Fall 2013 class photos.
The kids learned about the relief sculptures of artist Louise Nevelson. After creating their compositions of found objects, everything was covered with layers of acrylic paint to unify the sculptures.
For the past two weeks the kids have been working on 1-point perspective. They spent the first week drawing their image and used the second week to add watercolor. This was a really complex project and they did an amazing job!
Fall 2013, Week 1: After looking at some examples of the abstract art of Stuart Davis, the kids made their own compositions. They started by writing their first name, which was then cut in 16 pieces and reassembled. The compositions were painted with a limited palette, using complimentary colors.
Spring 2013 class photos. Click on photos to enlarge.
This week the children practiced drawing what they see by creating monochromatic self-portraits. They created different values in their drawings by using only one color of their choosing.
After looking at the cut-paper collages of Henri Matisse, the kids created their own masterpieces focusing on organic forms.
Using liquid watercolors, the kids painted underwater landscapes. Focus was on creating depth by overlapping and color mixing. Each child had only the primary colors to work with (red, yellow, and blue). All other colors were mixed directly on their paintings by combining the primaries. To create the mottled effect, some kids sprinkled salt on their wet paintings.
Oh my gosh, I LOVE these! After looking at different artist's renderings of cities, the kids began by dipping cardstock in tempera paint and pulling the paint to create building shapes. Architectural details were added with Sharpie. Finally, backgrounds were colored with chalk pastel.
Winter 2012–3 class photos. Click on photos to enlarge.
Inspired by the folk art of Laurel Burch, the kids drew cats with black crayon and added patterns with white crayon. The crayon acts as a resist for the watercolors, which were painted on after, revealing the hidden patterns.
Using found materials, the children created collographs which they then printed using acrylic inks.
Drawing inspiration from Piet Mondrian, the children painted their own abstract cityscapes. They first masked off areas with tape and then used acrylic paint to create the colorblocks. Some children then used small pieces of colored tape to add details to their cities.
The children used construction paper to explore positive and negative shapes in these Japanese notan.
This is definitely one of my favorite projects to date. Inspired by a series of portraits by artist Maira Kalman, the children drew themselves from the waist down with their pets (real or imagined).
This week the kids learned about atmospheric perspective, or how to create depth through change in value. They looked at photos of mountains and then painted their own versions with tempera paint.
We began this class by learning about sand mandalas. We looked at common elements and devices, including symmetry and the use of repetition of shapes and colors. Then each child created their own mandala using colored pencil and Sharpies.
Fall 2012 class photos. Click on photos to enlarge.
Inspired by Matisse's fishbowl paintings, the children drew their own in Sharpie and then painted with liquid watercolors. This was my favorite lesson this session. Their work was so beautiful and full of personality!
Over the past 2 weeks, we learned about the work of Viennese artist Friedensriech Hundertwasser. Week 1 the kids created their own painted papers in warm and cool color combinations. Week 2 they used their papers to create collages which were then embellished with marker.
This week the kiddos learned how to use contour lines to create a cut-away view of their dream house. The goal was to include lots of details. Do click on the drawings to see them larger. The kids had so much fun designing a house where none of the usual rules applied!
The new Fall session is off to a good start! We did guided drawings of cats based on Paul Klee's painting "Cat and Bird". These were colored with chalk pastel.
Late Winter 2012 (Jan–March) class photos. Click on photos to enlarge.
Playing with the use of line and shape, the girls used letters as the starting point for their final projects of the Winter session.
Using white tempera paint and chalk pastel on black paper, the girls created their own abstract designs.
Starting with a guided drawing, the girls painted birds from the tropical rainforest. I love how each girl made her bird totally unique (which sometimes included ignoring the guided drawing altogether!). Painted leaved were collaged on after the birds and backgrounds were completed.
This week the girls learned about the elongated proportions favored by Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. I really love these and think they look like they were done by much older kids (remember, these girls are between 5-8!). Oil pastel on black construction paper.
