Ceramics in Middle School!

8th grade made diverse and unique coil pots this month in the art room! Students planned the shape of their vessel and then executed their design using the coil method.

Why ART?

I teach art so students will recognize and appreciate true beauty, communicate from the very depths of their soul, be sensitive to life and the peoples within it. I teach art so students will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness -more life.

Life in 3D : A close look a sculpture

Central at the Nelson! Link to the student newspaper article on our field trip!

Craftsmanship Scales: Formative Self-Assessment

Take pride in your work! "By seeing the art, one knows the artist!"

Time Flies! End of the Year in the art room!

I can't believe it is that time of year again already! Passing back work and racing to finish last projects. It is always fulfilling to have students excited to take their work home! This "Art Noise Meter" has come in handy this week!

Careers in Art: Fashion/Shoe Design

8th graders learned about the complex and always changing fashion industry and specifically about the unique job of a shoe designer. They saw shoe design in action before designing and creating a shoe for their own brand from clay.

"Let them Eat Cake!" Pop Art Sculptures

6th Graders discovered the art of Wayne Theibaud and Claus Oldenberg for inspiration for these paper mache' constructed cake slices! Each uniquely designed by the artist!

 

"Totem Spoons" Sharing a Story

7th Graders were introduced to the Native American tradition of Totems. A totem tells a story of a family or the maker, a spoon is a symbol of sharing. These "Totem Spoons" share the story of each 7th grader's interests and passions!

Spring time in the Art Room!

At the first wink of warmth and sunshine, we took our drawing boards to the streets! Observational portrait drawing. Blind contour and continuous line techniques.

Our Communities

Middle school students used drawing, collaging and printmaking techniques to represent a community. Taking inspiration from American artist Romare Bearden, students could represent current, historical or ancestral communities.

5th Grade Audubon Birds

5th graders learned about the art and science of American artist John James Audubon. During their current social studies unit, each student was researching a state for the "State Fair" at the end of the year. Each artist drew a pen and ink of their "State Bird" which they then used various water color techniques to add color. The complete collection was published in a book for the school auction.

4th Grade Field Trip

 4th Grade students took a field trip to the Nelson Atkins and viewed art from all throughout history and all over the world. We payed close attention to this sculpture by Alexander Calder, famous for creating the mobile and his use of bold geometric and organic shapes. Students then made their own mobiles to hang around the building. Students all over the building saw KINETIC energy in motion!

7th Grade Sunflowers

7th Graders learned about the basic components of sculpture and color theory to create these Van gogh inspired wall hanging sunflowers. They then worked collaboratively to create background compositions for the in school presentation displays. Cultural connections to Kansas Day and art history overview of the impressionist were woven in during construction!

Textile Design: Islamic Art Inspiration

8th Grade artists studied Textile Design, a visual arts career. They learned that design ideas can come from many places including cultures from around the world. Taking inspiration from Islamic mosaics, students created these textile designs using one color scheme and printmaking a radial pattern from an original one quadrant print block overlaid on a water color wash background.

7th Grade Tiffany Windows

7th graders learn about the functional art of Louis Comfort Tiffany and then create "Stained Glass Windows" to line the school. Students chose their theme, planned and executed a graphic/simplified design to represent in the window. 

6th Grade Relief Picasso Portraits

6th Graders learn about Pablo Picasso, cubism, African art influence to create patterns, textures and 3D features in these fantastical portraits. Students learn geography, solve construction problems and work with mixed media.

8th Grade Pop Art Portraits

Students learn about tints/shades and value embedded in a unit about Andy Warhol and other Pop artists. Students learn to measure a grid and work to enlarge a chosen celebrity.