Rousseau Inspired Collage

1st graders are studying the art of French artist, Henri Rousseau. We're focusing on Surprised! Storm in a Forest, 1891.  1st graders have been learning about the weather cycle and weather instrument in math and science.

The first day we printed textures on 6 different papers. On the second day we looked more closely at the painting and thought about how Rousseau's use of weather influenced the meaning of the scene. We watched a great video explaining the painting, then painted the top half of our paper gray with silver streaks of rain and white lightning.

The next class we discussed how Rousseau used the news, books, museums, and gardens to study plant and animals and get ideas for his subjects.  Rousseau wasn't a popular artist in his time and was often made fun of by other artist and critics. How would that make you feel? Why did he keep painting?
 Then we got to start collaging with our beautiful stamped papers starting with the trees and leaves in the background.
Next...the tiger! Stay tuned...

                         

Square 1 Art: Fine Art Fundraiser

It's time again to get great gifts for your family and support fine arts at Colham Ferry Elementary School!  Each child is bringing home an order form with their artwork on the cover and a whole sheet of stickers that are FREE.  Send in orders or even better order at Square1art.com .  Our school still gets credit for the order.  Check out what each grade made...

Kindergarten: Self-portraits

                                                           1st grade: Family Portraits

2nd grade: Self-portraits, When I grow up...

                                                                     3rd grade: Owls

                                         4th grade: Radial Name Designs (See post here)
                                                     
                                         5th grade:  Their choice of subject and materials

  

celebrate upcoming holidays with gifts that will be cherished for years to come. Purchase your child's artwork on useful keepsakes for any occasion or celebration. LAST DAY TO ORDER:10/28/2014

reminder: every order benefits your child's school

iPhone Case personalize Sports Bag personalize Waterbottle personalize

Shop now for unique and useful gifts!

Proceeds from this fundraiser support the budget for art and music at CFES.

Action Self-Portraits

More art from the end of last year!  These are action portraits by very active 1st graders (now 2nd grade).  We started by reading and acting out Eric Carle's book From Head to Toe. This got everybody on their feet and moving their body! Then I demonstrated drawing a figure in motion by drawing bent elbows and knees.  When students began I encouraged them to stand and make the pose so they could see where their arms and legs bent.  Then they drew backgrounds, painted and outlined. 

Hearts: inspired by Jim Dine

      These hearts weren't created for Valentines Day but for Jump Rope for Heart (a PE program about healthy hearts).  After discussing symbols and meanings of hearts we viewed and discussed the art of American artist Jim Dine, who created many sculptures, paintings, and prints of hearts.  Students painted hearts, covered them with vibrant patterns, and then wrote sentences to go with them.

1st grade Color Fish

 We packed many skills and techniques into these fish paintings!  We read a book about fish and learned how to draw different styles of fish.  The first day students drew six fish (3 large and 3 medium). Then they added a treasure chest and other ocean life.  The next day we played primary and secondary color games to review, then using only primary colors students painted the 3 largest fish with primary color and on the 3 medium fish they mixed the colors right on the paper to make secondary colors.

Then the next couple of classes we reviewed pattern got full paint trays to paint the other sea life, background and patterns.  On the last day students used oil pastels to create more patterns and details and they also used glitter to create their coins and jewels in their treasure chest. 

Alma Thomas inspired collage

  

First graders learned about Georgia born artist and educator Alma WoodseyThomas (1891-1978). She was a pioneer for African American women in fine art. 

 Thomas is best known for her nature inspired abstract color block paintings of from the 60-70s. 

Students created torn paper collages in the style of her painting The Eclipse with an emphasis

on the colors of the rainbow.  When dry they were cut into circular shapes and look great

displayed in our new hall!