Animals & their environments

My art elective kids finished their animals and their environments today!  I watched as they bragged to friends and teachers how they made their awesome artwork.  

Being an artist

In my art classes, I introduce students to the artistic process. First we brainstorm ideas, then we create preliminary sketches, critique our work and finally create a final draft.  Below you can see evidence of this process with a sketch, critique sheet (peeking out underneath the sketch) and a final draft.  This is the 6th grade abstract action painting. Can you tell what action this student is representing?

Too macabre?

If you have to ask (too macabre?), then maybe it is.  I wanted to share that the Phillips Collection currently has 3 of it's dead bird paintings on display (making a total of at least 4 in the collection).  If you recall several months ago I posted about this small group of paintings owned by the Phillips but at that time only one was on display.  Here are pictures of Henry Varnum Poor's Dead Crow and Dead Bird by Chaim Soutine.  I'm a big fan of Soutine and I did not know this work existed before my most recent visit to the Collection.  These works are outside a special Intersections exhibit called Vanitas! by the artist Jeanne Silverthorne.  I am a HUGE fan of the Vanitas! exhibit and I am in the process of writing a post about it.  I think it is brilliant and definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.  It is on display until June 2.  In the meantime, enjoy the two paintings below.

Expressive Self Portraits

I gave my 8th graders the challenge of creating an expressive self portrait using mixed media.  I gave up control and allowed them a lot of freedom to do this project and they really rose to the challenge.  Here are some works in progress.  I'm interested to read what the students write about these pieces.

Clay creatures

Art Elective made miniature clay animals!  Here are some of them in different levels of being finished.  Wait until you see the environments they are making for these animals...

Papier Mache Letters Begin

7th graders begin their papier mache letters, pictures below show how the project starts- letter sketches, skeletons, paper cups, cardboard and glue.

NAEA Convention- Ft Worth, Texas Edition

Today is my last day at the NAEA convention, although it continues on tomorrow without me.  It was a completely inspiring experience and I am so lucky to have attended 2 years in a row.  I took over 15 sessions and met colleagues who are doing amazing and innovative things in the realm of classroom teaching, academia, research, and museum education.  It is a great time to meet new educators and see old friends who are now scattered around the country.  I'll be sure to post a more detailed summary of some of my favorite sessions, new classroom ideas, and also my new favorite place to buy artist made jewelry in Ft Worth.