Kindergarten Blue Prints

What is an architect?  What do they do? 

Have you read Iggy Peck, Architect?  It's a beautifully illustrated story about a boy and his dream to be an architect.  Kindergarten students love the pictures and understand the message of the story. 

Kindergarten students pretended they were architects and made Blue Prints using a stamping method.  Check out this Mrs. Knight's Smartest Artists for this and many more wonderful art lessons. 

2nd grade Symmetrical Insect Prints

In order to understand the principle of art, Balance, 2nd graders looked at various art reproductions and discussed the difference between Symmetry and Asymmetry. 

It's common to think of insects when discussing something balanced because insects are so symmetrical.  Check out this video of an insect photographer who captures photographs of bugs up close and personal.  Students were surprised to see the amount of color and detail.

We discussed common characteristics of insects, and students designed their own bug using lines, shapes, and colors.  In order to create symmetry, students only drew half their bug and then monoprinted the other side. 

 

After cutting out the insects and gluing to a clean paper background, students created a word border by writing about their insect around the outside edge of the paper.

I think it's interesting how each insect is completely different and unique.  The students really explored their own ideas and own personal artistic choices in this project.

 

 

 

 

 

3rd grade Prints

After studying Gustav Klimt and his famous Tree of Life painting, 3rd graders created a symmetrical tree collograph.  We discussed positive and negative space and printed with gold ink in the spirit of Klimt's favorite color. 

After students printed, we discussed how artists know when an artwork is finished.  Some of the responses were,

 - "When all the steps are completed"

 - "When the space is filled"

 - "When the artist decides"

It was an interesting discussion as students pondered their decision making role in the creative process. 

4th grade Mandala Prints

Buddhist Tibetan monks have a tradition of creating beautiful sand mandalas.  The monks create the designs in silence and while meditating.  When they are finished, the mandala is swept up and sent down a river of water to honor the value of impermanence.  I love discussing this art form with my students.  It's difficult to imagine destroying something so beautiful, but we talk about how the important factor is the process, not the product!

4th graders created radial symmetrical, geometric mandala designs on styrofoam and printed them with gradient colors. 

2nd grade Gyotaku Prints

2nd graders studied the ancient Japanese art form of Gyotaku fish printing. Before there were cameras, fishermen used to rub ink onto of a fish and then print the image on rice paper. This was a method of recording their catches. Students created a monoprint background and used rubber fish to create the traditional Gyotaku fish print.

4th grade Victorian Home Prints

4th graders discussed architectural characteristics and the famous Victorian homes in San Francisco. Students carved a styrofoam plate and printed 2 prints using brayers and ink.

5th grade Mandala Prints

5th grade students learned about the Tibetan tradition of making sand mandalas. The Buddhist monks spend hours working on intricate designs in complete meditation. When the design is finished, they wash the mandala down the river in honor of the value of impermanence.

Students created a radial symmetrical print by carving styrofoam and printing four times. Students took the print a step further by reducing the plate and printing a 2nd color. The process was long but the results are beautiful!

3rd grade Tree Prints

3rd graders learned about artist, Gustav Klimt, and his famous "Tree of Life" painting. Students know all about positive and negative space after making their tree collographs. Students used traditional printmaking techniques to create a symmetrical print and then titled their artwork like professional artists.