For centuries, artists have created self-portraits to give others a glimpse into who they are. Since our likes and dislikes, personalities, hobbies, and skills all contribute to making us interesting and unique, why not include those in a self-portrait, too? And what could be a more fun approach to this than a mixed media collage??! For this project we used a bit of … [Read more...]
Send a Handmade Postcard to Support the Arts
Show your support for the Arts with a handmade postcard! January’s #CMACIVICKIDS Digital Challenge is a Postcard Party. When you send a postcard to one of your elected officials with your original art on the front, your message is more likely to get noticed. And a self-portrait will make your communication even more personal! You’ll Need: *card stock (if you have … [Read more...]
My Mona Lisa Surprise
Our son’s wedding in Europe last week gave us the perfect excuse to visit some of the world’s most spectacular museums and view masterpieces up close that I'd only ever seen in books. As an Art teacher who had never experienced Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa in person, the Musee du Louvre in Paris had to be our first stop! Many people warned me that I’d be surprised when I … [Read more...]
22 Ways to Combine Writing & Art to Encourage Creativity
I recently had the privilege of helping my adult daughter edit the manuscript for her first book. Her first real, published book. A book with an agent, a publisher, a release date (April 2017), and it’s own pre-order page on Amazon. A proud parenting milestone for sure! But this book of hers has been a long time in the making. In fact, we can trace its origin all the way back … [Read more...]
Mona Lisa – Fact or Fiction? 50 Fantastic Things to Know!
My students became experts on all things Mona Lisa the year we ‘adopted’ the Mona Lisa as our Art Class Mascot! For generations, the Mona Lisa has captivated the imaginations of young and old alike. Her mysterious smile hints that there is much we don't know about this painting, and the woman in it. But there is also a lot we do know... or at least we think we know! I was … [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...]
Self-Portraits Inspired by Grant Wood
Grant Wood (1891-1942) was an American artist best known for his paintings of rural American life. My students were fascinated by the story of how his father died when Grant was only ten years old, and his mother had to move her family from their home on the farm to the big city. This was a hard move for Grant, who missed his farm animals and his life in the country. He felt … [Read more...]
Thumbprint Self-Portrait
Here's a great idea I found on Pinterest.... You can see lots of inspiring examples here and here. I tried this lesson with my middle school students and they really had fun with it! For more detailed instructions with photos, tips, writing prompts, a student gallery, and fascinating fingerprint facts, check out my pdf on Teachers Pay Teachers! Materials: Black … [Read more...]
Happy 100th Day of School!
Last week our adorable Kinders celebrated the "100th Day of School". One of their many fun activities was to draw self-portraits of themselves today and in 100 years! As you can see, the results were charming!! Even if your 100th Day of School has already passed, this is a fun project to do anytime!1. Fold a piece of 12"x18" white construction paper in half.2. On the left … [Read more...]
Picasso Portraits – Kindergarten Style!
Picasso gives us many great opportunities to teach about abstract art! I like to do this lesson with my Kinders after I teach them the more "traditional" methods of drawing portraits. They really enjoy this chance to "get a little crazy" with their art! (Warning: Get ready to hear some of the FUNNIEST comments from 5 and 6 year olds while doing this project.... My favorite … [Read more...]