My favorite, Fish Sticks!

 

 

Oh, love the Fish Sticks.  The girls get the pun! 

Here are some pictures of some of the ceramic fish that are currently out along the path around the pond. 

 

This year they used watercolor and painted light colors all over the fish, and then painted over that with dark colors.  Then the girls used a sponge to wipe off the dark color, leaving dark in the textures and scratches in the clay.  Some did not use this method, they had a choice.  Either way, fun!

 



 



Rangoli by Kindergarten and Primer

 

Rangoli designs are made in India, primarily by the women, and decorate the entryway into a home.  Kindof a welcome mat.  They can be made of dyed rice, flowers, etc., and can be swept away to make room for a new one! 

The kindergarten students loved looking at all of the pictures we found on the internet of Rangolis.  The designs are so varied, intricate, and simple.  Beautiful.

We made our own  Rangoli designs.  I made a simple grid and photocopied it so that the girls could get some ideas.  Then they drew their designs on large butcher paper, working on the floor, just like they would if they were in India.

 

They used white tempera paint and then added color. 

Some turned out so well and so vibrant. 

 

We hope you feel welocomed as you view our Rangoli designs!



From pulp to paper to project....

 

 

The kindergarten girls and I had a blast making paper!  We learned a little about China, including pictures from the trip Mrs. Jones and I made to China a few years ago.  Paper using pulp was first discovered in China! 

 

So, the girls picked paper in many colors, from magazines, scraps, etc., and tore up the pieces.  We took advantage of technology and used a blender to create our pulp.  I reminded them that this was not the original way!  One benefit of learning to make paper is that the girls will be ready to make margaritas at the next party their parents host.  Quite a Hockadaisy skill!

 

Here is a student mid-puree with her paper, now becoming pulp.

 

 



 

The mixture is poured into the mold, and the girls mix it a little with their hands.  The mold is then picked up and drained, then the girls spend a lot of time getting all the water out as well as compressing the paper fibers to make the paper!

 

A lot of squishing, but the love the outcome!  Below are just two examples of the finished product.  They practiced making several characters before selecting one to use on their handmade paper.  They are merely copying the strokes as they see them, not in any official Chinese way!

 



 

We discussed the use of a chop, so most used red to put their name or initials at the bottom of the paper.  That also helped me know which way was up!  They did an awesome job!  No fear of a new language when you are in kindergarten.



Eric Carle, lots of paint, and Kindergarten

Eric Carle is a well known author and illustrator, especially among the younger set.  We watched the video, "Eric Carle, Picture Writer" in class, and then used his methods to create our own collages.  I like how he just makes decorative papers without an image in his head.  He just makes them, and later pulls the sheets he needs to create the image. 

After I cover the room in paper (this is one messy project), I set up for stations to create the colorful papers.  The girls splatter-painted, rolled, scratched, and stamped their hearts out.  They loved it!

 

 

You can see the mess!  During the next two class sessions, they girls cut out shapes for their collage and glued them onto large pieces of paper. 

 



Working on the floor was easier for most of the girls.

 

 



 The one above was one of my favorites!  I loved the rhythm of the snakes!  They are large as well, she used the entire page.  Wonderful!

 

 I loved the ears on the animal on the right!

Kindergarten and Primer Art Exhibit and Reception

We are blessed with a gallery area at my school.  Once a year, the lower school has an exhibit.  The kindergarten and primer girls have an annual exhibit with an artist reception.  It is like the real deal.  I pick a theme, we do several projects based on the theme, and the girls pick one item to be displayed.  This year the them was "Animals".  The owls they girls made from clay were so amazing that I made a tree and displayed those as well.  So, this year, each girl had two items.  Here are just a few pictures from the reception.  Enjoy!

 

Paper Weaving

 

The Prmer girls worked on weaving with paper during the past week.  After they did their first project, they were given a watercolor on water project done a few weeks ago.  They selected another piece of colored paper, and decided which piece would be the warp.  I have always loved these weavings.

 

 



Whooo, Whooo....

The Kindergarten and Primer students are finishing up their last projects before they select one for the exhibit in December.  These owls will all be in the exhibit, they are fabulous!! They used a slab of clay, folded over an end, piniched a beak and used a variety of items to add texture.  After the owls were fired in the kiln (not kennel like a PreK said the other day!), they girls colored the owls with oil pastel and then painted them with black tempera, which we rinsed off.  They are amazing!  The idea for the oil pastel and tempera came from www.tartteaching.blogspot.com. 

 

I like the fact that the girls were not afraid to try different colors.  When the black paint was rinsing off, the girls were so excited to see the owl kind of appear!  Makes teaching art a joy......

Clay Animals in Kindergarten

For several years, I have used the X method to help students create clay animals.  They would roll a thick coil, pinch out the neck, and I would create an X on the body from which the 4 feet would be pinched.  The animals could stand up on the 4 legs or sit on its bottom.  Here is one example:

 

 

The animals end up pretty heavy.

 

 

 

As I was browsing through some old Texas Art Ed Conference papers the other day. I found a lesson on making clay animals using long slabs and paper towel or toilet paper rolls. So, thought I would try this method with one class.....

 

 

 

 

These animals seem to have more energy than the "old" way, and the students had more time to add details.  They also learned "scratch and wet" to attach heads, necks, etc.  I think I like this way more... any opinions?



Fish Sticks by Primer and KIndergarten

Can art be funny? I hope so! In the Primer and Kindergarten classes, we talk a little about humor in art. They love making these fish sticks, partly because they get to use clay, and partly because the get the "fish sticks" pun. What kid has never had fish sticks? They love to tell their parents that they made fish sticks in art! They painted the fish with watercolors and I sprayed a clear varnish over them since they are outside and exposed to the elements.
The girls did a great job adding texture to the clay as they were creating their fish, and using patterns when painting the fish.

Does the fish above have a mohawk for a fin!

The fish would go out by the pond we have at school, but we are having a big Fine Art Festival this weekend and they are out in front to help advertise the event.