Spring Flowers

This project turned out better than I could have ever dreamed.  We started by taking a white or peach colored crayon or oil pastel to draw with.  Personally, I wouldn't use white because it's almost impossible to see and the peach turned out absolutely beautiful.  The hard part to this activity was that we weren't allowed to see what we were drawing.  Each of us stuck our utensil through a piece of paper that was about 3 X 6 inches which effectively blinded us  so we couldn't see what we were creating.  My flowers were supposed to be copies of the artwork of Georgia O'Keeffe, but they don't come very close to the original.  After completing our drawings we used very wet water colors to paint the entire page.  The idea was to ensure that there was no white remaining on our page.  The end effect was really pretty neat.

The integration which was presented in class was the study of the artist Georgia O'Keeffe.  Another idea with the flowers would be to have live flowers for the students to mimic.  This could be an ending project from a  science unit on parts of a flower.  It could also be changed so that you draw another type of object which gives limitless ideas for integration.  One that comes to mind is drawing musical instruments or tools that have changed history.

Hidden Safari

This was actually a lot more fun than I expected.  You start by drawing with a light blue colored pencil.  It is essential to use light blue.  We were all required to draw safari animals by turning the paper upside down and imitating an example.  I chose to do an elephant.  After completing the safari animal we then creating random patterns in warm colors to completely cover the page.  We kept adding patterns and colors until the naked eye no longer saw the blue elephant.  The magic of this activity is that by putting on red glasses you can see the elephant perfectly.  Unfortunately, my camera wouldn't take a good picture through the glasses so you can't see the elephant in this picture.

The natural integration of this project is Science, particularly habitats.  A book could also be read to accompany this activity thus integrating Language Arts.  The song "Going on a Bear Hunt" could be adapted and add a musical element to the project.

Story Book Page

This was one of the most creative and fun things we've done in class.  First we made our own "tissue" paper by thinning down tempre paint and splattering it onto 12 X 18 paper.  Next we designed a story book page as if it came out of the middle of a story.  We then used scissors or a razor blade to cut out each shape and glue them onto our page.  The end result is a beautiful collage.

This is automatically a link to Language Arts because it is part of a story, we read Eric Karle books because this is the method he uses to create his artwork.  It would be possible to make a lesson that required students to show awareness of habitat and characteristics of their animal characters, thus integrating a science aspect.

Van Gogh 2

Creating this collage was very fun and very easy.  First you affix tissue paper using Gloss Medium.  Then you add a landscape of your choice cut out of construction paper.  I choose to do the Delicate Arch from Arches National Park, Moab, Utah.  The lines in the "rock" were created by smearing oil pastels.  The final touch was to add "swirls," which van Gogh was famous for, using a silver permanent marker.

The idea I had for integrating the collage across the curriculum was to first have a science lesson on what causes things like rainbows, the Northern Lights, and the colors of a sunset.  Then encourage the students to recreate these patterns in their work.

Impressions from incent van Gogh

This pictures is one way of experimenting with bright colors and swirling lines as van Gogh did.

This finger painting was done on finger paint paper. The idea was to learn to mix colors and to become more comfortable with the motions involved in painting.  It also allowed me to experiment with movement in my painting.

The main extension project related to this project is learning about Vincent van Gogh.  I would implement a history lesson discussing world events during his life that may have influenced his work and possibly have the students create an actual time line.  Depending on the age of the students I could also have them each do a timeline of van Gogh's life and especially of some of his paintings.

Elements of Art Pictures

We made a power-point of all the elements and principles of art in my ART Ed class and I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures here.  These are pictures that I, or in the case of me dancing, my mother, took.

This is Asymmetrical balance, I found these trees in Mesa, Arizona.

This is my example of color.  These are my friends on a beach in Bear Lake, Idaho.

I used this picture as an example of space.  This was taken in Adam's Canyon, Layton, Utah.

 The object of this photo is also some friends we stopped at the side of the road on the way from California to Utah.  This was my example of contrast.

 This pictures is from my senior year Pops Concert.  I used it as an example of movement.

Art Project 1

We each created a footprint that is symbolic of the journey or the imprint we are making in life.  Each student can choose to use one foot or two feet side by side.  The project will be graded on the use of space, at least 3 mediums, and craftsmanship.  The students will each need to present their completed project to the class and they will be displayed in the class. 

A possible extension project could be studying the footprint that mankind has left on the planet.  It could also be creating footprints in plaster of paris.  We could do an experiment where everyone needs to put their foot in tubs containing different textures such as dirt, mud, sand, wet sand, lotion, mulch, dry leaves, packing foam, and water.  It will be obvious that some people like different things and that some substances leave a footprint while others do not.  These ideas could segue into making the construction paper footprints.