It's great to be back into our regular after school art program. We love it when we hear the kids say, "It's so good to be home!" That's how we feel too! Summer is fun but we really love the familiarity of our "once a week studio kids family". They mention that they feel comfortable and that warms our hearts, because it really is their studio. In today's fast paced techno world, it's great to just sit down and be creative with the basic art materials. Having said that, we have been learning A LOT!
Here's the recap of September's themed Monster projects and our goals. We are getting ready for our Annual Halloween ART SHOW!
All of our lessons this month have been designed to teach and review all the Elements of Design; Line, Shape, Form, Value, Space, Texture and Color.
We have even jumped into the Principles of Balance, Unity and Pattern.
Here's the recap of September's themed Monster projects and our goals. We are getting ready for our Annual Halloween ART SHOW!
All of our lessons this month have been designed to teach and review all the Elements of Design; Line, Shape, Form, Value, Space, Texture and Color.
We have even jumped into the Principles of Balance, Unity and Pattern.
Charcoal Monsters
A Study in Line, Shape, Form and Value
Our first project we started working on was our shape monsters. This project is a great review for the students to use line to create their own shape for their monster.
I walked them through many choices, what is your main shape, does it have eyes, arms, nose, ears, etc.? As I walked them through the choices they needed to make, they drew what they wanted their monster to look like. Some of us have a very hard time with that blank piece of paper. So if they were stuck, they were told they could use monsters they knew for inspiration, but were told not to copy. Even the great art masters, were inspired by others but we still try to make it our own.
After our monster was drawn, charcoal was added to create more of a form (a 3-d shape) through shading. It's so fun to get messy! However, as you have seen, all the students are responsible for their own clean-up and I must say you have taught them well! They love to clean! BRAVO PARENTS!!! Ok, so maybe they don't always clean their room but they always clean their mess at the studio. They really are all such wonderful young people and you should be applauded for your hard work in raising them:)
A Study in Line, Shape, Form and Value
Our first project we started working on was our shape monsters. This project is a great review for the students to use line to create their own shape for their monster.
I walked them through many choices, what is your main shape, does it have eyes, arms, nose, ears, etc.? As I walked them through the choices they needed to make, they drew what they wanted their monster to look like. Some of us have a very hard time with that blank piece of paper. So if they were stuck, they were told they could use monsters they knew for inspiration, but were told not to copy. Even the great art masters, were inspired by others but we still try to make it our own.
After our monster was drawn, charcoal was added to create more of a form (a 3-d shape) through shading. It's so fun to get messy! However, as you have seen, all the students are responsible for their own clean-up and I must say you have taught them well! They love to clean! BRAVO PARENTS!!! Ok, so maybe they don't always clean their room but they always clean their mess at the studio. They really are all such wonderful young people and you should be applauded for your hard work in raising them:)
Monster in the City
A Study in Value and Space
Our Monster in the City painting/drawing was an opening lesson on learning how to mix paint and create different values (shades). It's always good to teach and re-teach the basics of mixing colors. Black and white are the most dramatic to show the effects that one strong color can have over another color. I know technically white and black aren't considered colors but they are very effective teaching tools.
Students were asked to mix different values (shades) of gray using a lot of white and only a little black. Some students were very careful and went slow and were able to achieve many values. Those who went fast learned quickly that you will only end up with one value and will ask for more paint. It's a very good lesson on taking your time and going slow.
We then went into a lesson on shading with charcoal. Again, patience in outlining the buildings and adding the windows using those fine motor skills was stressed. However, some of us still like to race through our work. That's ok, we are all working on patience and slowing down and enjoying the moment of art. So, the students often her me say, "slow down".
When your an art teacher you just love every one of your students work, because the art truly reflects who they are and where they are at that moment in time.
A Study in Value and Space
Our Monster in the City painting/drawing was an opening lesson on learning how to mix paint and create different values (shades). It's always good to teach and re-teach the basics of mixing colors. Black and white are the most dramatic to show the effects that one strong color can have over another color. I know technically white and black aren't considered colors but they are very effective teaching tools.
Students were asked to mix different values (shades) of gray using a lot of white and only a little black. Some students were very careful and went slow and were able to achieve many values. Those who went fast learned quickly that you will only end up with one value and will ask for more paint. It's a very good lesson on taking your time and going slow.
We then went into a lesson on shading with charcoal. Again, patience in outlining the buildings and adding the windows using those fine motor skills was stressed. However, some of us still like to race through our work. That's ok, we are all working on patience and slowing down and enjoying the moment of art. So, the students often her me say, "slow down".