Using the work of artist Jim Dine as our inspiration, the girls learned to mix tints and shades (by adding white or black) to paint their hearts.
For the past 2 weeks, the girls have been creating works inspired by Marc Chagall. After studying Chagall's paintings, the girls used marker, oil pastels, and tempra paint to create their own Surrealistic compositions.
Continuing our exploration of primary colors, the girls made prints, which they repeated to create a dynamic composition.
After reading Leo Lionni's Swimmy, the girls drew their own underwater worlds which were painted with watercolor. They had only primary color's (blue, yellow, magenta/red) and had to make all other colors by mixing directly on their paper.
Fall 2011 class photos. Click on photos to enlarge.
Watercolor-painted sunsets and water, which were then overprinted with hand-drawn cityscapes. This was one of my favorite projects to date!
Miró-inspired line art, which was then "painted" by allowing the color from tissue paper to bleed onto the drawings.
This week, after reading a bit about peacocks, we started with a guided drawing. These were then painted with liquid watercolors, and enhanced with silver Sharpies. I love how these came out. Each peacock has its own personality!
This week, after learning about proportion, the girls drew full-body self portraits.
Over the past 2 weeks, the girls learned about Van Gogh and then drew their own still lives using oil pastels. Gorgeous, no?
The girls completed their abstract paintings today, adding patterns to their shapes. The three paintings above are the work of my new students, Lila, Piper, and Alena. As you can see, I've got a great group of artists (again!).
Continuing our exploration of color through abstract painting.
Getting started with a new session by learning about color theory. The girls learned about primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
Spring 2011 class photos. Click on photos to enlarge.
The 4-year-olds used water and tissue paper to create bright colors on their drawings of birds. The color bleeds off the tissue and onto their drawing.
The 6-8 year-olds created monoprints from their own drawings, and then hand-colored them with colored pencils. These blew me away!
(P.S. If you love these, take a look at the Printmaking Summer Camps I'm offering in July & August!)
(P.S. If you love these, take a look at the Printmaking Summer Camps I'm offering in July & August!)
The 4-year-olds experiment with printmaking using everyday objects.
6-8 year-olds create cityscapes using texture and pattern. Once their shapes are in place, a single line is used to add details.
The 4-year-olds learn about symmetry using primary and secondary colors.
After learning about Matisse's cut-outs, the 6-8 yr-olds "draw with scissors" to create their own compositions.
This week the 4-yr-olds worked on their scissor skills, using collage elements to make their own oversized paper dolls.
The 6-8 yr-olds moved from abstract to realism this week, painting a still life. This was a really challenging project because they had to figure out how to show objects overlapping as well as size and placement relationships. They did an amazing job!
The 4-year-olds mixed secondary colors on their palettes to paint "rainbow gardens" in honor of spring.
Drawing inspiration from the work of Wassily Kandinsky, the children listen to classical music to create their abstract paintings. (Ages 6-8)
Pre-K 4 and 5 year olds make watercolor and chalk pastel jellyfish.
6-8 year olds work on their Chagall-inspired self-portraits.
Winter 2011 class photos. Click on photos to enlarge.
Inspired by The Paper Princess, the girls each make their own paper dolls.
Taking our cue from Georgia O'Keeffe, each child chose a single flower to paint “larger than life”.
This week we learned about the sculptures of Alexander Calder. The girls LOVED experimenting in 3 dimensions.
Pre-K kiddos learning about the "magic" of mixing primary colors. They were so excited to see new colors emerge!
My big girls using contour and defining lines to draw fruit and veggies (whole, half, quarter, and (the fun part) eaten! (6-8 yr olds).
Learning about shapes and primary colors through collage (pre-K).
Using color and line to show emotion in our Wild side/Calm side self-portraits (6-8).
Both age groups experiment with watercolors.
Inspired by the Leo Lionni book Swimmy, the pre-k class drew their own fish and then painted them with watercolors.
Exploring lines and shapes through printmaking (6-8).
Free drawing with black oil pastel and then painted with watercolors (6-8).