Van Gogh's Sunflowers
October 2019
Snowy Landscapes
December 2017
Royal Self-Portraits
April 2017
1st graders created "Royal Self-Portraits!" This lesson covered so many standards: weaving, mixing paint, collage, patterns, and so much more! The results are simply magnificent!! :)
Valentine Relief Sculptures
February 2017
Vincent van Gogh Still Life
October 2016
1st graders have been busy learning about Vincent van Gogh, and we were especially inspired by his still life poppy painting! We covered a lot of concepts in this lesson, including how to mix a tint with paint, symmetry vs. asymmetry, and organic vs. geometric shapes!
Student Artwork
Outrageous Owls
September 2016
Welcome back to a new school year! My wonderful 1st graders have made these beautiful owl artworks! We have reviewed key art elements and principles, like line, color, shape, and pattern. Students were introduced to a new color scheme, called Neutral colors. We analyzed the colors of most owl feathers, and came to the conclusion that they consist of black, white, brown, gray---these are the neutral colors!
Monet's Garden
March 2016
Students have viewed and discussed the artwork of Claude Monet. What did he love to paint? What kind of brushstrokes do you think he used? We have recreated Monet's unique painting style from his water garden artworks. Students have mixed paint colors to create an artwork that mimics Impressionism. The final touch was adding our unique details, using oil pastels!
Student Artwork
Warm and Cool Cityscapes
February 2016
1st graders have created their own cityscapes with emphasis on overlapping techniques. How can I show that a building is near or far? Overlapping is a great way to show depth in an artwork. Students learned to identify and describe an architect as an artist, as well as how to draw using a ruler. The final touch was to add a warm or cool color scheme with watercolors.
Student Artwork
Vincent van Gogh Landscapes
January 2015
Students have just learned about the world-famous artist, Vincent van Gogh! We talked about how certain colors can have various feelings. Cool colors can be sad, or calming. Warm colors can be happy and exciting! Students discussed how Vincent van Gogh paints landscapes with emphasis on lines. He puts lines everywhere! Spiral lines in the sky! Diagonal lines on the hills, wavy lines in the water. Students recreated his style by creating a watercolor landscape painting with warm and cool colors!
Student Artwork
Laurel Burch Pinch Pot Cats
December 2015
Students have just completed their clay unit! We learned about the fun, Folk Artist, Laurel Burch. You may recognize her artwork because it features cool cats, and it is printed on common fabric patterns and paper designs. Laurel Burch is a noted Folk Artist, and she paints very bright, colorful cat paintings. We created cats too, but with clay. Students learned how to create their own cat sculpture with various clay pinching techniques. The final touch was to add some colorful paint!
Student Artwork
Hundertwasser Trees
October 2015
Friedensreich Hundertwasser was an imaginative painter from Vienna, Austria. He loved to draw and paint the world around him, but in a more unique, creative way. Students recreated his fun style with his trademark "lollipop trees." We really studied tints for this lesson. Students mixed their own tints (a tint is a light color) with paint, and they focused on primary and secondary color schemes. How colorful!!
Student Artwork
Outrageous Owls
September 2015
First graders have just completed their artworks for our fundraiser. We have analyzed and discussed several different species of owls and their habitats. Each species looks a little different and features different colors within the NEUTRAL color scheme. Students really focused on craftsmanship with watercolor paint for this unit. I think they turned out beautiful!
Student Artwork
Welcome to 1st Grade!
August 2015
For the first two weeks, 1st graders are reviewing rules and safety procedures in the art room. We have read the fun book, "Beautiful Oops," and discussed it's meaning---when you make a mistake, think of it as an opportunity to make something beautiful!!
We have started our first painting of the year, called "Whistling Lines!" Students are using paint and oil pastel to demonstrate the various lines as wind and sound waves exiting our mouths as we whistle! They are adorable!
We have started our first painting of the year, called "Whistling Lines!" Students are using paint and oil pastel to demonstrate the various lines as wind and sound waves exiting our mouths as we whistle! They are adorable!