How do you say "art" in Australian?

For the sixth grade curriculum, we are traveling around the world with art. Our first stop was in Australia. The students first heard stories of the Dreamtime (the Aboriginal creation stories) told by real Aboriginal people. To better understand these stories and the culture of the Aborginal people, the students learned some of the symbols they used in their artwork called bark paintings. They also looked and analyzed some contemporary works. After sketching their ideas for their own stories, students set to work painting in the style of the Aborigines. 

Next, students listened to music of the didgeridoo and watched a didgeridoo being made out of a hollowed out tree. In pairs, the students worked together to make their own painted didgeridoo. They used symbols, patterns, and animals found in Aboriginal artwork.

Their artwork is displayed proudly in the hallway:

ps. The Aborigines do not have a word for art. It is their way of life!

8th Grade Fun

The last few weeks of school can be stressful, especially for 8th graders. So, to take the focus off of final exams, anxiety for the big high school, and longing for summer, we did a couple of light hearted projects.

Flying Pigs!

kindergarteners loving the pigs!

Circle Painting

Good luck in high school!

Loads of Art!

After spring break, the end of the year came fast. Here are some projects completed by all grades:

Wayne Thiebaud inspired desserts by 5th grade (3rd and 4th also did this project):

and by Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades:

Color Wheel Tints and Shades by 6th grade:

Grades 5th-8th watched a couple of videos on stars and the universe, drew and brainstormed star shapes and why they look the way they do, and viewed paintings of stars/night scenes for this Van Gogh's Starry Night project. Each grade had their own take on the subject. These really turned out BEAUTIFULLY!

8th grade paintings:

7th grade oil pastel:

6th grade silhouettes:

5th Grade chalk and oil pastels:

Kindergarten through 2nd grade blasted off with rockets!

Jim Dine for Valentine's

I have been saving these lessons for elementary classes all year!

Finally, it was the perfect time of year... Valentine's Day.

For these lessons, the students studied pop artist, Jim Dine. Dine painted common objects such as clothing, tools, and for our inspiration: hearts!

Here are the results...

Kindergarten through 2nd grade:

3rd and 4th grade:

We used a variety of processes with paint, glue, and oil pastels. 

They make me so happy!

Time to Catch Up!

Whew! It has been a busy past couple of months! 

But now, it is time to catch up!

5th grade spooked us all with these "Spooky Trees":

 

Learning to draw a more realistic trees is one of my "things" for art. Most students (and adults too) draw what I call "ice cream trees": rectangle trunk, fluffy top. So, I have made it my mission at Corner School to eliminate "ice cream trees"!

 

We started this drawing with a tree drawing lesson. We discussed the anatomy of the tree and also some objects that are spooky. Students then choose some spooky objects to accompany their tree and did a rough draft or sloppy copy before executing their final drawing.

Students covered all their pencil lines with black oil pastel and added color with watered down tempera. We also used this time to review on cool and warm colors and composition.

These drawings were displayed outside of the lunch room.

 

Tree of Life

The 6th grade students were inspired by Gustav Klimt’s Tree of Life painting. The students noticed how Klimt drew the branches of the tree and recognized where he took inspiration from mosaics and gold leafing. They practiced sketching rough drafts, mixing colors, and their painting technique.

The students outlined their drawings with crayon and then painted over them tempera paint. I think they turned out gorgeous!