Goodbye March

Where did March go?? I did a horrible job this year's YAM art show.  I did manage to snap a few pictures in progress, but NO pictures at the art show. 

I guess the stress of hanging an art show and taking down in one night was just too much this year!  Ha, but I did enjoy just visiting with students, past and present, and catching up with them and their families.  That is the most important part...right! 

But, I did come across some art show images from a few years ago.  I have lots of great memories from my 17 years of art showing!  And I love how our district art show has changed over the years. 

We have everything from silent auction, and community artist to make it-take it tables and choir and mariachi performances!  It has been a one night only event the past two years, but we pack it with a punch!

You know after teaching for 17 years at the same district, has been so very rewarding.  I bump into old students all the time.  Sometimes I remember their names,  most of the time I just don't.  But, I almost always recognize them.  I'll admit, though, not always immediately.  Hours or days will go by and I will have a flash of that child I just ran into, who is now graduated, and I see them as the 3rd grader they once were.  Not long ago, I was at the local grocery store and a sweet kid came up to me to give me a cart.  He asked me if I was ever an art teacher.  After we started talking, he told me he was always bullied in elementary school, but his best memories of me was sticking up for him on multiple occasions.  That really got to me, and almost had me in tears! 

Sorry to stray so far from the topic of art show, and going down memory lane!!  I think maybe my point is in a round about way (My ADD kicking in for sure!!) put your camera down and sometimes just live in the moment.  Bond with your students and families, it is so very rewarding. 

Amate Paper, Folk Art Paintings

OK, this was kind of a hit and miss projects, I had some turn out really great, some good pieces, and then some that really struggled with this project.  I did this one with second grade, and if I did it all over again, I would try with third or fourth graders.  It was just hard for some kids, drawing big, not mixing colors, don't detail before you get a couple coats, don't paint the whole paper...  This class is pretty mature for second grade, so I wanted to challenge them.  Some definitely did beautiful work, but hard to manage with large class size.   I'll try in a couple years with third grade.  However, here are a few that successfully completed their project.

This lesson stretched over about 5 weeks, way too long, and many are still not done.  We have taken a break for now and we will revisit our unfinished work in May.

These are painted with fluorescent tempera paint and outlined with black sharpie.

Longhorn

Ahh, the Texas Longhorn, it is a majestic animal.  It is one of those animals, that when our family is driving through a rural area of Texas and we spot one, everyone of us gets excited.   You don't see one everyday, but your always on the lookout.  During my pinterest hunt over the summer, I came across an artist that did a wonderful abstract Longhorn. While I checked out his etsy site, it seems to be long gone.  Here is his site, if you'd like to check out his other work.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/58014629/original-art-painting-longhorn-by-bryan

While these really don't look anything like his work, is inspired the use of color in our Longhorn interpretations.

And, interestingly enough, it looks like Beth Carter and myself are studying the same subject.  Great minds think alike!  Go on over to It is Art Day! 

http://itisartday.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-little-value-study-with-connection-to.html  and check it out!

Cherry Blossoms at Sunset

I am getting a bit behind these days.  So much to do and so little time.  With YAM quickly approaching and our district show, which is also the same week as our school leadership day.  Both events requiring special attention and displayed artwork, I feel a bit overwhelmed.  But, enough of that.  I want to show off these little beauties from my third graders, our cherry blossom trees at sunset.  These were a three day project with one day set aside for watercoloring the background, a day to draw out the tree and color (they also added grass and leaves to the tree if they wanted), and one day to add the blossoms.  I showed them several ways they could do the cherry blossoms and let them choose how they wanted to finish out this project.  

This youngin' decided that she preferred the back of her watercolor paper better, how the colors bleed through the back.  I think she was right, it made for a more interesting picture.

Metal Trees 2014-15

This post is short and sweet.  I just wanted to share a few of my metal trees from this year.  It is one of the projects that I do yearly.  If you have missed my previous post on this project, here is the link back from last year. Metal Embossed Trees

Artist Mash-up with Pollock and Mondrian

I am wrapping up this lesson with my 3rd graders and I love it!!  This past summer, I started dreaming up possibilities for artist mash up lessons. This seemed to be the best pair up, of the options I came up with.  While I am still going to try out the others, I went ahead with this one, and it's a keeper for sure.  

We looked at art works from both artist Jackson Pollock and Piet Mondrian.  We had some great discussions about the two artist.  And of course, I love the responses to both artist.  I CAN do that!  

Enthusiasm is always welcome.  

We started by using primary color blocks and painting them up Pollock style.  And, if you haven't tried this with your kids, you must.  Although it can be very messy and yes, sometimes marbles get air time....small price to pay for an engaging lesson.  If you are very stuctured with the lesson, every one can paint all three colors, with minimal mess.  I used my online timer.  Students were paired up with a tray.  I would give them one minute to prep their supplies.  Then, they had a two minute roll time.  When the timer sounded, those students walked their work to the drying rack, while the other partner put the used marbles back, got their paper ready, and added their marbles. It worked beautifully for all classes and we had around 10 minutes clean up time (50 minute class time).

Day two, we got out our rulers and talked about vertical and horizontal lines.  I had them start by making one line on the first color, two lines on the 2nd and 3 on the third.  They cut these apart and this gave them a variety of sizes.  They picked out their favorite 6-9 pieces and start to arrange their colors.  

Once they evaluate their arrangement, glue was applied. 

Day three, we use the black strips to outline the shapes.  I ask that where they could, find places where they can stretch the black lines between shapes to create white space shapes.

I think they turned out lovely and all the kids were successful!  They are already asking to do it again.  Win for me, because I got to talk to them about two great artist in one lesson.

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                      

                                       

                                         

The Mighty

The Mighty is a site that features stories of families with children of disabilities.  My husband, Greg, is currently sharing our story, on his blog, On Loving Lucy.  His most recent post is featured today on The Mighty, please share with anyone who might want to read.  I know, that when we were newly diagnosed with Down Syndrome and an AV Canal I couldn't read enough.  I wanted to connect with someone going through the same thing.  I wanted to hear the good, the bad, the funny, all of it.