4th Grade: Islamic Art and the Taj Mahal

In 4th Grade we have just completed our unit on Islamic art and architecture. Students learned that, just like Christian cultures during the middle ages, arabic culture's religion of Islam had elaborate illuminated manuscripts. These manuscripts were filled with bright colors and elegant calligraphy. 

We also took a special look at Islamic architecture through studying the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Students learned to recognize common features like domes, minarets, and archways. 

Our final art project for the quarter was a painting of the Taj Mahal. Students learned to use rulers, one point perspective, and symmetry to create their drawings. Once they had their drawing they learned how to correctly use watercolor and mix and blend colors on their palettes. I reviewed a little color theory and briefly explained complimentary colors. Students then used purple (the compliment of yellow) to created the shadows in their Taj Mahal. I am so proud of how well these little artists followed direction and explored their own creativity. Here are a few examples of exceptional student work (so hard to choose, they were all so good!):

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5th Grade: Value Scales

In 5th Grade this quarter we have continued our study of the Renaissance. Studying the beautiful works of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo has lead us into a discussion on light and shadow. Students reviewed their knowledge of value (the lightness or darkness of tones or colors) by creating their own value scales (a gradual transition between light and dark tones) in their sketchbooks. Students explored how the pressure of their hand on the pencil can create varying tones. They also practiced creating different values through using different techniques like blending, hatching, cross-hatching, and scribbling.

Art Club: Animals!

Students in art club have been learning how to draw animals!  They are learning to recognize basic shapes in the animal first before getting lost in the details. Slowing down enough to get the basic shapes on paper in light erasable lines before moving on to detail and the texture of feathers and fur, has been the biggest challenge. This week we took a special look at the drawings of famous Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Durer.

Here are some pictures of these little artists hard at work!

Sketchbooks!

There is still an issue where some students do not have sketchbooks. The 2nd Quarter is coming to an end, but pretty soon 3rd Quarter will begin, and they will definitely need a sketchbook by then. You can purchase a sketchbook at Hobby Lobby (across the street), Michaels, any art store (Jerry's Artarama and Blick Art Materials in Tempe), and even Walmart. Any sketchbook 8.5x11in or larger, spiral bound work best.

ALSO some students have made good use of their sketchbooks (I love it!) so far and will need new ones soon! Ask your student whether or not they might need a new one. We use our sketchbooks almost every day so it is extremely important!

4th Grade: Illuminated Manuscripts

In 4th Grade we just finished up our unit on Art of the Middle Ages. Students learned that art of the Middle Ages was mostly religious and an expression of devout faith and devotion to the Church. We spent some time studying the beautiful illuminated manuscripts made by the monks in the monasteries. Illuminated manuscripts were ornate books filled with beautiful calligraphy, gold leaf, and illustrations of Bible stories. One especially famous illuminated manuscript is the Book of Kells. Certain pages like the one below from the Book of Kells are what inspired our next project which was to create their own page of an illuminated manuscript.

Students began by choosing one of the the 9 virtues they are encouraged to take to heart at this school (Courage, Citizenship, Leadership, Wisdom, Humility, Honesty, Friendship, Responsibility, Integrity). Once they had chosen their virtue, they brainstormed an animal that they believed exemplified that virtue the most. The first letter of their virtue and the animal they chose became the content that filled their page. After filling the page with patterns, designs, and textures, they used watercolor to bring it to life. They then gave the finishing touches by using gold and silver sharpies to add the bright highlights to sections of the artwork, making them even more like the manuscripts they studied.  Here are a few examples of exceptional student work: 

Art Club!

Art Club has just started up. I am excited to see how these little artists will grow in creativity, imagination, and independence. Last week we practiced drawing self-portraits with personal mirrors.

This week they helped me get started on making a large display where artwork from all classes can be shown in the school hallway outside the art classrooms. We looked at the long tradition of frame making and how people often do not realize that there is an art to the frames that support an artwork. They learned about gilded frames and how they were ornate, elaborate, and incredibly detailed. The artists that made gilded frames often charged more for the frame they made than the artist would for the painting. 

Each student took part in decorating a section of the frame that will surround the display. 

More photos updating the project soon to come…

5th Grade Rembrandt Elephant Studies

In 5th Grade we have been studying art of the Renaissance. Lately we have taken a special look at the  work of masters like Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Rembrandt. Many of them kept sketchbooks or art journals full of study drawings and notes. A study is a sketch or painting done in preparation for a finished piece. For this project, we spent some time looking at Rembrandt's study drawings of elephants. The we tried our hand at drawing one just like he did.

Before beginning the actual drawing, students were introduced to charcoal as a special drawing medium used by artists throughout time. They learned how to properly use charcoal to create value (varying degrees of light and dark) through hatching and crosshatching. By the time they set to drawing the actual elephant, they had learned how to draw a realistically through using basic shapes and implied texture. Overall, they now understand the important skill of study drawing. It takes a lot of practice and many tries to be able to draw something well. 

 

Here are some exceptional examples of this project:

Parent Teacher Conference

Parent teacher conferences are coming up. If you would like to meet with me to discuss your students progress in my class please email me: bvoron@archwaylincoln.org.

5th Grade: Geometric vs. Organic Shapes

In 5th Grade at the start of the year we reviewed the Elements of Art and took a special look at shape. We learned that shape is a flat enclosed area that is 2-D (length, width) and can be geometric or organic.

For this project we sectioned off a square piece of drawing paper and divided it into 4 sections. They practiced geometric shapes and lines in the two boxes across from each other on the paper and organic shapes and lines on the opposite boxes. I challenged students to use pen instead of pencil for this project because it helps them to practice making strong, confident, and beautiful lines. Not having the ability to erase away a mistake was uncomfortable at first for these little artists, but they soon got the hang of it and grew to enjoy it and excel at it. You should be very proud. Here are some examples of exceptional work:

4th Grade: Can I Touch? Textures Hand

At the start of the year 4th Grade students reviewed the Elements of Art and learned more in depth about line, shape, and texture. I challenged students to use pen instead of pencil for this project because it helps them to practice making strong, confident, and beautiful lines. Not having the ability to erase away a mistake was uncomfortable at first for these little artists, but they soon got the hang of it and grew to enjoy it and excel at it. You should be very proud.

Students started out by tracing their hand on a paper and then dividing the hand into more manageable sections. After a few worksheets practicing various textures, the students began to fill in each section with a different designs and patterns. The results were so lovely and just as unique as the hand that created them! Here are some examples of exceptional work: