Recycled Mixed Media Owls

You may remember this project from last year but I definitely had to do it again because it was so successful with my previous fourth graders. A few years ago I was given some outdated children's dictionaries and I saved them until I developed this project. I was inspired by artist, Susanne Buckner's owl paintings and so then process began.  

 

-The students started by using recycled dictionary pages from old children's dictionaries. 

 -Using watered down Elmer's glue and brushes, the students created a collage with the torn book pages. 

- Next the students painted some sort of perch (branch, rock, fence, etc) for the owl to set on, on top of the book pages. We learned about tints ( a color plus white) and shades (a color plus black)

-The sky was colored with the edge of a pealed crayon so that the pattern of the words would show some. 

-The owls were drawn and colored using oil pastels on a separate piece of paper. 

- For the final step, the students cut out the owls and then I hot glued a packing peanut in between the owl and the background so that the owls were three-dimensional. 

Third grade foil embossed leaves

Our third grade students are finishing up some beautiful foil work! The students started this project by collecting Fall leaves, studying the texture and shape and then drawing them to create an interesting composition. The students learned about possitive vs. negative space as well as texture. We discussed transforming our malleable foil from a 2d form to a 3d form by embossing them from the back of our foil. Finally the foil drawings were painted with black ink and once they dried, the students took a some of the ink off using a dish scrubbing pad to create this aged look. The leaves have been mounted on black and also one colored piece of construction paper and each student added a finished pattern around the edge. They really don't get enough justice in the photo! Each one is unique and successful, we just love them! 

Alternative to glazing ceramic tiles

Unfortunately, we have been experiencing many issues with our very OLD kiln. I had a few classes left that did not get a chance to use the ceramic glaze and I didn't want to use the kiln anymore than I already had to.  I decided to try painting them with a watercolor resist method. The students LOVE Crayola construction paper crayons because they are really bright like chalk (without the mess) so I had them color their tiles first and paint watercolor paint on top! They look fabulous!  Parents: I told the students it would be a nice touch  to spray them at home with a protective glossy varnish spray to bring out the color and give it a layer of protection! 

Ceramic tile art for our garden project

We have started our ceramic tile project for our garden this week... The students are making relief tiles inspired by our garden. These will be fired and glazed with vivid colors and displayed inside the fence for all to enjoy in they garden. Check our our clay beginnings! 

Inspired by Hundertwasser

Our fourth graders learned about Austrian painter and architect, Friedrichsen Hundertwasser. The students were inspired by his connection with nature and architectural designs. Hundertwasser wasn't a fan of straight lines, however spiral patterns can be found in many of his paintings. Check out our mixed media project inspired by this awesome artist! 

Here are a few finished cityscape projects inspires by architect and artist, Friedrichsen Hundertwasser .

        

     

    

     

Art class in the garden inspires by Georgia O'keefe

Our third graders are learning about artist Georgia O'keefe. She was one of the great America artists who paved the way for female artists with her up close and personal views of the world. She was known for her taking a closer look at things in nature and painting them so large and from a perspective so close that her artwork sometimes seemed abstract and difficult to recognize.

 I took our third graders to the Harris garden to draw from O'keefe's perspective. They are doing an excellent job! 

We saw some interesting creatures along the way! 

More zentangle time!

Mural taking shape!

More zentangle time!