An artist talks with pictures!

I'm an artist and I talk with pictures! This is how I display instructions for my kindergarten and first grade classes. I printed the pictures, had them laminated, and put magnets on the back.

Let's talk tape!

I love all the different patterned duct tape that's out there right now! I've been using it for a couple of different things.

I have a window in my door with ugly metal framing, so I've covered it with tape. On one side is splattered paint tape, and the other side is a fall tape to welcome the season. 

My cabinets are where I keep the students' work. I've taped the grade labels to the cabinet with splattered paint tape. Very fitting for an art room!

Guide lines on the floor is another way I use the tape. One thing that has to be taught in elementary is how to get into a line. I have rainbow tye dyed tape outside my door, and star tape for getting in line at the drying rack. I tell my students to take their picture to the "all star line", and they know exactly where to go. No crowding around the drying rack!

Bulletin board border! I love using tape as border .

On a side note, lets talk border storage. I don't have a large paper drawer for borders and found that I didn't really have a spot to store them. My solution was to put two comand hooks up, tie some yarn to them,  and hang the borders on the string with bulldog clips.

This is in my supply closet. They're hanging up out of the way, nice and neat. I can also see what I have at a glace.

Do you use duct tape in a new cool way? Please share your ideas!

First Grade Color Wheels

I love to start the year off with color. I think it really sets the foundation for the year. I'm always trying to think of different ways to go over the color wheel without making it the same ole thing. I decided with this project that I would also incorporate value, pattern, and emphasis.
I started by having the students paint a gray vase. They had to mix to make the gray. They painted the "table" black, and put a pattern in the background.

The next class they added the stem and petals. I think this may be a keeper.

Holly vintage stencil batman!

Look what was in a box of donated supplies. Am I the only one who finds this super neat?

Romero Britto in Kindergarten

I love to make Pop Art to go in the hall when spring gets here. It's so bright and lively! They are great pieces that contrast the past few winter months. I wanted to try this Romero Britto inspired art lesson with Kindergarten, but wasn't sure how they would turn out. To say the least, I am pleasantly surprised and will definitely keep this lesson in my repertoire for years to come. Here is my example.

After looking at and discussing Britto's art, the students traced a shape on their paper. I chose to offer a heart, fish, or butterfly. It was close to Valentine's day when we started these, so I got LOTS of hearts. Next they drew three lines going from ones side of the page to the other, and put black oil  pastel on the pencil lines.

Time to paint in the open spaces!

Finally, use colored oil pastels for patterns and designs.

Here are some nice ones I wanted to showcase.

Do you do any Pop Art with your kinders? Please share in the comments!

One of the Reasons I Teach

This is one of my favorite things about being a teacher. We've started this op art lesson in fourth grade, and one of my students went home and made a complete one , on their own, last night. I love when they take what they've learned in class and create outside of the classroom!

Facebook

Hello! I just wanted to drop a note and let you know that I do a lot of posting to my Facebook page. I find it's easier to manage because I can quickly make a post from my phone. If you haven't seen it, stop by and like my page.
https://www.facebook.com/PicturesAndPaintBrushes?ref=bookmarks

Here's a taste of what you will see there. Thanks!

Winter Cardinals

Winter is almost over but I wanted to do a winter project with my kinders. I've always enjoyed the sight of a bright cardinal during the winter months. The contrast of a cardinal and a bare tree is gorgeous, and even more so if it's a snowy day.

I really thought this project would be great for my kindergartners because of the fine motor skill practice of tearing and cutting. They also got to experience controlled splatter paint. I don't care what age you are, splatter paint is fun!

They worked so hard, and a lot of people were surprised when I told them kindergarten made these. This will definitely be a project I do next year.

Math and Art:Snowflakes and Radial Symmetry

I love Pinterest. Actually, I think it's required for teachers to love Pinterest. On several boards I've seen ideas on what to do with paper towel rolls. For an art teacher on a budget, paper rolls are a free medium so I took note.

It's also no secret that I love snow. I thought that my fourth graders could use the rolls to make snowflakes. I also thought this would be a great project to introduce symmetry and radial symmetry. Not only is symmetry part of the principles of design (under balance), but it is also part of the fourth grade math standards.

We talked about symmetry, line of symmetry, and radial symmetry. We did an activity were the students identified objects as being symmetrical, and located the line of symmetry.

The students then cut one inch sections of the paper rolls and painted them white. They mad as many as they could until the end of class.

The next class, we reviewed our vocabulary and assembled the snow flakes. They first laid out how they wanted to assemble the flakes and then glued the pieces together. Some students needed to cut more pieces.

Something to note though is that the curls must be made from previously painted rolls. If you try to paint a curl, all the water from the paint will soak into the cardboard and unroll the curl. I learned this lesson while trying to make my teacher example.

The last class was spent painting any areas that needed it. They then dipped one side of the flake in glue and then into glitter.

Now, glitter is way out of my comfort zone. It gets everywhere and is not my favorite medium, but it really finishes the flakes. I decided to set up an assembly line for the glitter, that way it stayed contained to one area.

While some came out symmetrical and some radial, I think they look really nice. I put a string on each one so that they could be displayed on a door knob, in a window, or on a tree.

This will definitely be a project that I do next year!

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Merry Christmas

SNOW PLEASE!

First let me say that my thoughts and prayers are going out to the families and community in Connecticut. My heart is broken and when listening to the news all I could think of was my little ones faces at school. How sweet and precious they are. Don't take for granted the chance to hold on to and tell someone you love them.

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I got into the door decorating mood this year and wanted to share my love of snow.

This is sort of my idea of a snow dance. I figured if I decorate for it, it will come. Sure the high today was in the 50's, but there's time. I'm leaving this door up until March and hoping everyday!

Crayon Shaving Fall Trees

We are on Thanksgiving break right now and I feel like autumn is fleeting. I've always felt that the Friday after turkey day was the beginning for Christmas  and winter festivities. So here is my last post related to fall because next you will be seeing snowmen and snowflakes!

I did this project with my first graders. We first talked about which season we were in and the different attributes that went along with fall. Namely, colorful falling leaves.

I showed them how to create their trees with brown construction paper. After they were done creating the tree they brought me their picture so that I could add crayon pieces and iron the wax paper together. We had a nice orderly system going that worked really well.

After their paper was fused together, they added a black border and put a fall pattern on it with oil pastels. 

I have to say that I didn't intend for them to be sun-catchers. I was just simply holding them up to look at and realized how great and vivid  they looked with the light shining through.

I decided to display them in the windows above the front door. This is a heavily trafficked area where I knew the student's work would stand out. 

This was a great one day project that included science in the art making. The students really enjoyed it and thought it was so cool how the crayons melted. I am excited to do this project again next year.

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