Instagram account

I created an instagram for our families to check out the creative happenings in the art studio! Follow us @anthemartists  :-)

Images of our choice based art

These are some samples of the original creations coming from our choice based art room. This is grade 2, keep in mind these are completely original and I am not asking kids to recreate something I did. These kids amaze me!

Centers opening success!

Yesterday was our first day of full choice art at Anthem. The studio centers include drawing, watercolor, tempera painting, weaving, and limited clay (still waiting for my clay order to be delivered!!). Weaving has been the favorite by far, and all kids even first graders are trying it- success comes with practice! Choice based art opens up a world of possibilities and the kids are energized as well!

Anthem's Choice based Art program

We are transitioning to a choice art studio and the kids are so excited!! The basic idea of choice based art is allowing students to think and create like artists by choosing their subject and technique. I am creating centers where students can create a sculpture, weaving, collage, painting, and there are many more possibilities. Please recycle your materials at the art room! We could use the following:
Cereal boxes
Tape, any kind
Crafting supplies (any and all)
Foil
Newspaper
Fabric scraps
Gatorade or Kool aid containers (empty)
Lego bricks, no mini figures or accessories(if you don't need them and want to donate to the architecture center)
Wooden blocks for architecture center
Sewing supplies
And the list goes on!! Thank you for reading :-)

Second grade ceramic turtles

Today we had a blast in second grade creating turtles! Students learned about the technique to join two pieces of clay, score and slip. Then we made a clay 'pancake' aka: turtle shell, and a clay coil which was cut into 6 peices: 4 limbs and a head and tail. We joined the parts to the shell and added texture using clay tools, after they are fired we will glaze! Can't wait to see them finished!

1st grade Rocket Ships

In first grade art we learned about geometric shapes. We made a rocket out of a rectangle and triangle and created an outer space scene with painted paper! They turned out beautifully and the favorite part was adding glitter at the end ;-)

Radial soda can designs

7th and 8th graders are working on a recycled art project using soda cans and acrylics! They look incredible already and we still have to make the mounting plate!

6th grade Art: Tesselation designs

This week we are learning about the history of Tesselation designs, which date back to ancient times. Students are creating their own Tesselation stencil and will be incorporating it into their projects, pictures coming soon!

Kindergarten flag collages

This week in Kindergarten art we began the process of making our U.S. Flag collages! We viewed Jasper Johns famous flag paintings and discussed the symbolic meaning behind the stars and stripes. Students created red and blue painted paper which will be used to create a flag collage.  Kinders absolutely love painting and their faces light up when I bring out the brushes! They are precious! Pics to come soon!

3rd graders visit outer space!

This is an all time favorite lesson of mine. Highlighting the concepts of value and balance in a composition as well as introducing new techniques for the kids. First we splattered our starry outer space, then we did a messy painting of multiple colors on a sheet of large paper. Day two involved tracing and cutting all types of circles and assembling them as our planets- and using scraps as the mountains! Students learn about adding value to add the illusion of space and we used black oil pastels for this blending technique. The last part will be adding astronauts in the mountains, I am excited to see the kids standing on their very own planets!

4th Grade: winter landscape painting

I saw this idea on pinterest and thought it would be a great way to introduce color mixing tints and shades, as well as the concepts of atmospheric perspective. First we viewed a PowerPoint and discussed what the elements of a landscape are, including horizon line, foreground, middle ground and background. We then learned the change in value that occurs in atmospheric perspective. Students then mixed their own tints (color+white) and shades (color +black), and began on the landscape painting. They are finishing these up and I am floored at the beautiful paintings being created! Take a look and see for yourself :-)

2nd grade Matisse collages

Today we learned about the French artist Henri Matisse, his health issues which led to his moving from painting to collage work and we also learned that the word collage is french for 'to glue'! We used colorful scraps to create a collage with shapes and created our own organic shapes. We used the positive and negative shapes to add interest to the composition. We had a great time!

3rd & 4th Grade: Love is in the air at Anthem School

This week we integrated art concepts into a heart themed art project. All grades did a beautiful job on their work!
4th graders learned about the splatter painting style of Jackson Pollock and 3rd graders created a radial design using hearts in a unique composition. I love the bright colors and balanced compositions!