Artist~Teacher... tishalou

Students begin by looking at Henri Matisse paintings in a power point. We talk about the patterns and how he repeats colors at least three times to keep our eyes looking around the painting.

We also look closely at how he creates vases in his paintings.

Next we work together to get our vase on the paper, then we make it the shape we want it. We create an entire "under drawing" in a very light color (peach or yellow). Then we create the table to go behind the vase - we talk about how it would look like it was hovering in mid air if the table went below the vase. Next we put a large flower that touches the top of the page. Then one that touches each side. Students will fill in as many flowers as they want - then we will move on to color.

I show students how to add color in at least three places, fill in solid,  make a shadow on the vase and table. We also talk about if they want the vase to be see through (transparent) or solid (opaque).

Once all the flowers are colored in they add the stems and leaves - to go straight from the flower into the vase, going behind other flowers (not around).

Final touches are patterns in the back - making sure to leave room for paint.

See a pattern here? K - Dream Houses, 1st - Y Trees, and 2nd all work with the oil pastel and water color resist method. This helps the beginning of the year run smooth and I can keep the same materials set up for the first month or so since they are not all using the watercolor at the same time.

Last year's examples on Artsonia

This year:

 

Once all the shapes are on the board I move them all around and make different things with them. To show them how simple shapes put together in different ways can make anything! Students practice each shape and then if there is time they can take the shapes, combine to make anything in their drawing.

Next class - students sit together and we read "The Big Orange Splot" by Daniel Pinkwater (LOVE HIM). It is the story of a man who gets orange paint dropped on his house and instead of returning it to it's original look to keep a 'neat street' he paints it like all of his dreams! One by one each neighbor is sent to convince him to change it back but instead they also change their house to look like all of their dreams. I like it because it talks about being original and not fitting in with everyone or everything else.

After the story I review that combining simple shapes can make their dream house. They use oil pastels to create their drawing and I talk about filling in solid with no peek-a-boo spots. For a final touch we add white clouds to the sky - then paint the sky with watercolor. Students love the magic when their clouds appear.

Here are some examples...

to school starting again. It is hard to believe this will be my third year at Greenville! I am starting to get the hang of this being off in the summers again. Last year I felt a bit unproductive. This year I made lists and I had this blog to keep me honest :-) At least it helped me to feel like I was getting somewhere and doing something. This week I will be staying close to home - been taking care of drs appointments, organizing files and just wrapping my head around another great year of teaching ART to K - 5th graders.

Experimenting with dinner - need to add a few more to my list, my boys are getting tired of steak, spaghetti and breaded chicken breasts. Here is the Rachael Ray recipe I made for dinner. No leftovers and my son said "This is the fanciest dinner you've ever made, mom." I'd call that a success.

Back to curriculum ~ I made a list of what I taught by grade and attached the standards to see what I might need to add. I also listed what I taught last year but did not get to this year (mostly because of so many SNOW DAYS!) I also have my inventory lists and what I need to order. I have kind of shot myself in the foot by being good at fundraising! My principal brags that I am 'self-supporting' so with all the budget cuts I will not be getting any money from the school this year. I have to use all the money I raised. I do very well with a magnet fundraiser where items arrive in time for the holidays - it also helps that I teach in a rather affluent part of the county. I also make a pretty good sum from Artsonia. Here was my procrastination drawing on my folder.

Hopefully this will help someone either become more organized or give them permission to use *gasp* different colored folders and *gasp* handwritten titles. I know I need help! Maybe I should just set it all on fire (CED theme of the month!)!

Well this short little update turned into a novel as usual. Enjoy the last week of summer!