FIRST GRADE LANDSCAPES, Perspective and Aerial Views

In first grade we have started learning about how artists create landscapes.  so much to discover and so little time...  we had massive success and massive mess with out first artwork, a perspective drawing of Uluru (Ayer's Rock). This was more of a guided lesson than I normally do but wanted toe students to really understand the concept of perspective, distance and space in a 2D artwork. We used chalk pastels on black paper. Such a mess in the classroom but I think it was worth it. I was shocked at how well 6 year olds understood this concept actually...

Our next lesson was about aerial perspective. It was really an excuse to show the students work by John Olsen, a famous Australian painter.  I also thought it would be an interesting concept for the students to tackle. Most of them seemed to get it, though a few added a sun to their drawings. Don't they always? here are a couple photos of art process. I handed out aerial photographs of Uluru and demonstrated for the students how to look for lines and shapes and patterns and draw what they see. We used water soluble oil pastels an warm and neutral colours. Will take photos soon:

ENHANCING THE PLAYGROUND

Our ceramic mural has been installed in the preschool playground area! Fantastic! I think it needs a big pot of sea grass on either side to frame it... 

GARDEN CREATURES

The three year olds finished their garden creature bugs today. They started by rolling two balls of model magic clay and squishing them together. I love how their little wire legs stick out all over the place. I helped them with the fiddly sticking and poking. I cut wing shapes for them to decorate.  

They have a lot of personality and I am very impressed with how focused the three year old were and how careful their fine motor skills were.  Some really wanted to make their bugs look like an actual bee or fly or lady bug and some just enjoyed poking things into the clay!

CITYSCAPES... Coming along

This is week 2 of first grade working on their cityscape collage. Week 1 they worked only on the buildings in neutral colours. I modelled how to fold the buildings in half and in half again and cut window shapes out of the folded side and they were ridiculously excited. This week we spent time adding more details and I brought out the"special sparkly paper". Wow, you would think it was Christmas morning. Boys like shiny paper. Go figure. What makes a city look busy? Some of the responses are very creative. Next week we will paint the backgrounds with watercolour pans.

Fantastic road and airplane and although we were not
allowed to draw, this boy added the statue of liberty.
How could I resist my hometown symbol?

Fantastic composition!

This student begged to draw a jet pack but when
challenged to make one out of shapes he blew me away.

This student insisted on adding an exploding volcano and
lava tsunami. He visited every other table in the classroom
to find red sparkly paper for the lava.

Opera House in the foreground, and I bet
that number "1" means something special.

Kindergarten House Collages Finished

Did I mention I only teach boys? Hundreds of them...  Here is a portrait one of them painted at home to give to me. I think it is me. I might even be holding a paintbrush. Or a baton...or a club...  and I do have big feet. I was very touched. As one of many specialist teachers that sees hundreds of students per week, you often don't get the same constant sort of attention a classroom teacher gets.

Today some of the Kindergarten students painted the backgrounds of their houses. I love the textural feel to these artworks though aesthetically I think the houses got lost a bit. The students loved painting though.  And they all look so creative and individual. I couldn't believe the quality of brushstrokes at such a young age.

This student tried a horizon line!

Great composition!

This boy had a lot of fun...

A bit Van Gogh-like?

Though they were not supposed to "draw", this boy could not help himself
and how could I discourage such expression?

A House For Matisse... KINDERGARTEN HOUSE COLLAGE

We read "When Pigasso Met Mootisse" and designed a house for Mootisse/Matisse with bright colours and patterns! We were going to glue the shapes to a black background, but I decided that painting the background would extend the project further. We will paint the backgrounds next week using small brushes and watercolour pans.

Watercolour Textures!

Always looking for three year old art experiences... these were created on small pieces of watercolour paper, first painted then sprinkled with rice and allowed to dry.