Layered Self-Portraits, part 2

Do Now: Draw an underwater scene that you might see while you were scuba diving. It can be realistic or fantasy. 

Today, the 3rd and 4th graders finished their layered self-portraits. First, students made colorful pictures full of symbols that represented themselves. Next, each child received a piece of tracing paper, on which they drew a detailed portrait of themselves using only pencil and black marker. 

The results were beautiful, colorful self-portraits that really look like our 3rd and 4th graders!

Eric Carle: Day 2

Do Now: Draw an underwater scene that you might see while you were scuba diving. 

Today the 4th graders had a special guest, so for this week 1st and 2nd grade had art on Monday and Tuesday, and 3rd and 4th grade will have art on Wednesday and Thursday. 

First, we read "From Head to Toe", an interactive book by Eric Carle. Listen to the book below.

Our 2nd Eric Carle project is 2 parts. Today, we worked on part 1. First, we watched a short slideshow from Eric Carle's website about how he makes the paper for his collages. You can take a look at the slideshow here. 

Carle paints his own paper, so we did too! Today, students painted paper in vibrant colors. We'll let the designs dry and collage with them next week!

Eric Carle

Do Now: If you could have anything grow on trees, what would you choose?

"The tree has jolly ranchers, ice cream, Kit Kats, gummy bears, gummy worms, and hershey kisses."

"I put bows on the tree. Bows are pretty."

"A flan tree. Because I love flan."

"It would be [a] notebook [tree] because I like to draw and write."

"I am growing hearts out of my tree."

Today the 1st and 2nd grade began to study a new author/illustrator: Eric Carle.

To start off class, we read the Eric Carle classic "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". You can listen to it below.

After reading the story, we talked about Eric Carle's artistic style. The students observed that Eric Carle uses collage, rather than painting or drawing. 

For our project students got to experiment with collage, using colorful printed paper to make images of caterpillars, butterflies, flowers, and food! 

Layered Self-Portraits, Part 1

Do Now: Draw a picture of yourself if you had something growing from your head instead of hair! What would it be? Make sure to explain!

"I have a person with a person with a person with an apple growing out of my head."

"I would grow bacon because it's delicious. Also, spaghetti and money."

"There are microphones because I love to sing."

"I would have the empire state building, birthday cakes, and antennas."

"I've got flower buns!"

"Microwave hair. I can get popcorn if I say it!"

"I have strawberry smoothies with a hot dog on my head!"

"I have another head!"

As part of our portraits, still lives, and landscapes unit, the 3rd and 4th grade began working on layered self-portraits. This project is similar to the layered family portraits that the 1st and 2nd grade did a few weeks ago. For a refresher, take a look at their past project here. 

Today students worked on part 1 of the project, drawing colorful symbols of themselves. Next week, they will finish these up and work on part 2!

Peter H. Reynolds: Part 2

Do Now: Design a new sculpture for a museum. What is it made of?

Today was our 2nd and last day studying Peter H. Reynolds. Students got to finish their "ish" paintings, as well as work on paintings inspired by "The Dot" . We read "The Dot" as part of our introduction to art class - you can read about that class, here. 

Here are some of the finished "ish" paintings…

And here are some paintings inspired by "The Dot".