Art Journal Challenge #4

Okay, so you may have done this one in class today, but I think it's really important to recognize the sacrifice of others. Your challenge is to design a holiday card. You can begin in your sketchbook, then if you like it, make a set for giving! Save one and send it to a service member overseas. You can bring  in holiday cards with a thankful note in an open, blank envelope to Rep. McNerney's Antioch office (4703 Lone Tree Way) by Nov. 6, or check out a list of opportunities to support service members at this site.  Record a favorite holiday memory in your sketchbook, or list the activities you would like to do during the holiday season. Sure, go ahead and include Halloween!

Christmas in October

Normally, people do something like this on October 29:

(Pumpkins from last week. Aren't they adorable?)

But we were doing this:

holiday cards for service members! It was quite amusing to see students dressed as rats and video game characters decorating Christmas cards as they listened to holiday music (to bring in a little of that seasonal spirit!)  Look at the huge stack I will be delivering on Monday!

A special thank you to the third/fourth grade class. Their class was shortened due to the costume parade, yet they made more cards per student than any other class! They are an enthusiastic and caring bunch!

Art Journal Challenge #3

We have many objects in our lives that have stories to tell. Maybe it's a teddy bear given by a special relative. Maybe it's a mug purchased during a favorite vacation. Perhaps it's a "lucky" rock that's always brought good fortune. Select a special object this week and draw it using any medium. Then, on the same page, tell us the story behind the object. Here's mine from the vacation we took over fall break:

I'd love to see your special object!

In the Spirit

The older classes finished up their negative space mythical beast drawings today, and I was so caught up with box tops that I forgot to snap some pictures! I did, however, get some shots of the pumpkins the younger classes painted today.

They had such distinct personalities! Next week the students are invited to wear their costumes to school and there will be a costume parade on the blacktop during the last class. We'll have another seasonal art project next week (no paint, so costumes are safe!) and will finish up Greece the following week with paper mache masks. No flour will be used in the mixture so it's safe for those with celiac disease or wheat allergies.

A big thank you to all of the families who sent in box tops! We collected more than I expected for the very first turn-in! 

Mythical Beasts and Negative Space

Yes, we are still in Ancient Greece and today we covered a popular subject - mythical creatures! The older students learned about the various types of dragons, creatures and beasts in Greek mythology, while the youngest students were told the story of Perseus' rescue of Andromeda. Being a former ancient history teacher, it's a topic I love, and I have vivid memories of discovering the D'Aulaires' book in the school library and devouring it in fourth grade. It's still my favorite Greek mythology book for children.

I also introduced the concepts of line and negative space. The students began a project combining their own mythical beast with line work in the negative space (pictures next week). The younger students often resisted working with the negative space (a hard visual concept developmentally) and chose to focus on their beast, which is fine. The older students took to the task and will be completing their pictures next week.

Pre-Break Wrap Up

Today was our wrap up day for projects. Some of the students were still working on their mosaics, and some worked on an oil pastel guided drawing of a sea creature.

The students used one of my favorite supplies, water soluble oil pastels. Once the pieces were colored, the students used plain water to blend the colors and create a water effect around the creatures. 

The 7-8 class used view finders for their sketchbook warm-up. The frames help the students to focus on details, and draw what they actually see as opposed to their preconceived idea of what the animal should look like. There were some amazing drawings!

I am STILL collecting newspapers and toilet/paper towel rolls for future projects. We will be continuing with ancient Greece for a few more classes, with mythical creatures and Greek theatre masks still to come!