Monet- First Grade

Picasso Inspired 1St graders

Look closely, do you see a face?! I do!

Loosen up, get those creative juices flowing. Great Picasso warm up silly face drawing activity from Scholastic art submission. Check it out! http://art.scholastic.com/

Following silly face warm up, I did a demo on taking ideas from multiple sketches and creating a final oil pastel drawing on a large sheet of paper. I actually pulled ideas during the demo from their drawings... which was interesting trying to recreate a child's drawing, not as easy as it sounds! ha!

Students created their own 10 x 20 inch Picasso inspired face- then folded. numbered into four parts, and cut! Students kept their own number 1 and...

...dropped 2, 3, and 4 into the boxes. This was challenging for some students (correct number on each piece of the drawing, cutting into four pieces, and dropping it in the correct box.. but we're learning!) Also, some students had trouble detaching themselves from their original drawing. This was a good introduction to collaborative artworks, and well.... sharing!

Students then took turns drawing a mystery facial features from each box to create a new mixed up, jux-ta-posed portrait. I heard a lot of funny comments during this activity such as, " oHhhH! _______, I got your nose!" Once the students arranged their facial parts in an  appealing order, they glued.

Construction paper mosaic tiles for frame.

Then students added more oil pastel- some students were missing a nose, maybe an eye.. good opportunity to "doctor it up!" They loved that.

Next, we watercolored. We used traditional, glitter, and Metallic watercolors. So fun. (we did this step for two days, allowing the watercolor to dry and be layered up adding interesting texture.)

Last step, a Mosaic border... framing all of a specific element of their drawing- very interesting choices as this stage in the project. We focused on patterns.

Love the metallic watercolors!

This is in my top picks for favorite lessons this year, so fun. It took us about 6 class periods.

Painted Self-Portraits

Kindergartners used mirrors to draw a self portrait. Then, added color with crayon and watercolor.

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.)

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.

WiLd WeAvings

A three or four day weaving lesson for Kindergartners. It began with "measuring" or practice using a ruler as a straight edge and cutting the construction paper loom. Next, they wove paper cut with funky scissors, fabric strips, colored tin foil bent into organic lines, yarn and other textured fiber scraps through their loom. The weaving process took some students one day, others two. When finished I had a sponge painting station set up for students to add (or attempt) a painted pattern design. My students found painting on the multiple surfaces interesting. Fun and wild lesson that grew as we went!

Amate Bark Paintings

Bird Paintings inspired by Amate Bark paintings. I have always loved the bright pigments against the natural tones of the paper, and have always wanted to create/teach this lesson. When I began to look through all of the lessons/examples from the previous art teacher I found a good selection of amate bark paintings done in a variety of styles. These examples are from my first grade students.

Three day lesson...
Day 1- Introduction to project with visuals and sketching bird and plant designs
Day 2- crumple and unfold brown butcher paper squares (appox. 18 x 18) about five times, then iron.... yes first graders ironing- no accidents thankfully! Transfer sketch design onto "bark", trace over with thick sharpie or black tempera paint
Day 3- Paint bird patterns, ferns,  and border patterns with neon tempera paint and white/glow in the dark.