Weaving in Winter

Winter weather is here and it is getting cold outside. 8^th grade students learned how to weave this December. Students learned about the various techniques used when weaving and applied those into their art projects. Students amazed me with their dedication to this assignment. I think they really enjoyed it because the classroom was very quiet.

Medicine Shields

November is National Native American Heritage Month. 8^th grade students learned that medicine shields were often created using animal skins. Native Americans then added animal imagery relating to individual personalities. They were believed to bring good health when traveling. Art students researched their spirit animal(s) and then created their own unique medicine shield to display.

Native American drum music

Digital Art

We have been drawing digitally with Google Drawings. My 7th grade students were given the basics and allowed the time to learn Google Drawings. I showed them my Google drawing of a house and then students were required to construct a house with landscaping and other elements. It was a learning curve for many but eventually students were drawing some impressive colorful scenes. Several are timely considering that Halloween is approaching soon. From inside my office I hear many positive comments out in the hallway.

A New Sheet of Drawing Paper

The start of each school year is like a clean sheet of new drawing paper. I look forward to a fresh start each year with new lesson ideas, new students and new art supplies. Opening a new package of brushes and paint colors is always fun too. Twenty frames have been filled with new paintings of ocean animals and they will be on exhibit in the main hallway during September. Students are now collaborating on a legacy mural that will be installed once completed.

The Value of Drawing

These are celebrity portraits drawn by my students in 8th grade. I push them every day to increase the values and introduce them to quality drawing tools. Although some complain they finally admit that they like the end result. They have more confidence at the end of the year and I always enjoy watching students improve. They are on exhibit in our main hallway.

Hot off the Press

These are the first two prints ever to be made on the new printing press. The press was acquired through a grant that I wrote last fall. Students have researched the meaning of sustainability and are creating prints that reflect what they hope to see for our future. Students are looking at their artist’s proofs, signing them and then making adjustments. I look forward to exhibiting these prints together in the town library.

Zoetrope

My students are making zoetropes this week. A zoetrope is an example of a pre-film animation device. This is just one example of many that my students have made. They had to carefully plan each drawing so that the illusion of movement was created. They really enjoyed seeing their ideas come to life. Perhaps some will go on to study film and become future animators.

3D Printing

We now have a 3D pen for printing works of art. The Art Club experimented with it first by creating 3D hearts for Valentine's Day. Stay tuned for more creations as we use this cool technology more in art.

Thinking About Spring

Students are thinking about spring weather and painting colorful watercolor landscapes. Twenty 16 by 20 frames were donated to the art program so these 8th grade paintings will be on exhibit in our main hallway soon. We have some talented painters!