Mixed Media Collages...
The kids had to pick their own topic and their own mediums (media) and create a collage. The only rules: there had to be at least 3 layers, at least 3 different materials and they had to include letters (text/type). Also, they had to show an attention to the Elements of Design (at least Balance, Line, Texture and Color) that they will be able to discuss in an artist's statement when complete. The students could pick whatever art techniques they most enjoyed...painting, collage, drawing, printmaking, sculpture... to go on their canvas. [...more to come soon...]
Printmaking...
The 7/8th graders created these prints from carving their design into a rubber printing block. The goal was to focus on using at least some of the elements of design - Balance. Line. Color. Texture. After printing their first color, they had to carve away more of the rubber block and then print over it in a second color. Congrats to Nathan and Natalie whose prints are now hanging in the Seattle Art Museum!
Japanese Cherry Blossom art.
Inspired by all the blooming Cherry Blossom trees outside, the kids painted these blossoms after first creating the branch by blowing black ink with a straw...(not so easy). They finished them off with their own printed red "chop".
RRRecycle Owls...
Considering that art can be found in everyday objects, the 7/8th graders created these owls in the style of illustrations found on a Kleenex box! In an attempt to utilize materials on their way to the garbage, they illustrated on old sheet music from Mrs. Goldstein which gave the pieces an extra layer of interest. Color was added with watercolors and watercolor pencils.
PEACE.
7th & 8th graders did a lesson in typography and balance to created these cool "peace" illustrations. They used colored pencil and watercolor and were pushed to make sure their work had an even (balanced) use of dark squares that jumped out and lighter squares that were more subtle.
We started the year with still life studies and will continue all year with still lifes, sketching and contour line drawing. This was a pen and ink contour line drawing of simple, everyday forms. (I'm so sorry about the horizontal format!!)
A fun - "warm up" - project was an oil pastel lizard on black paper where we discussed contrast and experimented with layers of pastel. -Sept.12
Degas-inspired Impressionist style painting.
We discussed the loose painting of Impressionists - specifically the grandfather of Impressionism, Degas. The kids brought in action photos and painted them on an acetate overlay. Unfortunately, the acrylic paint began to peel away from the plastic. I photographed this cool one by Alan before the crumbling began!
- Oct 2012
- Oct 2012
The kids used repurposed plastic bags to create papier mache pumpkins that they either painted or finished with tissue collage. -Oct. 12