Great Wave of Hokusai.

 

 

Fifth grade learned about the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.  He went by 30 different names during his art career so some of his artwork might be hard to find.  This one is titled "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa".  The students painted their own version of this.  Sometimes I give art tests and they basically observe a piece and then inspire to create their own.  Well done fifth!

Rizzi birds.

 

I threw in a James Rizzi clay project right after they did their James Rizzi cityscape paintings.  My fifth graders might be Rizzied out now.....I'm not though.  Clay, fluorescent paint, and sticks were used for this project.  Thyey learned about the art element of  "Form".

Rizzi cities.

 

Fifth grade learned about an artist named James Rizzi.  Look him up sometime, he was a happy fella.  His art fell in line with the pop art culture.  My students learned about cityscapes and the simplicity of cartooning.  We used black crayon and fluorescent paint for this one.  The students were suppose to show me depth through overlapping as well as balance.  I could stare at these all day....but then I wouldn't get anything done.

Gustav Klimt.

 

 

Fifth grade learned about Gustav Klimt and how he used gold to paint the "Tree of Life".  One of the best parts of being a visual arts educator is that I get to teach Art History.  Anyway, the students used fake gold to paint these beauties, I couldn't afford real gold. 

Dia de Muertos.

 



Grades 1-5 learned about the "Day of the Dead" and a little bit about the culture of Mexico.  I like teaching about this because it brings out the idea that when you lose somebody you love you can always and forever celebrate their life.  It is a very positive lesson.  This is the sugar skulls that the Fourth and Fifth Graders did. 

 



Monet is Awesome.



Actually Westside is awesome!  Fifth Grade did their own version of Monet's Japanese Bridge.  We discussed Impressionism and focal point.  Several of these can be seen at Beans N' Cream on Main Street.  Well done fifth Grade.



Brushstroke trees.



Fifth Grade showed me they knew a variety of ways to use their paintbrushes by painting various trees along a horizon line.  They twisted, blotched, dabbed, brushed, scrubbed and any other action word you could use to create their trees.  Some even used the wrong end of their brush.  This was a great problem solving activity!



Who are you project.

Fourth and fifth grade did a spectrum study that involved personality.  The students simply used marker with this one.  They had to discover several positive things about themselves in order to complete this project.  Amazing how much you can learn about a person by looking at their art.

Van Gogh Sunflowers.

Fifth grade learned about Van Gogh and the process of painting the sunflower.  We used thick brush strokes to get the same feel that Van Gogh had in his paintings.  We tried to create texture through the paint.  We also discussed composition and how to lay out a peice of art.  Very nice results.