3RD GRADE: PANAMA MOLAS

3rd graders learned about Molas in art class. Molas are brightly colored fabric pieces that are sewn onto clothing in Panama as decoration. The fabric is stitched together in layers to created colored line patterns. Most molas have subjects such as animals and nature. Students chose their subject and got to work on theses beautiful pieces.

6TH GRADE: ILLUMINATED LETTERS

3RD GRADE: NAVAJOWEAVING

After watching a video about Master Navajo weavers from Southwestern USA, students were eager to begin weaving with yarn.

To start weaving on their loom, students had to first add their warp yarns. These yarns run from top to bottom.

After these were on, they began weaving their weft yarns which run left to right. Students had to practice a plain weave for their first 2 color choices. This weave is just the basic over one under one pattern.

 After they got the hang of the basics, I showed them how to add beads, tie on loops and use other materials such as ribbon and raffia to weave.

When they were finished with their weaving they learned to take the weaving off the loom by cutting and tying, 2 at a time,  the warp strings at the bottom.

The loops at the top of the weaving can simply be slipped off of the notches. Students could trim their long weft yarns if desired or add beads to the fringes!

2ND GRADE: STARRY NIGHT

 2nd grade students were very excited to do a lesson on the painting by Vincent van Gogh- most of the students already knew what it was called! We used the site GOOGLE ART PROJECT to view close up shots of the The Starry Night. They were really amazed to see the painting so close!

To get started the students began by drawing the moon, stars and the wind. Next they outlined the drawing with black Sharpie

Next students used oil pastels to color in the stars and moon.  Now it was time to add the wind and sky with van Gogh's signature tiny lines!

Bold sky's were created with liquid watercolor.

The bush, mountains and houses were drawn and cut out of a black piece of paper and embellished with silver Sharpies and Gel Markers.

To learn more about van Gogh please visit http://www.vangoghgallery.com/

2nd GRADE: LASCAUX CAVE PAINTINGS

 

2ND GRADE: KLIMT TREE OF LIFE PRINTS

 Students began the lesson looking at and discussing Gustav Klimt's Tree of Life artwork. They talked about the characteristic swirls at the end of the branches and all the patterns on the tree. The process of printmaking was also discussed, which is one of the techniques the students will learn. The 1st step of the lesson was to create a background to print on. Students learned about the wet-on-wet watercolor technique, which is the process of wetting the paper before watercolor is applied. This technique caused the colors to "bleed" onto the paper and into one another creating a beautiful effect. This 12x18 paper would be cut in half so that the students could pull 2 prints.

The next step was to create a sketch of their interpretation of Klimt's tree on manila paper. The manila paper was then taped to a piece of printing foam. The students used a dull pencil and enough pressure to trace over their sketch, which transferred to the foam.

Students then had to re-trace over their drawing on the foam to create a deeper impression in it to ensure that their drawing would print well.

Students worked in groups at the tables to pull prints of their drawing. This process involves inking their foam plate with a roller called a brayer. The ink will only go on the raised surface, not the deep pencil lines that were made. The students had so much fun doing this!!

Next, students took their inked foam plate and their watercolor paper to the opposite side of the table to print their drawing onto the watercolor paper they made. Students had to rub hard on all areas of the foam to make sure that all of the ink transferred.It was so exciting to see all of their smiling faces when they pulled the foam off of to reveal their artwork!!

          This is a photo of the steps of the printing process: sketch, foam & 2 prints.
  

Here are a few example of the finished prints!!

For more information on Gustav Klimt visit: http://www.klimtgallery.org/