- 6th to 8th Grade Gallery -
Sixth Grade - Stained Glass Window Designs
Our first lesson was all about Radial Symmetry -
making an artwork that is balanced evenly, all the way around. We practiced quite
a bit with newsprint paper before using heavier black paper for the final cutting.
Colors were added using tissue papers - and all colors needed to by symmetrical, too.
Sixth Grade - The Last Supper
We viewed the famous fresco by Italian Renaissance artist, Leonardo da Vinci, then drew our own rooms based on the painting, using a simple 1-point perspective to show depth. Each artist then had to create their own story that was taking place, there:
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- Colors were added using colored pencils, or for those who wanted to try making their work look "ages" - wax crayons and brown tempera paint thinned with water.
Sixth Grade - Using Yarn: Kumihimo Braiding or Nearikas
The class divided into 2 groups - most using a round loom to do a Japanese cord making technique and the rest to try a "yarn painting" in the style of Huichol indians of Mexico.
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- Sorry I didn’t get more pics - I read to the class for most of the time: "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer ;-)
Sixth Grade - Posters: School Issues
Our first group project of this year was to list, discuss and select one topic to create a poster. The topic could be a suggestion for change or a message to the entire school population.
Sixth Grade - Auto Designs
Ah, we love the group work ;-) Next, we did individual drawings, looked at examples and got into new groups to select and build a model of a car.
Seventh Grade - Maskmaking
We started our first project with a group contest: name as many natural and human-made
items that could be used in an artwork you can. Next, we viewed examples of masks, discussed
their purposes and examined the materials used to make them. Then planning work began -
everyone chose a Process to use to make the
basic form, then sketched-out the colors and idea for it.
Some used plaster-filled gauze strips and a plastic form to get a human-like face. Others
chose to build-up thin cardboard, newspaper and masking tape to get a more custom shape.
Then, everyone mixed paint colors to use on their mask & finished by adding materials
for decoration. Masks were then prepped to wear and/or hang:
Seventh Grade - Calligraphy
Our next project [chosen by the class] was to try our hand at "The art of beautiful
writing", or calligraphy. It involves using a special pen with a flat nib [tip] and holding
it at a certain angle [35 - 45 degrees] while making lines that form each letter.
It is also important to try and make the letters consistent in size and spacing, to space the words
correctly - AND to space the lines evenly! We used guideline papers to help with the last one...
Everyone decided on the text they wanted to use, and we spent
time practicing 3 main alphabet/font types:
- Chaucery - An italic [slanted] script.
- Uncial - A rounded, all caps [capital letters] script.
- Gothic - A pointed, decorated script.
Seventh Grade - Plaster Casting or Clay Figures
Since this class’s behavior has been excellent, we divided into two work groups for the next assignment. Artists either developed a character to use in a cast sculpture or reviewed proportions to do a clay figure in action. The white plaster pieces were painted in watercolors and given a clear protective coating when dry, and the figures were either painted to look like stone or metal.
We are splitting into two work groups again - one to try stitchery and one to build a mini-museum about an artist or specific art style.
Eighth Grade - Figure Sculptures
We started the year by doing quick Gesture Drawings of classmates, to help in showing movement instead of small details. Then, we practiced working with wires to create a human figure. The final pieces needed to be:
- In Proportion - All part sizes relate to the size of the whole.
- Showing an Action or Idea - Movement that shows a certain ‘story’.
- Unified - "Goes together" with the bottom, or base of the sculpture.
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- Some students collaborated with a partner to create a larger sculpture.
Eighth Grade - Famous Portrait Copies
Everyone viewed and selected a well-known portrait or self-portrait and a background paper color, then sketched-in the main shapes seen and carefully drew a copy, in pencil. Now, we are using oil crayons to mix and match all of the colors in the original artwork:
Eighth Grade - Web Page Designs
In small groups, we have chosen a subject and have developed layouts for the pages:
There weren’t any photos taken during this project, but here are the links to their coded page designs - there are one or two that did not quite get finished in the time allowed, but most managed to get things done:
- Wrap Tour By Karen, Alma & Maria
- Class of 2010 By Alexandra, Maria, Nira, Joanna & Clemente
- Cubs vs. Sox By Milton, Carlos, David, Jorge and Eduardo
- Games Review By Luis, Freddy, Edgar, Fabian, Jesus V. & Jesus M. [*partially incomplete]
- Justin Bieber By Manuela & Jasmin
- Teen Style By Nashaly, Frankie, Javier & Alexis [*very incomplete - only music links work.]
Cross-Categorical Class: Upper - Currency Designs
This group started-out by viewing lots of examples of world-wide currency [paper money] then they thought about what they’d like to see in their own money. Artists either ‘built’ one from scratch, using a variety of materials, or manipulated a copy of a dollar bill:
Next - we are finishing the year with T-shirt designs.
Cross-Categorical Class: Upper - Clay Coin Pendants
Extending the above lesson, we next design coins - that could be worn as a necklace. After practicing in modeling clay, final pieces were made from air-drying clay and painted to look like metal. To finish, a string type was chosed to loop the coin through for wearning.
Cross-Categorical Class: Upper - Maskmaking
[Identical to the 7th grade lesson shown above.]
This group is now recording music in the hope that we can complete a short video!
