Space in Perspective

8th graders at SMS are learning the elements of art!! We began this year learning about SPACE (I know what you're thinking...not aliens and planets). First we watched a presentation about space, which you can see at http://prezi.com/jz40tuidn9m-/space-1-point-perspective/ 

Next, we practiced vanishing point and horizon line by drawing boxes in perspective.  Once we completed this, we were ready to start drawing the hallway!! We spent two days in the hallway planning and sketching our picture. The next day, we stayed in the classroom so we could add our own colors and ideas. 

Illuminated Letters

 

Sixth Graders are moving quickly through our art history timeline and have created Illuminated letters.  Illuminated letters were from important manuscripts a long time ago.  These manuscripts included an illuminated first letter on the page.  These were expensive manuscripts because each was hand made and they are "illuminated" because the letter was often adorned with gold leaf.  Students began by learning about illuminated letters and looking at many examples (like from the beginning of the movie Shrek) and they chose a letter that had meaning to them.  Most students picked the first letter of their first or last name but some chose letters for other reasons.  We decorated them with intricate patterns and traced with black sharpie markers.  Lastly, we used metallic paint (to mimic the gold leaf) and painted our letters.  These look great in these pictures but really shine in person!! Great Job!!  

Matisse and Marc

Southeast 7th graders are starting an art timeline that begins at the start of the 20th Century and ends in contemporary or modern art.  We have began with artists Henri Matisse and Franz Marc.  They started an art movement called Fauvism in about 1904-1908.  It had recognizable subjects, however was unique due to the bright and unexpected colors and visible brush strokes. We discussed this through a presentation which you can watch at http://prezi.com/98rodcitrsz1/fauvism-matisse-and-marc-horses/ Our students really connected with Franz Marc because he is most well known for his paintings of horses and many of our students see horses everyday or own horses themselves.  Students chose an animal that they wanted to draw and we used oil pastels to recreate the bright colors and textures of Marc. 

Picasso!!!

 Southeast 7th graders studied Pablo Picasso's artwork, specifically his portraits.  We discussed how he painted faces and objects from different angles, or CUBISM!! Next, we created colorful portraits in a cubist style.  First, we drew the face shape and drew lines to divide the page.  Next we drew our facial features (cubist style).  In each section students were asked to create a different pattern with marker and color it in with colored pencil. 

Cave Art!

Southeast 6th graders have started this school year with an art timeline from cave art to 20th century art.  We have completed the cave art and students had such a great time!! First, we watched a presentation about cave art.  You can watch this presentation at  http://prezi.com/7kbgq0msxdq-/cave-art/ .   Next, we toured the inside of the cave through a virtual tour (the website link is in the presentation).  Then we discussed the subject of what they drew and how important art is in every culture and time period.  After our discussion, we were ready to draw.  I had students crumple up a few large sheets of brown butcher paper and tape them under the tables and on the walls (to mimic the cave) and we turned off the lights and had to crawl in the "cave" and draw things that were important in our lives in the style of the cave art.  Students only had limited colors to work with because they did not have many colors to choose from 15,000 years ago.  Scientists believe that cave artists used their hand prints as a signature, so our students also placed their hand prints in our cave.

Welcome to Southeast Middle School 2012-2013!!

As some of you may have noticed, I have recently changed my school name and location.  I had an absolutely wonderful 5 years at Phoenix Elementary School, but it was time to move back to Ohio.  I learned so much about teaching, made lifelong friends with my peers, and taught thousands of students about my passion for art in Arizona.  This summer I have moved back to Ohio (where I grew up) and was asked to be the new art teacher for Southeast Middle School and I am so excited for this school year and many more to come at Southeast!!! The community and staff have been so helpful and welcoming and if the beginning of this new move is any indication of what is ahead, I know I will have a fabulous time here!!!! I would like to thank both school districts, thanks to Phoenix for my wonderful past and thank you to Southeast for my exciting new future!!! Stay tuned to Draws Attention for all of our new creations from OHIO!!!!

Mural

 This year, our school allowed me to create an elective mural class.  We completed two murals during the last trimester of the year.  The first was the mission statement in the building, and the second was the mural across the street from our school.  The homeowners asked us to come and paint their wall (that faces our school) and we said, "of course!!"  Next, students and I brainstormed ideas for the mural.  There were so many wonderful ideas that we decided to create a collage of images about our state and community.  Each image on the mural has meaning to our school or our state.  Students worked so hard to complete this and results are beautiful!!! The homeowners are also thrilled with the results and said it has been the talk of the town!

I absolutely love where the students put the paint tray so they wouldn't have to  bend down to get the paint.  The cacti caused us a lot of pain most of the time, but they came in handy here.  

This is one of the painted buildings on the mural which is a small version of the mural.  Students called it the "baby mural!"

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.