Texture-ful Trees!

First grade students used a ton of texture in these tree collages.  Texture rubbing/watercolor resist background, hand trees using crayon to create an implied bark texture, and the real texture of tissue paper leaves.

Painting our Bike Puzzle

We talked about positive space, negative space, primary colors, secondary colors, and complementary color pairs.

Recent Owl Obsession...

How can I help it? They are so cute!!
The first graders' art homework is to go home and teach someone else how to draw these owls.

Owl Collage

It took me forever to find the original source for the adorable owl I saw on Pinterest, but I finally found her!  Susan Black created these ridiculously cute collages, which are the inspiration for a Kindergarten lesson. 

We looked at Van Gogh's Starry Night, talked about background/foreground, shape, letter formation (our owls are made using the letters U, O, B, D, V, A)... this project is chock-full of learning.

Game Time!

I have been so inspired by the Roll-a-Miro game that another art teacher pinned on Pinterest.

What a fun way to incorporate a little art appreciation into the art room.

My newest version is Roll-a-Picasso.
I have a visual library of cubist portraits painted by Picasso.  Students are able to look at these images and find the 'parts' they see in the game.

We haven't played it yet, can't wait!

A similar game that we have been playing is Create-a-Creature - the kids love the randomness, and I love that the roll of the dice takes a lot of the fear out of getting started.

(It is a great activity for days when there is a substitute teacher in the art room)

Shadow Tracing

3rd grade students trace the shadow of a bike in preparation for a painting project.


Each student traces one section of the shadow.  Later everyone will get their piece of the shadow, and will paint it. Not only will students be learning about collaboration, color theory, and positive/negative space, but this is going to look SO COOL when it is finished!  Can't wait to paint! 

Sculpture Sited!

The sculpture our students created with Pam Dennis and Ryk Weiss has found a home.  Look for it next time you walk or drive by Aurora Park.

Funding was provided for our artists' residency and our materials through the Iowa Arts Council, donations through Donor's Choose, City-Wide PTA, NCEF, and the Arts Connection.  A big thank you to Newton Parks and Recreation for giving our sculpture a home, and getting our site ready.

DIY shrink film

First Graders did the most amazing project

with the simplest materials

if you have any #6 plastic drink cups around

(check the little recycling symbol on the bottom of the cup)

and some sharpies...

or colored pencils....

and an oven...

then you are in business!  

Just decorate your cup however you would like...(I cut them into pieces first) 

An important tip - if you want it to be something that you will hang from a wire or string, punch your hole BEFORE you shrink it

Then pop them in the oven @ 350 for just a minute or so....

......this is the coolest thing to watch.....

once they quit moving, they are done -

I have pretty much no feeling in my fingertips,

so I gently straighten out any warped pieces with my fingers -

you will probably want a popsicle stick, fork, tweezers...

some type of simple tool to uncurl any that don't flatten out on their own.

When they cool, you'll have a cool little trinket to wear as a charm,

hang as an ornament.... whatever!

This is a small plastic portion cup

(make sure it's #6 plastic!)