Kindergarten: Jackson Pollock Hands On Painting

Student’s began this project by analyzing samples of Jackson Pollock’s work.  They identified the lines in the painting based on a previous line study they had completed the week before.  Students then learned that Pollock painted his line drawings by throwing paint on large canvases on the ground.  In order to create similar style artwork, kindergarteners were given a plastic tray with different four different colors of paint.  Each cup of paint had a marble placed in it.  Students put their paper in the tray, used a spoon to place the paint-covered marbles in the tray, and then rocked the tray side to side.  This motion guided the marbles across their canvases, each one creating a unique design.

Kindergarten: Primary Colors Mondrian Collage

Kindergarteners began this project by looking at some of Mondrian’s paintings. They looked in depth at Broadway Boogie Woogie and discussed how abstract art can make a viewer think of different things. They created the collage by cutting out different sized squares and rectangles from colored construction paper and layered them on top of each other. They finished by dipping craft sticks in black paint and adding black lines on top.

Grade Four: Mixed Media Winter Birch Tree Landscapes

Fourth Graders began their exploration of Birch Trees with a discussion about the natural beauty of things that we find in nature.  We decided that things like, waterfalls, animals, fields and sunsets were things that were naturally beautiful.  Then, we began our quest to capture the natural beauty of these objects in our artwork, like many famous artists have done before us!  We began with a resist out of tag board to cover the bottom on our snowy landscapes.  Then, the students used oil pastels to blend their skies, using warm and cool colors, adding suns, moons and fences to make it their own.  The trees were done on a separate piece of paper using a “dry” brush technique with cardboard and black paint.  When the trees dried they were attached to our background.  At this point our fourth graders had a discussion on light sources and shadows, they were then in charge of determining where the light source was in their picture, and where the shadows would be.  Finally, the students used a flicking technique to add falling snow to their pieces.  The students learned a lot, and put a lot of work into these pieces, but they were so pleased with the end result!

Grade 3: Chinese Dragons

Third grade began this project by looking at ancient Chinese dragon depictions (paintings, prints, clothing etc.). They discussed the difference between western and eastern understandings of dragons and learned about myths.  We then did a guided drawing in our sketchbooks to practice our skills.  Once third graders were satisfied with their drawings, they transferred them onto larger paper.  Using thin and thick sharpies students inked in their details.  Finally, The painting began.  Students mixed colors in a plastic palette to personalize each dragon, we then added hints of sparkle with glitter watercolor.

Grade 5: Linear Perspective Cityscapes

The fifth graders learned all about drawing in one point perspective. They had an introduction to the concept in their first class when they drew their names in one point perspective block letters. They transferred the skills they learned from this small project to a bigger area and began designing their own cityscape. After drawing one side of the street with buildings, the students had the freedom to draw whatever they wanted on the other side. They finished the drawing by painting with watercolors.

Grade 1: Kandinsky Circle Study

Students began this project by looking at Wassily Kandinsky’s Color Study of Circles in Squares.  They discussed the colors and shapes that they found in the painting.  They then learned how to create concentric circles, or circles that go around each other.  The students were then given a paper divided into 12 squares and water souable oil pastels.  First and second graders dipped their pastels into water, then began making circles inside the squares.  It was our attempt to replicate the same study that Kandinsky did.

Wassily Kandinsky, Color Study, Squares with Concentric Circles

First and Second Grade Color Studies: