Thursday, April 26, 2012

Amate Paper Painting

My Example

"King Cobra" and since it's a king, it needed a fancy frame says my student.

Horse (and girl- (not sure about the bikini thing going on there)

Lizards
I've been wanting to try this project for some time now, and with TCAP testing in full force this week, I decided to try it with my kiddos as a carrot to keep em' quiet while the testing goes on around us.  We learned a bit about how the paper is made from the Bark of Mulberry or Fig trees, and we looked at some samples.  When we made ours, rather than strip bark from a tree and boil it, we just used brown construction paper- however we did tear the edges to give it a more organic effect.  I only allowed black paint for details/outlining, and I encouraged animals as the subject matter.  I think they are very sweet, and a fun little art project with potential to be a bigger one. This gave me a great opportunity to discuss Positive/Negative space.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Art Show

Our Showcasae- filled with 4th Grade Acrylics

More 4th grade acrylics

More 4th grade Acrylics and the start of the Jungle Banners

3rd grade Jungles (I used banners to display.  Fresh paint/ less tape.

Kindergarten Waterlilies/Bridges

2nd Grade Yarn Paintings

1st Grade woven houses.
We tried something different this year- a combo Art Show/Music Show- a sort of festival of the arts.  Then, the PTO tacked on their Spaghetti Supper/Silent Auction/Bake Sale.  Was not sure how I felt about this- on the one hand, it would bring in lots of people.  On the other- I was hoping for the opportunity for the arts to shine.  Now that it's done, I gotta say, Meh.  It went well, don't get me wrong, but I missed showing off my program.  I missed having a night dedicated completely to the arts.  In some ways, it seemed as if people stumbled across the art show, on their way to the spaghetti supper. And, I spent a lot of time trying to gracefully "shoo" people from leaning on the artwork, because I'm not sure some families realized they were in the midst of an art show.  I am glad we tried it- but, I think in the future, I'll stick with an arts night. Anyway, now that I've ranted- here are some great pics of the wonderful work of my kiddos- I am very pleased with our "Garden" theme, and I did, despite my rant, have some really great conversations with parents. And, I did take the opportunity to set up a laptop outside my room, and had the browser set to our Artsonia- this was a way to show off the work from this year, and perhaps involve families that have yet to jump into Artsonia.

Monday, April 16, 2012

T.O.Y. (Teacher of the Year)

I was expecting the silver elastic, like when I went to Prom- this was a nice beaded bracelet thing.

The plaque, the program, and a fancy leather "trapper keeper" with our district info on it.
I was honored to be named as my school's teacher of the year.  And, tonight was the banquet for our district, meaning I had the pleasure of going to a dinner, where the teachers of the year from each school in our district were treated to a dinner, and given our plaques.  The PTO bought me my corsage (which was lovely and artsy) and I had a rare chance to get dressed up.  It is very rare in my school for a "specialty" teacher to get this award, many do not see what we do as being on the same level with classroom teachers, so I was doubly pleased.  I tried to follow the advice given me by a kindergarten student who said I had to behave myself, and use my manners when attending a party. 

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Tapestries and Coil Pots

Always be careful with student images-in this case, the one face you see is used with permission

A promising coil pot practice
I LOVE my new art room- I have a reading corner for the "littles" with an alphabet mat- sometimes, I spell things out, but mostly, it's just our meeting spot.  I am teaching the 4th graders to weave, and we are weaving tapestries.  I typically teach them how, give them some time to do it, and those who finish are taught to remove it from the loom, and sew it into purses, bags, wallets, etc.  Basically, little pouches.  It gives us a chance to discuss decorative and functional in a very hands on way.  Now, 4th graders can get restless, so I tell them that they can sit where they want, with whomever they choose, as long as they are weaving, and reasonable quiet.  Here are a bunch on the letters, weaving away.   I am also teaching my 2nd graders to make coil pots, and since a couple of classes were a bit ahead, we took the time to practice with modeling clay first- not something I always do, but hopefully, the results will be worth the practice time.  We will make press pots, inside terra-cotta flower pots.  Since I have some very bright students, one way that I plan to differentiate is to teach lids to those who are a bit faster to catch on to the coil pot process.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Art Show is Getting Ever Closer...






Here are a couple finished art show pieces.  They will not however be hanging in our school art show- they will be entered into the Mayor's Art Show hosted by the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.  It is a great opportunity for our students to show off their hard work, and for us art teachers to gather new ideas.  I try very hard not to send the same projects, or the same students' work each year.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

VOTE

OK, here's the deal fellow artists- I decided to embark on a journey to figure out Artsonia this year.  I knew it would be extra work, but I also knew that it would spark good communication with families, it would serve as a digital portfolio so that the students and I could watch their progress, and it would back me up with the occasional parent.  I am loving it!  All that aside, Mr E of Art with Mr E would tell you that I am highly competitive, and love to win.  One of my students is up for the "artist of the week".  He is in the Pre-K-3 category, and he is Caleb from Hermitage TN.  If you have the time, and I'm not up against one of your students, please consider casting your vote.  You can vote daily until Sat.  He and our school would both get a little $$ for art supplies which is always welcome.