I recently discovered a new product that I've become obsessed with... the Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate. I've always loved monoprinting, but Gelli Plates take this art form to a whole new level. Printmaking with a Gelli Plate is similar to gelatin printing, but the plate itself is much more durable, it's reusable, you can store it at room temperature, and the resulting … [Read more...]
Light Has Come!
Religious paintings were a favorite subject of the Old Masters (trained European painters who worked between the mid 1400's to the early 1800's). In paintings from this time period, Jesus was often depicted with a glowing light that would radiate out from him. This example of the Nativity (or birth) of Christ by Dutch artist Gerard Van Honthorst (1622) is a great example of … [Read more...]
Burlap Needlepoint Mandala
It's football season and that means it's the perfect time to introduce needlepoint art to your students! If you're wondering what football has to do with needlepoint, look no further than former NFL great, Rosey Grier. I used to have trouble getting my 5th grade boys to take anything seriously that involved a needle and yarn.... they just thought it wasn't "manly" enough! … [Read more...]
How to Make a Japanese Notan-Inspired Ornament
My 5th graders loved making these Japanese Notan-inspired ornaments. "Notan" is a Japanese word meaning "dark/light". It represents the design concept of arranging dark and light (2D) shapes together in a harmonious way. The Japanese Notan effect is easy to achieve with cut-paper. It tends to look more complicated than it really is, and students are fascinated with the finished … [Read more...]
Oil Pastel Still Life Inspired by Vincent Van Gogh
Students will be surprised to learn that Van Gogh was not popular as an artist during his own lifetime.... a great example that the opinions of popular culture do not always prevail! This project usually takes 2-3 fifty minute sessions to finish, and the results are frame-worthy! Vocabulary: • Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) - Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh is one of the best … [Read more...]
How Full Is Your Bucket?
The books that inspired this lesson have nothing to do with art, and the illustrations were not what attracted me! What I LOVE about these books is their message. And what better way to drive home a great message than with a fun art lesson??! Inspired by a bullying episode at my school, I saw this idea as a way to make a difference, so I had to try it. I figured if even one … [Read more...]
Oil Pastel Houses Inspired by Marc Chagall
Students enjoy creating these quirky street-scapes inspired by Russian artist, Marc Chagall. There's just something really fun about crooked buildings and random things flying through the air! Materials: 12x18 black construction paper #2 Pencil with pink eraser (the eraser is handy for "sketching" your layout!) Oil Pastels "Wet wipes" for clean up Examples of the … [Read more...]
Oil Pastel Cats Inspired by Laurel Burch
What's not to love about these whimsical, colorful cats inspired by San Francisco artist, Laurel Burch? This fun project can be adapted to almost any age group.... the examples here were done by my 4th graders. My students always enjoy learning about the lives of famous artists, and the story of prolific artist Laurel Burch (1945-2007) really inspired them! Her highly … [Read more...]
Masterpiece Mosaics: a Collaborative Art Project for Grades K – 8
These colorful projects, which I call "Masterpiece Mosaics", were a collaborative effort by my students in grades K through middle school. Each grade level created their own copy of a famous painting - six masterpieces in all. These were really pretty easy to do, and super FUN! We're hoping they'll command a high price at our school auction in the spring! Check out the rest of … [Read more...]
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