Art Timeline

Today was the last day of school at Herrera.  The last day for me is always so bittersweet.  I am sad to see my 8th graders leave, but happy for them as they go to High School and start a new chapter in their lives.  I will definitely miss the smiling faces I get to see every morning when I walk through the halls, but know there will be many more in my future.  This year was truly amazing for myself and my students.
               I have posting pictures all year about my art history timeline, and as the year ends, so does the timeline.  Here are some pictures of the results. 4th and 5th graders started with cave art (where we painted with the lights off in our "art cave") and continued until the 20th century (impressionism).  Junior high students started the timeline at the 20th century to contemporary art.  During this year we painted under our tables like Michelangelo, splattered paint like Pollock, printed like Warhol and much much more.  After each lesson, I chose one student's artwork to display on the timeline (for visual learners, like myself). I believe it is so important to learn about art history at a young age (on a personal note, my grandfather took me the Cleveland Art Museums every month for many years, which is why I am so passionate about art and art history). I cannot count the number of times students have ran up to me in the hallway to tell me how they saw the artwork we studied on their favorite show (many times on Family Guy or Simpsons), movie, commercial, clothing, etc.  I am so proud of my students this year for all they have accomplished and learned.  

Silhouettes

Last month, a professional silhouette artist, Varin, (who also happens to be my beautiful mother) came to Herrera School to teach us about the art of silhouettes. She came all the way from San Diego to teach Kinder-8th graders about the history of silhouettes and how to cut them. She started each lesson by talking about the history of silhouettes and how they are made. Earlier that morning, I asked teachers from our fine arts team and junior high to come to my room to have their silhouette done. During class, I layed out the teacher's portraits and called students up to the table as a challange to see if they could identfy each teacher portrait (and they guessed correctly!!!) Next, Varin chose the student with the closest upcoming birthday and cut a silhouette of that student. She gave them pointers, for example, always have the model sit so the front of thier face is on your right hand side (if you are right handed) so that it is easier to cut the tiny details on the face. Also, to turn the paper when you are cutting, not you hands. Next the students paired up and cut silhouettes of their friends!!! Students were surprised at how difficult it was, but had a lot of fun!!!

You can view Varin's work at www.papercutsbyvarin.webs.com

INK MONSTERS!!!!

I love this project!!!! This was a project that I have been meaning to do for the past three years but haven't had a chance to try. Well, I am so glad I finally tried!!! Not only do they turn out amazing, but the kids had a BLAST creating these!! I completed this project with 5th graders and later (because I loved it so much) used it as an incentive for Jr. High. I used liquid watercolors,card stock, sharpies, and colored pencil (only one extra color). First, I demonstrated how to do the project and my expectations. We learned that you do not need to squeeze the bottle, just turn it upside down over the paper. Let about 5 drops of paint drop on the paper. Then quickly, you get really close to the paper, take a deep breath in and blow!!! (some people use straws for this but I did not). Next, we used sharpie markers to add the details such as eyes, shoes, claws, spikes, and much more!! This project really challenges our artists to think creatively! This idea was inspired by http://www.dailymonster.com/ which is a website where the artist posts a new ink monster everyday!! Check it out becuase it is amazing!!!

Guiseppe Arcimboldo Collage

4th and 5th grade students have reached 1570's on our timeline which includes the famous artist GUISEPPE ARCIMBOLDO!!! Arcimboldo creates two-dimensional portraits out of unusual objects. He was way ahead of his time!! Everyone else in his time was creating realistic art (like Da Vinci and Michealangelo), he was painting these crazy pictures!! Salvador Dali called Arcimboldo the "Father of Surrealism." Students really like Arcimboldo's work!!

For our assignment we created portraits by using magazine pictures. They were required to make a face out of anything but facial features!! This project is so much fun and really forces students to be creative and think outside of the box!!

Happy Chinese New Year!!

This is a very important year for Chinese New Year because is the year of the dragon!! We are so lucky at Herrera School to have such a diverse staff that can teach us about their culture. For this assignment, Ms. Sun (our wonderful dance teacher) came into art to teach us about Chinese New Year, culture and Chinese calligraphy. Students were taught proper technique, like holding the paintbrush vertical. we used red paper which signifies good luck. Students (and Mrs. Castrigano) learned how to write "Happy New Year."
Thanks Ms. Sun!!

Where are the students? (Michelangelo)

At first glance, the picture above looks as though it is an empty classroom, However... If you look closely you will see that my students are underneath the table!! You may be wondering WHY? Well, 4th and 5th graders have reached Michelangelo on our timeline! Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. We had a long talk about what they thought about his artwork before we began. Most of they students liked it and thought that it was very realistic. Next, I told the students about how he painted it on top of scaffolding on his back for YEARS!! Then, I told them their assignment... We had to create a fall/ Halloween illustration under the tables!!! We used tape to stick the paper to the table and carpet squares on the floor (because we all know that the art room floor can be a glittery mess). We used crayons, instead of paint because I did not want students to get paint in their eyes or on their face. Students really enjoyed this project but were complaining how difficult it was to paint like Michelangelo. It was very difficult for students to draw like him, and some were getting discouraged that their pictures were not turning out how they wanted them to look. I told them that this project was more about the process than the product. I really wanted them to gain an appreciation for Michelangelo and his work. After we were through, I asked the students again what they thought of Michelangelo and his work, and instead of the students saying, "I like it," they all said something about the process, for example, "He must have been really strong!' or " I really appreciate how much work he put into his work!!"

Prehistoric Art!!

Fourth and Fifth grade students are starting this year with the previously mentioned TIMELINE!! The timeline begins with the first form of art that we know, which is Prehistoric art or Cave art!! It is believed to be from about 32,000 years ago. They have found cave art on nearly every continent. During that time, they did not have crayons and markers like we have now, instead they would grind up stones and other natural materials to create their colors. Because they were only using natural materials they only had certain colors, including black, brown, red, white, and orange. Our students were able to use crayons and paint but only in those specific colors. We drew/painted on one large brown paper (per class) and crumpled it up and added black and brown shading to make it look more like a rock. Cave art animals were drawn much more realistic than the people. We drew our pets or favorite animals first, somewhat realistically but without a lot of details. Next we drew our families as stick figures. Lastly, we painted around our hands. This was very important in prehistoric art because the used their hand prints as signatures.

Also, we had fun creating our own cave art because we turned off the lights and used small lamps. Also, we taped the paper to the bottom of the table to show how some of the artists had to crawl in small spaces and paint on different types of surfaces.

After students were finished creating, myself and a few other (taller) teachers helped hang it in the hallway to have a "cave" in our school. SO AWESOME!!!!

Art Timeline!!!

This year we are creating an art timeline to show how art history has progressed from the first form of art to today's contemporary art. We are also using our projects to create a visual art timeline in the room. I put a long string on the wall and at the end of each project I will add one student's project to the timeline with the date. By the end of the year we will have an amazing group timeline!! 4th and 5th grade will start with cave art, from 32,000 years ago. Cave art is the first form of art that we know, and they will continue until the twentieth century. The Junior High group will start at the twentieth century until art from today. They are starting with the artist Henri Rousseau from about 1910. They have already started and they are coming out so beautiful!!! Stay tuned for pictures!!!