragement, and a sharp deadline, they created an incredible giant cyclops head.
Student Block Prints
Visiting Artist: Gregg Perez
Still Life
Botanical Drawings
Drawing from observation in County Farm Park has been fruitful! We enjoyed taking time to critique our efforts and think about how we will produce works of art from these sketches.
