Haring inspired school murals

      I started the year with a wonderful student teacher from UGA, Rachel Blair.  She did a gesture drawing Keith Haring style painting project with the 4th and 5th graders. While introducing Keith Haring, Rachel found a video from the 80's of Haring working on a mural with high school students. (It's quite amusing to see a professional artist try to instruct teenagers). We were so inspired by the process that we know we had to make some murals for the school.  Rachel drew these with black paint and then all of us painted patterns inside the shapes without the same color shapes touching. It was simple and really fun.  We painted quite a few shapes ourselves!  They are hanging outside the art and music room, the front entrance, and the cafeteria.

                           

                                   

Abstract Face Sculptures

    4th and 5th grade students studied the contemporary Georgia artist Kimmy Cantrell, who creates asymmetrical face sculptures with clay and found objects.  Many of the faces are based on memories and the titles help tell the story behind them.  In preparation for the big renovation over the summer I started collecting scraps and small objects that I didn't want to pack; these recycled objects made great inspiration.  Students started the project discussing asymmetry then they created a sketch of an asymmetrical face that was based on a theme or word. Can guess what these themes are? Then we used lots of glue to build the faces that were sketched, making sure to create dimension and visual texture.  We used SAX Versa Temp Pearl colors to paint.  These paints have a beautiful sheen and cover so well.

                                   

                                        

                                     

                                        

                                    

Kindergarten Self-Portraits

    Kindergarten self-portraits from the end of the year .  They have come so far!  They drew their bodies then backgrounds and had to use their imagination to create an exciting location.  It took quite a few days to finish painting and then the details were brought back with Sharpie outlines.

Coil Pots

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.