Re-Fab

Oldie but goodie wool skirt...

(Re) fab-u-lous!



                    Emroidery Floss + Needle+ Felt Polka Dots.

Paul Klee Inspired

credit:http://www.squidoo.com/paul-klee. Original "Senecio" by Paul Klee

The Kindergartners traced shapes on orange construction paper to create a portrait inspired by Paul Klee's original. We talked about cubism and use of shape and color. First traced in pencil, then outlined in ink. Next, we added oil pastel crayon and chalk. Then, watercolor wash in warm tones... and finally rolled tempera paint (also in warm tones.)

Today, you are you!

First Grade Self Portraits. "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” -Dr. Seuss

yarn weavings

Inspired by traditional Navajo weavings, the third graders created their own weaving on a cardboard loom. As students finished their weaving the chose to mount their weaving on tag board, hang it from a natural branch, bead the ends, or leave it flat like a blanket with finished ends.  Next year, I would probably do this earlier or later in the year and bring the class outdoors to work in the sun :)

Dot Paintings

The second grade students wrote a short story and painted an image inspired by aboriginal artworks. The paintings were framed with a pattern of construction paper squares creating a border.

Hearts

Cork polka dot painted butcher paper hearts, stuffed and coated in other "lovely" things. A little love from the kindergartners!

Calabash inspired bowls

Apologizes for the blurred image, I enjoy the colors of this bowl!

Ice cream trays to hold paint for each table.

Inspired by traditional Moroccan gourd "Calabash" bowls, the first graders paper mached (over a plastic container), painted (designs using the "line families"), glazed (gel medium),  beaded (punched holes and used embroidery floss and beads) to create their own version.

Koi Fish Kites

Inspired by our theme this month "Art from Around the World," the Kindergartners created Koi Fish Kites. This was a 2-3 day lesson for most of my students.

Day 1- Looked and talked about Koi fish- basics: Their appearance (color, shape, body size), their environment, the meaning of "koi" and where we might have seen Koi fish before. Then, I did a demonstration of creating scales of the Koi fish with oil pastel, followed by watercolor.
** I stapled the flat sheets into tubes shapes between day one and day two.**
Day 2- I set up stations for the Kindergartners to move around the room and add tails (tissue paper, colored wax paper), GLITTER, scales/textures, and strings to their kites. I really enjoy witnessing  "Aha" moments when they are moving around the room, making decisions, collaborating and communicating with their peers.

I displayed the kites from the ceiling in my room...The older grades were quite impressed by the young artists' work.

uGLY-WooD

More Ugly Dolls from the Fourth Grade!

ugly-ville

Bank robber, robbing the ugly- ville bank

Start of the installation, more photos to come!

A member of the local ugly ville polka band?!

Yes, ugly dolls in an ugly-ville. I started this unit with my fourth graders before winter break. By far, the longest project I've done yet this year, but time well spent. Inspired by the iconic "Ugly Doll," each student created a plush creature, some using the minimal approach, others more detailed. As students finished their "ugly doll" they worked on a collaborative mural or ugly doll environment to display their cute creatures. Each  of my fourth grade sections created a different scene such as "uglywood" a take from "Hollywood" or "ugly-ville" complete with an ugly doll factory. Fun, fun project!

MKE: ArtbooK

Another reason to love Milwaukee, Artbook! Check it out: http://www.artbookmke.com/ Or at 88nine radio Milwaukee: radio milwaukee/makemilwaukee. Cheers to local artists.