Line

Fifth grade is working their way through the Elements of Art. We started off studying types of line. I gave them the choice of two projects but the class was split. So, we did both! 

The students first thought of and drew as many different types of lines as they could. Next, the students used these lines to make a Line Lion.

"A line is a dot that went for a walk" - Paul Klee

The lines were the lion's hair. You can see the one on the bottom row, third from the left, on display in the office now!

For part two of the line study, students learned about the artist, Wassily Kandinsky. They studied his use of line and color (another art element). These paintings turned out beautifully. I think Kandinsky would be proud. (We even painted to music like Kandinsky.)

Our whole "Line" display:

first display of the year!

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.

 

Lines, Lines, and More Lines

All students have been learning about different types of line. Line is one of the seven Elements of Art. All artist use lines to compose works of art. Some are implied, straight, wavy, diagonal, zig zag, and more. Lines are everywhere!

Third through sixth grade made their own Collection of Lines.

First, students brainstormed different types of line. We listed them on the board and drew some with our fingers in the air. Second, I showed the students how to divide their paper into 9 boxes using a ruler. Students divided their paper and then I instructed them that we would fill each box with different types of line to make a collection or museum of line. After all our lines were drawn in pencil, the students went back with crayon and traced over all the lines. Depending on the class, some students painted over their lines with watered down tempera paint (this technique is called a crayon or wax resist) or colored their background a different color than the line with color pencils or crayons. They really turned out beautifully and we all learned one of the 7 elements of design!

Kindergarten through second grade experimented with line in a different way. 

 

Again, we brainstormed ideas on line and drew them in the air. I had cut different lengths and colors of yarn for them to use as their line. Students practiced making different types of line using the yarn on their paper. Once they had time to make different types of line, I showed them the next step: applying liquid starch!

Students then dipped their "line" into liquid starch and arranged them on their paper in different designs and ways. The "lines" dry over night and become hard and stick to the paper. I encouraged them to use as many types of line as they could think of and name them as they went. It was fun for the students to get their hands "dirty" and actually manipulate the yarn into different types of line. It was a great success!