ART

After returning from their trip to Naturebridge, fifth grade artists began a new project exploring architecture and how hidden passageways and rooms have shown up throughout history and art. Students were asked to draw their own house with secrets within, and they really let their imaginations run wild! Students focused on their craftmanship and perseverance as they first drew with pencil, and then colored and traced with sharpies, labeling important details and hidden things. I was super impressed by the level of detail included in these drawings, and enjoyed learning more about each student based on what was incorporated.

Over the last month, second grade artists have been busy in the art room! They worked collaboratively to create set decorations for their MDM performance, painting and drawing in groups to create these vibrant works. It was so wonderful seeing them all contribute to their performance in this additional way! Next, we learned about the concept of notan in Japanese art and design, which seeks to find balance and harmony between light and dark. Students used construction paper to execute these paper cut artworks, and focused on their craftmanship.

The kindergarten artists have been working hard this quarter in the art room! They spent multiple weeks patiently completing the steps to a mixed-media self-portrait, and then began learning about the art of printmaking. Students created their own styrafoam printing plates with drawings of various pumpkins and gourds, and then went through the printing process to create multiple copies of their festive Fall artworks.

Over the last month, pre-k artists learned how to cut different shapes out of construction paper to create Matisse-inspired collages, and practiced guided drawing, following along step-by-step to create spooky fall drawings. They also explored color mixing, using acrylic paints to mix different hues of green and brown, to create a “Nature Scavenger Hunt” that we used during our combined art and outdoor education class. We walked to Marilyn’s garden to search for examples of all the colors we mixed, and students were so excited to explore color in the natural world!

Fifth graders began this year by creating personalized sketchbooks that will be used as an artist's tool throughout the school year. Next, we explored the concept of alter egos, looking at artist Danny Haas’ Half and Half series for inspiration. Simultaneously, we worked on casting sculptures of our hands with plaster, a new material for most of the students! We talked about shape versus form, how sculptures are viewed in the round, and how that changes our approach as artists.

It has been wonderful beginning the school year welcoming second grade artists to the art studio. Our first few projects focused on shape and form as elements of art; we learned different techniques for folding paper into three-dimensional forms before creating our own paper sculptures, and learned about the differences between organic and geometric shapes. We also created “Idea Portraits”, inspired by the book, What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada.  Next, we will learn about the concept of notan in Japanese art and design, which seeks to find balance and harmony between light and dark.