Wash Your Paint Brush!

All teachers (and parents) have their pet peeves. Dirty paintbrushes left upside down in the paintbrush containers is turning into one of mine. It has happened less and less as I remind the students of brush washing expectations, the short cuts that some (don't let it be you!) students take and the help of our art room mascot holding up this sign near our most used sink. :-)

I'm not quite sure why but the kids really respect the cow?!

Maybe because they think the cow is silly?

Maybe because the cow had a crush around Halloween they though was cute?

Probably because the cow knows that Art Rocks!

Almond Branches

One of my very favorite Van Gogh paintings is 'Almond Branches'. The painting was a gift for his Nephew. I just love the thought of him creating this beautiful, floral painting for a boy and every time I see this painting, I think of my son. For as long as I've loved this painting and for the amount of time that I stood looking at it like a cliche of a museum-goer, it never struck me to do a project around it. Standing in the hallway at Bear Tavern looking at the space where we are to create a wildlife mural, I noticed these eight, drab looking panels in the space above and in between our mural destination. Something has to go there, but what? A sky?! Not a corny old sky! Then it hit me Of course not a corny sky, a sky that is beautiful, strong and delicate! Almond Branches in a sky! And there you have it!

 It's circus week so my classes are a bit choppy. 3rd grade this morning only had art for 20 minutes. I promised our next project was a clay project so I didn't want to move on to something else or give a free art period. So, I spread out eight large pieces of paper and served them three scoops of paints and let them mix up the perfect blue sky. Wash the tables, wash your hands and on line for the assembly!
On comes 5th grade a few hours later. Same thing, but with slightly more time. Just enough that the half dozen or more hands that wanted to participate were able to enjoy painting the branches and flower petals.
I will hopefully be able to install some of these beauties tomorrow between lunch and the end of the day. Just can't wait!!

Grade 4: The Great Wave Continued...

Here are the Great Waves in progress that I blogged about back on Feb. 1 Click HERE for original post. They are coming along beautifully. Each student is maintaining certain characteristics from Hokusai's woodblock design but creating their own interpretation. I know I get excited easily but WHOA, these kids are doing quite an incredible job...and this is just a small sample of their paintings! Next week, we will finish painting and define the pieces before we move on. 

Will 4M

Mason 4M

Tanner 4M

Cameron 4M

How could I forget, the 4th graders are reading a book called "The Big Wave" in the 4M class. They were so excited to see "The Great Wave off of Kanagawa" in the cover art.

Hall display

Parade of Artists

Too often I hear a student casually mention that their parent is an artist or mention enough to give indication that their parent or family member is super artsy, even if not by profession. 

Mrs. Majkowski teaches a special workshop on making jewelry with sea glass

I would love to meet and work with these parents whenever we can make the time..they should not be hiding if they are willing to teach a workshop to their child's class or to a grade-level!

I have implemented this program/resource at my school called 'Parade of Artists' which will be a database of local artists and super crafty people who have interest in presenting workshops or being guest speakers at Bear Tavern. I would love to compile these artists and share the lists with other schools in my district so that we can all 

INFUSE MORE ART INTO OUR PROGRAM and ENRICH OUR STUDENT'S LIVES!

My Principal, who is a rock star Principal in supporting art and creativity, just sent the info below to families so we'll see what response comes in but I am excited to bring even more artists to the school!

Technology Ramble and 3rd grade teachers rock mumble

Tomorrow, we're getting set to complete (or almost complete) our Native American Chief portraits in my 3 Machado group with my other 3rd grade groups close behind.
I will post pictures of the completed project but wanted to post my review Prezi for you to see.
Technology is a huge blessing for art teachers. I remember in my years as an undergraduate having to spend a HUGE amount of money making posters and prints of famous art to complement my lessons. I feel very fortunate to have access to technology(Smart Board) in my classroom and access to iPad for each student, laptops, scanners, and so much more. I'm not looking to brag, but it great to work for a school district so strong in technology.
Ramble, ramble. This slideshow is a super short but is used to REVIEW and DISCUSS before moving on to the final stages of my lesson.
Click here to access my Prezi and then click the blue "Present" button in the tope left corner

Oh, and let me add, it feels awesome to complement the subject area learning via art. The 3rd grade teachers at my school are AWESOME! I almost melted seeing the longhouses that a couple of the classes built using bamboo. I almost missed the creativity happening in 3rd grade as I was not getting out of the art room much. So glad I did as the timing on this lesson is perfect.

Pictures soon, and I am creating a technology resources page to file powerpoints, prezi's, etc.

Grade 4: The Great Wave

I am not trying to be melodramatic at all but a great wave of emotions poured over me today as my 4th graders worked so beautifully on their Great Wave renditions.

We are not quite done, probably at the almost halfway mark on this project but I am just so inspired, in love with and proud of the results being produced.

Hokusai is one of my two favorite Japanese artists. I love and appreciate the technique of creating a woodblock print. What a tremendous skill level he had!
To read more about woodblock prints and Hokusai, click here
We discussed why Hokusai might have been inspired to create a woodblock of a Great Wave. Looking at the map of Japan made the guesses fly right in. Tsunami's are quite interesting. Check back for updates as we begin to paint!

