Winter Watercolors

My 8^th grade students painted winter scenes using watercolors. Students were reminded to include a foreground, middle and background. I also demonstrated how snow can be shown by using the white of the paper and with shadows. Their paintings are currently on exhibit at the Locust, NC Library until February. Merry Christmas! Have a Happy New Year!

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month and my students created art to celebrate. Some of my 8^th grade students are of Native American ancestry and they enjoyed this project. Over twenty frames were recently donated to the art program and I changed out the exhibit in our main hall today. It was an optional work day today so I worked and got the art ready for November. I also enjoy this annual celebration. My father’s side of our family has connections to the Choctaw.

Locker Shocker

It is getting close to Halloween so 8th grade students were required to create art that looked similar to their lockers.  They were encouraged to consider what would be shocking to find inside a locker.  It might be scary or perhaps it might be a pleasant surprise.  Art was created on the folding door of the locker as well as inside the paper.  Students enjoyed seeing what their classmates created and this image displays only a few of the fifty that were created.  There are more on exhibit throughout the school and viewers are encouraged to stop and open the paper lockers.

Color Theory

I like to start the semester off with a lesson on color. We talk about Sir Isaac Newton's original color "circle" that he designed as well as the year and century that he made it. Students then create an interesting and accurate color wheel. A pre and post test is also given and that can be downloaded free here.

Welcome back to art!

Hello and welcome back to art!

 

I enjoy teaching art.  At the beginning of every class 

I make sure that I say "Welcome back to art". 

 When I was young my first art class was in an art museum workshop and I enjoyed that positive learning environment.  That's why 

I try to create a similar environment for my students.  In my art room I expect students to be respectful to everyone and this allows them to bravely try new art making techniques.  All while getting constant encouragement.  It was a relaxing summer break and I'm looking forward to another year of teaching art. Welcome back to art!

8th Grade Pottery

8th grade students used the new pottery wheel to make bowls. Students then glazed their bowls according to their favorite colors. One of the most popular glaze colors this year has been Amber. It can be seen on the bottom right side of this photo along with a few others in this photo.

Gargoyles

The seventh grade recently visited Asheville, North Carolina. Students were instructed to observe the various types of gargoyles on the exterior of the Biltmore Estate. Once back in the classroom, students learned about the history of gargoyles. They were allowed to build either a grotesque face, chimera, or a true gargoyle which must allow water to pass through. They will glaze their gargoyles with color and then be fired inside the kiln.

Drawing portraits

My eighth grade art students learned about the grayscale and how to use multiple values to draw a realistic portrait. Students were allowed to draw themselves or choose a celebrity for this assignment. The grid process was used along with an 8 by 10 photograph. The paper size for this project was 16 by 20 and students worked on this major project for two weeks.

ARTalympics

This was our third year participating in the ARTalympics. Below are some examples of student works of art. Out of eleven middle schools competing we received two 1st place trophies,  several 2nd place, several 3rds and also some 4th and 5th place awards. Each school was represented by no more than twenty students. I'm proud of every student that competed and we are already practicing for next year.

Draw with an eraser

Seventh grade students learned how to draw using the reduction method. It is also known as the subtraction method. In this process students first use vine charcoal to cover their paper. When this step is completed students begin drawing with their erasers. Students were seen using their pencil erasers, caps, pink pearls, and even kneaded erasers.  Chalk was also an option for making highlights and charcoal can be reapplied. A piece of tape applied before starting makes a nice border once the artwork is finished.

Symmetrical art

This art lesson focused on the principle of design known as balance. Students discussed the meaning of symmetry and where this happens in nature. The discussion evolved around insects and led to further discussion regarding the differences and similarities between insects and arachnids. Students were then asked to write their name in cursive or to at least print their name legibly on folded paper. This paper was then held to the classroom window while the opposite side was traced. Once unfolded students were encouraged to use their imagination and create art that resembles an insect or arachnid based on their name. My two sixth grade classes had fun trying to determine which student created the art!