domes

Fifth grade artists are wrapping up their study of the Middle Eastern culture this week. They looked at buildings found in the Middle Eastern culture and duplicated the towers, domes, and decorative tiles in their own architectural drawings. They created beautiful miniature drawings using ultra fine markers, colored pencils, and crayon.

The final step was tricky, and the results – beautiful! My students created a “doorway” from a clay slab to frame their drawings. Their clay pieces included arabesques and geometric patterns that are used as decorative elements in Middle Eastern architecture. The clay pieces were painted with watercolors and given a coat of Modge Podge for a bit of shine.

Up close look through the door.

Third grade artists have begun their study of Middle Eastern Art, our Cultural Focus for this school year. We began by comparing and contrasting Middle Eastern architecture with buildings that we are familiar with here in Michigan. Everyone was fascinated by the domes and arched doors of the Middle Eastern mosques, and could hardly wait to begin their own drawings, especially the fantastic “onion domes” that look like Hershey kisses.