3rd Grade -- Historical Figures

3rd graders just finished up their historical figure sculptures.  They were assigned one of the following people: Louis Armstrong, Helen Keller, Jackie Robinson, or Amelia Earhart.  They used white talc clay to sculpt their historical person.  We focused on scoring, slipping, and smoothing to ensure that all pieces were attached.  The students used modeling tools to create textures and details in the clay as well.  Tempera paint was applied to the bisque fired clay.  The 3rd graders created cardboard dioramas, which put their person in a scene that would have taken place.  Here are some examples from all 3rd grade classes:

5th Grade -- Ceramic Boxes

Each student designed a box in their sketchbooks.  Students then rolled out slabs to create sides for their box.  With the use of scoring and slipping, they were able to attached all sides and additional pieces of their design.  Glaze was used to finish these ceramic pieces.
Below are some examples from Mr. Rollo's class:

Kindergarten -- Pollock Paintings

Kindergarten students learned about Jackson Pollock and his painting technique.  After setting up our paints and brushes in the room, the students began drip/splatter painting.  They thought about how they were feeling at the time.  Many students also related particular colors to their feelings. 

5th Grade -- #Ceramic Boxes

The 5th graders are finishing up their ceramic boxes made from terracotta clay.  Each student designed a box in their sketchbooks.  Students then rolled out slabs to create sides for their box.  With the use of scoring and slipping, they were able to attached all sides and additional pieces of their design.  Glaze was used to finish these ceramic pieces.
Below are examples from Ms. Germanier's class:

1st Grade -- #Heart Paintings

Jim Dine is closely associated with the development of Pop Art in the early 1960's.  Mr.  Kaegi's class focused on Jim Dine's series of heart paintings.  We observed numerous paintings and discussed how he used color, line, texture, and balance.  Those principles and elements were then applied to our paintings.  Great job first graders!

5th Grade -- #Tessellations

5th grade students learned about M.C. Escher and his tessellation work. We started our project by creating an equilateral triangle. Side one and side two of the triangle used the same design, so that both sides could fit into each other. Side three was divided into halves, so that it could fit into itself. Once the students had a final shape that could tessellate, they imagined what it looked like. Their design was incorporated into every shape that was traced out. The students finished the artwork by coloring in their shapes with markers.  Here are some examples from Ms. Germanier's class:

KSe & KJ -- Digital Drip Paintings

Yesterday in art, Ms. Serio's and Mr. Jerkatis' classes learned about Jackson Pollock and his technique of painting.  We then created a class digital drip painting via jacksonpollock.org.
In our next class, we will all make our own action paintings with tempera paint!
(KSe painting on top, KJ painting on bottom)

3rd Grade -- Working on Historical Figures

3rd graders are currently working on their historical figures for African American/Women's history.  They have been studying Amelia Earhart, Louis Armstrong, Jackie Robinson, and Helen Keller.  We began by sculpting our people out of white talc clay.  Recently they have been painting their sculptures and also making platforms for their sculptures to stand on. 

Kindergarten -- Cave Paintings

After learning all about Lascaux, the kindergarten students created their own cave paintings.  We crumpled and painted our plain white paper to look like cave walls.  The students then painted animals and human figures on their cave walls.  Each student had a story behind their painting as well.  Great job kindergartners!

Ms. Beljung's Class -- Digital Drip Painting

Today in art, Ms. Beljung's class learned about Jackson Pollock and his technique of painting.  We then created a class digital drip painting via jacksonpollock.org.
In our next class, we will all make our own action paintings with tempera paint!

Ms. Smith's Class -- Digital Drip Painting

Today in art, Ms. Smith's class learned about Jackson Pollock and his technique of painting.  We then created a class digital drip painting via jacksonpollock.org.
In our next class, we will all make our own action paintings with tempera paint!

4th Grade -- Color Scheme Paintings

Recently the 4th grade students have learned about the following color schemes:

• Analogous
• Complementary
• Warm/Cool
• Monochromatic

We began this project by choosing an animal to draw realistically.  We discussed how cropping the animal will allow us to draw it out bigger.  Each student then chose a color scheme to apply to their drawing.