When your an art teacher you just love every one of your students work, because the art truly reflects who they are and where they are at that moment in time.
Paper Mache Monsters
A Study in Form, Color, Texture, Balance, Unity, Pattern and Patience:)
Ah, onto our paper mache monsters, we have already fallen in love with all of our creations! It's nice to hear the kids talk to their monster and tell them that they "love them", that's good for everyone's self esteem.
Paper mache is such a lesson of patience, because it requires so many layers of paper to make it strong and then so many layers of paint to make it wonderful. Our monsters will take us about 4-5 classes before they are done. It really is a lot of fun to watch the metamorphosis of a balloon become the fantastic monster of a child's imagination.
So, having said all that, our monsters are in different stages in each class but they will all be ready for the Monsterz ART SHOW. Watch for them to invade our front window space. Many people stop by to see when they will be there, so BEWARE THEY ARE COMING!!!
Clay Monster Plates and Sculptures
A Study in Form and Technique
(sorry no pix for this one)
One of my favorite mediums is clay and thankfully it's the kids too! So far, we have made clay plates with monster sculptures on them, but they are not glaze fired yet. We were lucky to not have any explosions on our bisque (first) firing. YAY!
This week we will try to get to glazing all our clay masterpieces, so I can get to the long glaze firing process. The kids love to hear that I am going to set their project "on fire". All our ceramic pieces are low fire, meaning we fire to 1888 degrees in about a 12 hour timeframe. You will be glad to know that all of our glazes and materials are LEAD FREE AP NON-TOXIC, dishwasher, microwave and oven safe. So, go ahead eat your spaghetti and meatballs right off of that monster plate! Our plan is to have all the monster plates ready for our VIP artist's for them to use for their treats at the Monsterz ART SHOW. They can even take them home that night.
What's Coming UP?
I get asked this question all the time. I hate to sound non-committal or even worse, unprepared about our lessons, but truly it's quite to opposite. You see, I have so many wonderful lessons all ready to go but it all depends on the pace of our artists. I learned many, many years ago never to say what we were going to do, because I found that so many parents and students were not as flexible as I find we sometimes need to be. So, I'll just tell you that there will be drawing, painting and clay but the lessons are written in pencil not in ink. The good news is, it's all wonderful and amazing because your amazing students will be part of it.
A Study in Form, Color, Texture, Balance, Unity, Pattern and Patience:)
Ah, onto our paper mache monsters, we have already fallen in love with all of our creations! It's nice to hear the kids talk to their monster and tell them that they "love them", that's good for everyone's self esteem.
Paper mache is such a lesson of patience, because it requires so many layers of paper to make it strong and then so many layers of paint to make it wonderful. Our monsters will take us about 4-5 classes before they are done. It really is a lot of fun to watch the metamorphosis of a balloon become the fantastic monster of a child's imagination.
So, having said all that, our monsters are in different stages in each class but they will all be ready for the Monsterz ART SHOW. Watch for them to invade our front window space. Many people stop by to see when they will be there, so BEWARE THEY ARE COMING!!!
Clay Monster Plates and Sculptures
A Study in Form and Technique
(sorry no pix for this one)
One of my favorite mediums is clay and thankfully it's the kids too! So far, we have made clay plates with monster sculptures on them, but they are not glaze fired yet. We were lucky to not have any explosions on our bisque (first) firing. YAY!
This week we will try to get to glazing all our clay masterpieces, so I can get to the long glaze firing process. The kids love to hear that I am going to set their project "on fire". All our ceramic pieces are low fire, meaning we fire to 1888 degrees in about a 12 hour timeframe. You will be glad to know that all of our glazes and materials are LEAD FREE AP NON-TOXIC, dishwasher, microwave and oven safe. So, go ahead eat your spaghetti and meatballs right off of that monster plate! Our plan is to have all the monster plates ready for our VIP artist's for them to use for their treats at the Monsterz ART SHOW. They can even take them home that night.
What's Coming UP?
I get asked this question all the time. I hate to sound non-committal or even worse, unprepared about our lessons, but truly it's quite to opposite. You see, I have so many wonderful lessons all ready to go but it all depends on the pace of our artists. I learned many, many years ago never to say what we were going to do, because I found that so many parents and students were not as flexible as I find we sometimes need to be. So, I'll just tell you that there will be drawing, painting and clay but the lessons are written in pencil not in ink. The good news is, it's all wonderful and amazing because your amazing students will be part of it.
