Expression through Art is PERFECTION

Mexican Folk Art

In this lesson we're covering bark paintings, ceramics, Oaxacan wood carvings, Day of the Dead (dia de las muertes), serapes and huichol yarn painting. The production is a bit daunting for younger children. The adults testing this out were a bit tested as we attempted to make sharp corners out of yarn.  We're opting to purchase wikistiks or Bendaroos for the younger ones to allow them to have more success.

The goal is to teach them about warm and cool colors as well as the entire Mexican folk art culture and traditions.  We don't need them melting down over glue on their fingers and yarn that won't stay put.

Download folkart-k-2-001.pdf (1337.7K)

Download folkart-3-5-001.pdf (1337.7K)

 

 

National Gallery of Art - NGAKids Online

http://www.nga.gov/kids/kids.htm - Great interactive projects kids can do online from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

The Art Zone is the National Gallery of Art’s kids outreach efforts, and WOW, what a resource! This collection of Shockwave and Flash-powered applets will challenge, amuse, entertain and engage young artists (and the curious!) for hours. From a do-it-yourself Still Life creator to Brushter (MS Paint? Pshaw!) to JUNGLE (who needs KidPix?) to my favorites, Collage Machine and Collage Machine II, these tools belong in every teacher’s bookmarks collection for their ease of use, ability to inspire, and opportunities for learning!

This is the main site: http://www.nga.gov/education/index.shtm

Gold Paper Mache Eggs and Carl Faberge

Today's project went well!  We had a couple of hiccups - substitute teacher, my daughter was home sick, my husband was with her. Plan B - VERY helpful, wonderful students that made it so enjoyable.  The photos were taken by the students after they finished their projects.  I think they liked the camera as much as making the eggs.

Peter Carl Fabergé 1846 - 1920

This one is our most expensive project per child, which suprised us all until we realized we've been so great at using scraps, recycled materials, etc. up to this point.  This may be about $1.50 per child to pull off.  We are very excited to do a three-dimensional project as we learn about Peter Carl Fabergé. Peter Carl Fabergé (1846-1920), Russian court jeweler to Tsar Alexander III and his consort, Marie Fedorovna, and to Tsar Nicholas II and Alexandra Fedorovna, created Easter eggs and objets d’art from 1885-1918. It is estimated the House of Fabergé in St. Petersburg and other Russian cities, with a sales branch in London, created some 250,000 decorative objects. The famous Easter eggs and other Fabergé objects in museums and private collections worldwide are seen in permanent and traveling exhibitions. Objects for sale may be purchased from reputable dealers or leading auction houses. For more biographical details about the House of Fabergé see Lowes and McCanless, Fabergé Eggs: A Retrospective Encyclopedia, 2001.

Faith Ringgold Project - Fabric, why not?

Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching 2nd graders about Faith Ringgold.  This came on the back of some great lessons they've had about famous African Americans who made a difference in the lives of all.  They lit up realizing that she incorporated some of these famous people into her paintings.

In keeping with the artist's medium, I decided that a paper quilt wasn't going to cut it.  I picked up some inexpensive muslin ($2.99 covered the entire class) and cut up scraps of colorful fabrics I had in a tub.

Rangoli Art Project a Success in 2nd Grade!

We had a great time with this project.  Rangoli art is so colorful and pastels are a lot of fun to create with on paper. Some children opted out of the jewels and sand, but most used all materials provided. They all really enjoyed the texture of the pastels.  We'll be cutting these out after the glue dries and will mount on colorful paper.  It was helpful to have the large images in the previous post to show the children.  We sailed through the script and just highlighted the art forms, life in India and how even with such diverse religions, they all seem to agree that Rangoli is a great way to celebrate any special occasion.

Art and Religion are One in India

The project for November is all about India.  We are covering the three major religions and how it ties to the art and architecture of this country.  This plan is long because of how much we cover.

Helpful links for terms, symbolism and history:

Symbolic Explanation of the Historical Evolution of Indian Religion

Rangoli projects for children 

Frederic Remington and the Clay Horse Project

The artist of the month is Frederic Remington.  I'm still working on linking the slides and will add them here soon.  For now, here is the course and production piece instructions for K-2. I don't have the 3-8 because - well, I don't teach that one. If someone else scans it in for me, I'll add it to this listing.
Download remington_k-2.pdf (4061.8K)

Dale Chihuly Inspired Project for Students

I spent part of my morning at our daughter's elementary school. I've volunteered for the art/lit coordinator position.  I'm so glad I did.  I had the privilege today of teaching the children about a somewhat local artist that is a favorite, Dale Chihuly.

Hokusai Production - scratchboard landscapes

To go along with the Hokusai course, today we showed the slides and taught the first-graders about Hokusai.  They loved the stories about his life and how he actually drew birds in flight on grains of rice.  The production piece used a 1/4 sheet of scratchboard paper - like the old India ink over paper.  They children had a short burnishing stick - pointed like a skewer.  We gave them a scrap for practice before we gave them the larger piece.  This was smart.