2nd Grade -- Blue Dogs

This art project was inspired by the artist George Rodrigue.  Rodrigue has been painting Blue Dog since 1984.  Blue Dog is a creation inspired from Rodrigue's dog Tiffany and a Louisiana legend called loupe garou (werewolf).  The students viewed many examples of Blue Dog via a PowerPoint slideshow then proceeded to create their own version.
Check out some examples below!

Kindergarten -- Pinch Pots

The pinch pot is a simple form of a pot that dates back to ancient history. These decorative/functional pots have been used by various cultures throughout history as well. Our kindergarten students learned how to create a pinch pot. Once bisque fired, the students also learned about glazes and how to use them. Here are some finished examples:

1st Grade -- Wildy & Wavy Paintings

Mr. Kaegi's 1st grade class created these mixed media works of art.  We started out discussing the primary and secondary colors.  We went into depth a little further and discussed how each of those colors have numerous values. 

Hue = Color
Tint = Hue+ White
Tone = Hue + Gray
Shade = Hue + Black

The students chose one hue (blue for example) and took black and white to mix their different values.  They created abstract paintings with as much value as possible.  Once they were dry, the paintings were cut into 4 strips.  The students then glued their strips in wavy formations onto consturction paper.

 

2nd Grade - Pinch Pot Animals

2nd graders recently made pinch pot animals with white talc clay.  We focused on building the pinch pot, scoring/slipping, and using modeling tools to make our animals more realistic.  The students glazed their pieces after they were bisque fired.
We discussed that glaze works differently than paint.

• Glaze shows up the best with three coats applied.  
• The color of the glaze could look totally different from beginning to finish.  
• There must be no glaze on the surface that sits on the kiln shelf.  

Here are some finished examples:

1st Grade -- Pinch Pot Creations

Mr. Kaegi's 1st grade class recently made pinch pot creations with white talc clay.  We discussed how to build a pinch pot and how to correctly attached additional clay via scoring and slipping.  The students applied these techniques when adding hair, arms, legs, eyes, feet, etc.  The students also used modeling tools to create details and textures in their clay.  Here are some examples:

3rd Grade -- Practice Sculptures

3rd graders have been working on practice sculptures to help prepare themselves for when we sculpt historical figures from African American and Women's history.  We practiced making a two-legged figure that could balance standing up.  We also worked on our scoring/slipping methods to ensure the clay properly attached.  The students had a choice of painting the bisque fired clay with tempera paint or with glaze.  We discussed the differences of both.  Many who chose to paint with the tempera paint also finished their figures with Mod Podge.  Here are a few examples:

Kindergarten -- Stuart Davis Collages

We learned about Stuart Davis and how he was an early American Modernist painter. He created proto-pop art paintings that were colorful and influenced by jazz music. The students noticed that he used geometric and organic shapes in many of his paintings. We then focused a little bit more on his painting "Ready-to-Wear" (1955).
"Throughout his lengthy career as one of the preeminent American Modernists, Stuart Davis looked to the sights and sounds of the United States for his subject matter. In this vibrant painting, Davis explored the American invention of ready-to-wear clothing, a term first employed in an 1895 Montgomery Ward catalog. The broad, flattened areas of red, white, black, and blue may represent leftover pieces of fabric, while the angular white shape in the upper-right corner suggests a pair of scissors. With its bright palette and energetic composition, the painting celebrates not only the vitality of the ready-to-wear clothing industry but also America itself."
Kindergarten students worked on black construction paper and cut our a variety of shapes from red, white, and blue construction paper. We made sure that we used organic and geometric. We also made sure that we were overlapping the shapes.
Here are some kindergarten examples below:

4th Grade -- Clay House Fronts

For this project we examined architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and Friedensreich Hundertwasser.  Frank Lloyd Wright used geometric shapes and organic colors in his architecture, while Hundertwasser used many bold colors, curvy lines, and organic shapes.  Both architects loved to incorporate the surrounding environment with their architecture.  Our 4th grade students sketched out a design for their own house.  Some students were inspired by TV shows, by famous architects, or even their own home in Oak Park.  The students rolled out slabs of clay, trimmed out the shape of their house, and then began designing it.  They scored and slipped whenever they attached additional pieces.  They used modeling tools to carve in designs as well.  Once the pieces were bisque fired, the students then used glaze to finish their houses.