Georgetown Elementary Art Blog

Third grade artists have been learning about Henri Matisse this week.  They discovered that Matisse “drew with his scissors” as he made his cut paper collages.  They were intrigued to learn about the way Matisse created an eye-path for the viewer to follow in his “Beasts of the Sea” collage – and now we are looking for an artist eye-path in every work of art that we see!

Today 3rd grade began “drawing with scissors” to create their own cut-paper collages – a Matisse inspired figure with a border filled with organic shapes – and of course, an eye path!

Kindergarten artists are thrilled with their new clay pendants!  We have been learning about the art element of texture, and our clay pendants were created using various texture tools to decorate the surface of the clay.

And, I must credit a fellow art teacher for this project idea – visit Art With Mr. E – I’d like to be a student in his Tennessee classroom too!

Our Annual Student Art Show is in April 2010 – here are the most recent selections from the Art Room!  Congratulations Artists!

Our two weeks of clay continues….here are some shots of projects in progress.

Fifth Graders throwing slabs for their clay fish – noisy and oh, so fun!

Fourth Graders are making Clay Dudes – they are enjoying using a garlic press to make some crazy hair.

We hope all the hair will survive firing in the kiln!

Third Grade coil pots

First Grade artists have been learning about the art element of color this week.  We brainstormed the way different colors make us feel, such as red hot lava and cool green grass.  Then we sorted our markers into a big warm color pile of reds, oranges, yellows and pinks, and a pile of cool color purples, blues, and greens.  We put the markers colors that don’t care if they are warm or cool (neutral gray, brown, and black!) back in the marker basket.  Then we dressed up Warm Wanda and Cool Cal, taped them to a stick, and had a blast with our new space critter dolls!

We have been very busy with our clay projects in the art room this week – our 2nd grade owls are loaded in the kiln and will be fired over the weekend – 2nd graders can’t wait to see how they look!  Third grade coil pots and 4th grade silly heads are in various stages of drying before a bisque fire in the kiln.  Fifth grade fish will be completed next week…and shhh, don’t tell the kindergarteners, but their beautiful texture pendants (pictures soon!) have cooled enough to remove from the kiln and are absolutely beautiful!

In between the clay projects, we’ve found time to do some painting, weaving, and drawing too!

Greetings from the art room.  We are in the midst of many projects!  Here’s a peek at some of the work we’ve been creating.

3rd Grade snowmen…..

5th Grade Dali Melting Clocks

3rd Grade Van Gogh Starry Night

2nd Grade Owls -getting ready for clay owls!

1st Grade – Amaryllis Paintings

4th Grade Nutcrackers

4th Grade Big Pizzas

Congrats to fourth grader Lexi!  Her “Big Pizza” was selected to display at Hudsonville’s DJ’s Pizza.  Lexi will receive a DJ’s gift certificate for the loan of her artwork to DJ’s.  Stop by DJ’s, grab some pizza, and admire Lexi’s pizza masterpiece!

Georgetown students will be beginning their clay projects soon – this is always a time of excitement and artistic energy in the art room!  Our students especially enjoy working in clay and look forward to this experience through the school year.

Here’s a peek at one of our projects – 2nd graders will begin making clay owls next week.  This little guy has not been fired in the kiln yet – he’ll look really cute with a shiny brown glaze after his kiln visit.

Most of our clay projects this year will focus on the use of  texture with clay, and all grades will learn how to use different tools to create texture on their projects.  Each grade learns a new clay-building technique every year, and their projects build on the knowledge from previous years.  Our second graders learned how to make a pinch-pot in kindergarten, and their owl is created by first building a pinch pot for the body, then adding wings and other “owly” details.

More clay pictures to follow as the clay projects continue!