Descriptive Self Portraits

Our 5th graders are supposed to focus on descriptive writing for our state testing so when we started our portrait unit we started by "writing our self portraits."  

To get them thinking about how to write a descriptive self portrait they had to start by physically describing themselves to someone on the phone (someone who couldn't see them).  

Next they had to describe their personality and list 10 things they like and 10 things they dislike. 

After they sketched out their images, the wrote their portraits down onto watercolor paper.  

We finished them using wet in wet technique.  

Our watercolors were crayola marker watercolors and the kids loved them!  

I loved how different they all were.  

Some were so free while others were very structured.  

Some used just a few colors while others had to use every color.  

Some students were very brief with their writing and chose a few words to describe them.  

Others wrote and wrote and wrote. 

They were all very eye opening as to the students personalities. 

You can check out more at artsonia. 

3 requirements

I have found my students taking longer to get projects done this year and they are finishing at different rates. I have been trying to work through this with a small part of each project that can be done ahead of the lesson.  For this project students were asked to create an ocean creature that no one has ever seen on a piece of grey paper.  These were supposed to be black and white with a little bit of color.

The next time I saw the students we started to talk about the element of SPACE.  We shared how overlapping, size and placement can help us know what is closer and what is farther away.  They were then given this assignment:  

              - Create an image that is underwater (we created our water images using watercolor techniques of salting, saran wrapping, lifting and layers) with at least one grey fish and shows space by using overlapping, size and placement.  

It was pretty fun to see what they came up with...

Check out more at Artsonia.com

Here is the grade sheet I used.

Finally...

I was feeling a little (okay... completely) overwhelmed at school.
So.... 14 hours later, life is better!  The room is cleaned up, the stuff is put away, the markers are sorted, the next projects are ready to go.  Now I can breath!

So to update you on something I mentioned a LONG time ago... Collage Bugs!

My 6th graders first assignment was to create a watercolor and collage bug image that reflected the knowledge of the elements of art.  In my previous post I talked about my frustrations with the assignment but in the end there were some really AWESOME solutions.

Some of my favorite parts are:

a giant locust

a human bug

3-D Butterfly

See through wasp wings

this bee is amazing!

I love the tree's texture!

check out more at Artsonia.com

An Awesome Idea and an Epic Fail

So for my first official 6th grade project I had this WONDERFUL idea ...

that went KABOOM! during my first class!

But I think I have saved it!

My original idea was to have the students start the year with a review project that would allow them a lot of freedom.  We started with quick review of watercolor and collage.  I then gave them the assignment, "create a project that uses a bug as your subject matter and shows your ability to use watercolor and collage."  They had a week to think about it and plan.  

They came in on Thursday ready to work and IT WAS A NIGHTMARE!  Their ideas weren't very well developed.  They weren't sure how to start with their ideas.  They were just grabbing papers, paint and glue and going to town.  At the end of class I was tired and sad and worried.  

Then came lunch and some massive brainstorming.

I realized that their struggles came from my shortcomings.  While they had ideas, I had to help them work out their ideas better.  So for the next few classes we started with a sketch critique where the students had to work out an official sketch and then share it with a class partner.  They were then able to tell me if they were starting with watercolor or collage as every student had to start with their background.  

We aren't finished yet but I really like the way things are going!  PHEW!

Also... I am planning on being able to use this project for my students to discuss unity and variety.  

INSANITY...

Dirty, Nasty, Color Mixed Paint Trays..

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

Guess I am insane about watercolor trays.

Take apart dirty trays, wash

clean paint trays and brushes

let dry

refill colors, reassemble trays

And yet the continue to get horribly dirty.  I am thinking I am going to buy a new set of 24 for my 6th graders... let the 5th grade use their ones they insist on trashing. 

How do you keep your paint trays clean?

WILD Wildlife...

We have all seen (and if you haven't...go!) Natalie from SmART Class' Zebras and Neon Animals... they are beautiful!  I was so inspired by them but didn't want to do a direct copy of the project.
In talking about this with another art teacher from my district, she asked if I had seen Andy Warhol's Endangered Animals Prints.  I looked them up and came up with my solution...

WILD Wildlife

We started by looking at Andy Warhol's Prints...

Then we drew out our animals (I printed pictures from National Geographic for reference).  We started by gesturing out the shapes.  Next we added in the details.  When that was done, we sharpied over the main details and added the other details (fur, feather, scales) with oil pastels.  We agreed the colors didn't have to be realistic.

When all the drawing was done and the details were in place, we started water coloring over them.  

When they were done they put them on the drying rack and used an iPad to look up the National Geographic website.  They had to create an "info" tag for their animal. 

I only have one day done but I already LOVE them...