Tag: art education

7th & 8th grade – famous painting halloween costumes

7th & 8th grade – famous painting halloween costumes

Description of the Unit – To celebrate Halloween, students chose a famous painting featuring any kind of portrait, such as one of Vincent van Gogh’s or Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits. They recreated the painting onto posterboard, cutting out the area with the face so that they could ultimately “wear” the painting as a Halloween costume!

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Kindergarten: Monet’s Water Lilies

Kindergarten: Monet’s Water Lilies

Description of the Unit – Students will be “introduced” to Monet and will learn all about the ways he approached painting the world around him. Students will try to recreate his painting of water lilies, paying attention to their brushstrokes and the colors they choose.

Examples of Kindergarten student's Monet-inspired water lilies. Tempera paint on canvas.
Kindergarten student’s Monet-inspired Water Lilies
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6th Grade – Masks inspired by traditional masks of the Pacific Northwest

6th Grade – Masks inspired by traditional masks of the Pacific Northwest

Description of the Unit – Students explored the interesting history and dramatic artistry of masks of First Nations people of the Pacific Northwest. Taking inspiration from the colors and patterns observed in these masks, students made their own masks primarily using…egg cartons!

A 6th grade student's masks made of egg cartons, inspired by masks of the pacific Northwest tribes. This one is elaborately decorated, and painted in mostly purple and gold.
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4th Grade – Still life with colored pencil techniques

4th Grade – Still life with colored pencil techniques

Activity statement – Students will learn and practice essential colored pencil techniques (some of which can also be applied to painting, as well as chiaroscuro drawing) to create a realistic still life.

A variety of different still life drawings by 4th grade students
A variety of colored pencil still life drawings by my 4th grade students
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1st Grade – Recreating Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night

1st Grade – Recreating Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night

Description of the Unit – Students observed and discussed Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting, Starry Night, and, using what they noticed in the painting regarding color, texture and movement, attempted to recreate it in oil pastel.

Vincent van Gogh's original painting of Starry Night, painted in 1889, and using heavily textured brush strokes to express the swirling of wind and twinking of stars.
Starry Night, Vincent van Gogh, 1889
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8th Grade – Linoleum Block Printmaking

8th Grade – Linoleum Block Printmaking

Description of the Unit –

This is one of my favorite art units to teach, because it involves one of my favorite art forms to practice: linoleum block printmaking. There is something so satisfying about carving through that soft linoleum block, watching the shavings curl off the blade. Students love this art form, too, and always request it every year (I offer it as an elective).

A snapshot of some necessary supplies for linoleum block printmaking: linoleum block, bone folder, carving tools, Xacto knife, brayer, paint, paint tray, self-healing craft mat, non-slip carving tray.
A snapshot of some necessary supplies for linoleum block printmaking
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3rd Grade – Taking Inspiration from Bridget Riley’s Op Art

3rd Grade – Taking Inspiration from Bridget Riley’s Op Art

Description of the Unit – This delightful unit introduces students to optical illusion art. Students will observe and discuss different examples of optical illusion art, focusing particularly on the work of Bridget Riley. Using basic measurement skills, students will create their own two-color optical illusion design.

A photo of Op Art painter Bridget Riley in her studio, some time in the 60's.
Bridget Riley in her studio
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5th Grade – Franz Marc and his Kaleidoscopic Animal Paintings

5th Grade – Franz Marc and his Kaleidoscopic Animal Paintings

Description of the Unit – Students will explore the kaleidoscopic, expressionistic animal-centered paintings of Modern artist Franz Marc, applying the same concepts to their own compositions in oil pastel.

Deer in a Monastery Garden, 1912, Franz Marc. A very abstracted painting of a deer surrounded by a garden
Deer in a Monastery Garden, 1912, Franz Marc
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6th Grade – Self-Portrait inspired by the art of George Littlechild

6th Grade – Self-Portrait inspired by the art of George Littlechild

Description of the Unit – Students will create fantastical, energetic self-portraits inspired by the portraits of George Littlechild. Students will use a mix of sharpie markers, colored pencils, watercolor and acrylic paint for their portraits.

Vibrant and colorful self-portrait by the artist George Littlechild.
Self-portrait by George Littlechild. ©George Littlechild, https://georgelittlechild.com
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