Taylor 4M, Drawing for her Great Wave

Grounds for Sculpture: Weekend Arts and Crafts

Come on over to Grounds for Sculpture on Saturday, February 2. I will be teaching a fun little workshop from 12-3pm about Groundhogs. There will be other Groundhog related activities running as well.
www.groundsforsculpture.org

2013 Doodle for Google

Stay tuned for info on how we will handle Doodle for Google this year at Bear Tavern!
This will be our third year....first year we had a state finalist....maybe this year someone will win it all!

Update: ENTRIES ARE DUE TO THE ART ROOM BY MARCH 15, 2013.
An email blast was sent out by Mr. Arcurio this week containing all of the information that you need. I will discuss the contest with students each day next week.

Grade 5: Pandas

This time of year, I am not in Valentine's mode. Oh no, I am full on Chinese New Year. Well, last year more so but by Chinese New Year (Sun, Feb. 10), I should have at least 3-4 grade levels who have completed a project for Chinese New Year or a piece of art inspired by an Asian artist.

I am really excited for and proud of my fifth graders. They are doing such a nice job of being patient with themselves and drawing lightly as they feel through drawing panda bears.

Ultimately, these drawings will have a painted background.

Check back for finished art

Grade 1: Ice Skating Penguins

First graders are currently learning about penguins in their homerooms so it is a perfect time to draw them in art! We talked about penguin facts and their habitats. We viewed where different types of penguins live on the world map and even observed penguins on the Smart Board at Sea World via a live cam.

We worked to assemble our penguin drawings by combining simple, geometric shapes as the foundation. We added smooth lines to connect our shapes and added fun, cartoon style accessories. Here are the projects that are almost done.

Free Choice: Painting with Water

Some class periods, my students have time towards the end of the class period for a "free choice" project. Many will choose to draw or use blocks. I recently added these boards to my classroom for my kids to paint on using water. It's been a fun exercise in having them learn to be creative with each mark they place on the boards. 

Grade 2: Clay Nests and Animals

The joys of clay. The kids love it, I love it. It's the perfect material in so many ways over here at Bear Tavern School!

My second graders are working on clay nests and an animal to go inside. It's a fun project to review the pinch method of handbuilding ceramics and the proper way to secure pieces of clay.
Their imaginations were in full force with this project and they all did a fantastic job.

Estelle's (2L) is relaxing and holding a mini cell phone

Henry's (2L) was built really well

I love the pose on this one by Aldo (2L)

Next up is glazing their creations and then they will have to decide to take them home or leave them at school for the 50th Anniversary Art Show.

Clay Supply Organization

I am feeling proud of myself this wonderful Monday morning because I finally organized my everyday clay supplies into two crates. Before, they were organized but not nearly as well.
Over the weekend, I cleaned/organized underneath the bathroom sinks at my home and had extra energy for organizing coming in today.
My second graders are doing a clay project later today and I know they will be excited to see some of the supplies we use in these crates.

Shells for the NJ Shore: Update

Artists with big hearts rock!!!!

To date Bear Tavern artists have raised $2,250 being sent to rebuild schools 

on the NJ Shore. We will do another push in the spring!

It may seem like a lot or a little to you but, guess what?

We have partnered with other schools in the state and our current total is $22,390.13!

All from the sale of shell magnets and shell inspired art made by super rockin', amazing children.

Click here to view press articles

Shout out to Suzanne Tiedemann, the super Art Teacher in South Brunswick, who started this initiative. I hope to meet you sometime soon!

Grade 3: Starry Night

Van Gogh is my favorite painter and one of my very favorite artists. My 3rd graders put in major work to create broken lines showing expression in their skies indicating the direction of their wind gusts. We talked quite a bit about Van Gogh and looked at several of his paintings.

Tiernan

Sulkmani

Tots on Tour: Clown Fish

This weekend for my Tots on Tour class at Grounds for Sculpture, we discussed Clown Fish, where they live and their physical characteristics. 

Here are some of the paintings that the kids created (plus one from a middle school aged sibling) before I took the children on a nice, long tour.

Busy, busy but beautiful times!

We have been so busy in the art room (what else is new!) that I have not posted as much recently. We have been working on a mosaic for our school to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Bear Tavern. We have been so productive creating tiles and working on art projects. It's been an incredible time and we are looking forward to completion!

I will blog mosaic results in the next few months.

All Grades: A note to you

To all of my students, I hope you know how much that I love you. You are beautiful, wonderful and creative souls. I love being your art teacher.

Today's events are painful with the news of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. My heart aches as a mother and as a teacher.

Grade 2: Klimt Trees

We're making progress on our "Trees of Life" paintings in second grade. I have not taught this lesson in a few years but thought they were in order this fall.
We started out looking at Klimt's "Tree of Life" and then learned how to draw a decorative tree. Drawing the tree can be tricky but my students did a nice job.
We outlined in sharpie and then practiced painting the trees with even strokes.
Next we are discussing the color wheel. Students will pick a primary color to sponge paint their background and then an analogous color sponged on top of that. I will post finished trees in the next couple of weeks!