I just finished the 4th workshop in my "Teaching Teachers to Teach Art" series. This workshop focused on teaching Self-Portraits and we had a blast! We learned the basic "rules" for drawing portraits (see below) and did three self-portrait projects inspired by famous artists Paul Klee, Frida Kahlo and Amedeo Modigliani. I'll be sharing those lessons here on my blog over the … [Read more...]
Watercolor Fish with Pointillism
Last weekend's teacher workshop at Palace Art was a huge success! It's encouraging to know that so many teachers are eager to expand their art skills so they can share the benefits of Art with their students! For this workshop we focused on watercolor, so I thought I would share a few of the amazing paintings these teachers-turned-students produced. (Scroll down for the lesson … [Read more...]
Art Show – Lessons Learned
5th Grade Oil Pastel Paintings inspired by Marc ChagallI'm a "learn by doing" kind of person. And usually that means learning from my mistakes (i.e.what not to do!). But last week I had the rare privilege of learning from something that I unintentionally did right!! Every Spring we hang an Art Show that coincides with our school's Open House. In the past, I always saved … [Read more...]
Teacher Workshops
One of the fun projects we'll be doing at my "Watercolor Workshop for Teachers"! If you're reading this blog, you probably agree that KIDS NEED ART!!! As more and more schools eliminate their Art programs due to budget cuts, we need to get creative in finding ways to keep Art in the school day. To see that their students continue to have Art, many classroom … [Read more...]
“Ish”
This is one of my all-time favorite "art-story books" to read to my students! Beginning as early as 2nd or 3rd grade for some students, perfectionism can set in and give them the mistaken idea that their art needs to look like a photograph in order to be "good". Of course, these students are the minority, but it's so sad when you see this tendency developing in any child, … [Read more...]
Fun Paper “Frames”
"Framed" Self-Portrait by Colin, First GradeNothing enhances a painting like a good frame! Here's a fun and inexpensive way to frame your students' work.Let's assume you want to frame a 9x12 piece of artwork....1. Take a 12x18 piece of construction paper and trim it to 12x15 inches.2. Center your art on the 12x15 paper (leaving a 1-1/2" margin on each side) and glue it down … [Read more...]
Send Artwork Home Safely
Sending student artwork home can be a perilous experience! A project that took hours to create can quickly get crinkled or torn by the well-meaning rubber band you put around it. You can avoid this problem by keeping a supply of cardboard tube-rings on hand. Simply cut an empty paper towel tube into rings about 1-1/2" wide and slip the rolled-up artwork inside. A single … [Read more...]
Dot Monsters!
Dot Monsters are a perfect activity to teach to the whole class or use with those "early finishers" who end up with free time after completing a project. Kids from 1st grade through 6th grade love making these! Dot Monsters nurture imagination and encourage creative thinking and problem solving.... and they're FUN! Here's how you make them: 1. Any size paper will work for … [Read more...]
Going for the 90%
Most everyone has heard the inspiring education statistic, "We remember 10% of what we hear, 20% of what we read, 50% of what we do, 75% of what we discuss and 90% of what we teach." Well surprisingly, I learned there is actually no scientific basis for these percentages! (For one example, check out the article: "Debunk This: People Remember 10% of What They Read".) Even so, … [Read more...]
Pink Gold – Sketching with Erasers!
Did you know that the simple pink eraser at the tip of your #2 pencil is worth its weight in gold?? (Or maybe even more, since erasers don't weigh much!) Well, it is, and here's why... I don't use these erasers for erasing (I save that for my trusty Magic Rub Eraser). I use them for DRAWING. It's a little known secret that you can sketch on almost any kind of paper using the … [Read more...]
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