Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Clay Birdie


Kindergarten / Pre-school 
Clay Birdie's 

We had so much Fun making these clay birds. A friend of mine, Steph Madder of Tolt River Studio,
Donated 30 small bags of paper clay. 
Each student started with a ball of 2" diam. paper clay. We shaped only the body and head of the bird. Plus beak!


Funny look'n little fella

About two days later, I insert toothpicks for the legs...watch carefully so that the clay doesn't become to hard. You want the clay to be set but soft enough to still poke the toothpick into. 
Note: I found the paper clay dries a little slower than Crayola air dry clay.

. We painted Styrofoam 3x3 blocks that I cut up. Then attached moss with glue. Pays to live in the North West! The moss was from my back yard! After 4 to 5 days the birds should be dyed out.

Second class, we painted the birds and pasted feathers. I tried to find paste and evidently its a thing of the past. Sooo...  I took 4 large glue sticks and 1/2 cup glue. Soften glue sticks in microwave on LOW, Until soft enough to blend in glue. mix well. Viola! Paste
I thought it easier to apply feathers with paste. Glue is to thin and runny.

Paper clay recipe

 The birds turned out so cute!


Above is my teacher sample.



It was so fun to watch the birds take on their own individual personalities!








I love this one. it started out as blob.. and turned into this amazing bird stretching his wings! so cool.


A few more birdies from my pre-school class





Wednesday, January 9, 2013

James Rizzi


    James Rizzi

unicorn-art-lounge.com

James Rizzi was born in 1950 in Brooklyn. He studied art in Florida (Gainesville), where he started experimenting with printing, painting and sculpting. Rizzi’s work often shows his birthplace New York. His paintings look sometimes childishly naive, with the bright colours and brilliant gaiety. In the art press Rizzi is often described as "Urban Primitive Artist '. Rizzi himself says he is influenced by Picasso, Klee and Dubuffet.

Show some paintings of Rizzi and discuss the characteristics: 

  • bright colors
  • no gradations within colors
  • everything is outlined with a black marker
  • houses have human faces/characteristics
  • the artwork is full and busy
  • background is full too


unicorn-art-lounge.com

  



Teacher's sample.. later I added faces to the buildings
Seattle skyline .. "Rizzi" style


 My preschoolers

r

Great use of paint chips.
We also used markers and cotton balls!! the kids loved the idea of faces on the buildings.

    Monday, November 19, 2012

    Lion


    King of the Jungle

      
    Teacher Sample

    This could be a great project for any elementary grade.
    For my Preschoolers, I choose to make a stencil of the basic shape of the lions head.
    The hardest thing was to get them to paint a large long paint stroke to go off the paper.

    I saw this project on pinterest. thank you to the unknown person who created it.

    Here is a few of our king of the Jungle's


    I used this lesson to review primary and secondary colors.
    I have a student who is 4 (almost 5) and has exceptional control of her fine motor skills. She choose to add gold glitter paint to her mane! check out her lions eyes.... wow
      

    I also brought in a few pictures of lions with large manes.
     love the bold colors on this one.




    All you need is water color paper, black permanent makers and Tempera paint.

    Monday, November 5, 2012

    Scarecrow


    Harvest Scarecrow 
    Oil Pastel / Watercolor
    Resist  Art Lesson

    Kindergarten


    Teacher's sample.
    What you will need: 
    12 x 18 white construction paper.
    Oil pastels
     Blue water color 
    large paint brushes (for sky wash )
    Pencils
    Black permanent maker
    Raffia ( for hay )
    Black paper for crow.  
    scissors
    glue

    This was a great oil pastel resist project. We started out with a drawing lesson. The kids sketched their scarecrow in pencil first. I started with a simple lollie pop shape.


    I continued with simple shapes to create the scarecrow.


    Once the project was broken down to easy steps, the kids could now add their own details.
    They did a wonderful job! Considering a few where skeptical at first. I remind them...with out practice you can't draw.  Here is a few of our kindergarten scarecrows.


    First drawn with pencil. Then traced with black permanent maker.

    Kitty scarecrow 

    Next the kids colored in with oil pastels. They then used a watercolor wash for the sky. Painting over the entire picture to watch the watercolor resist the oil pastels.

    Then girls decided they wanted their scarecrow to be a girl. We talked about how the dress would be tied at the bottom to hold in the hay.


    Most the scarecrows look like they made friends with the crows!


    Pirate Scarecrow...Great!

    Happy Halloween.. Boo!