Paul Cezanne's Chalk Pumpkins

Cézanne, Paul |sāˈzän|

(1839–1906), French painter. He is closely identified with post-Impressionism, and his later work had an important influence on cubism. Notable works: Still Life with Cupid (1895) and Bathers (sequence of paintings, 1890–1905).

During Paul's life, hardly anyone noticed or cared about his paintings.  Only a few people, including 

Claude Monet, Renoir, Pissarro , Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh and Gauguin realized what an important artist Paul was.  Many of these soon-to-be-famous artists felt that Paul Cezanne may have been the greatest of them all.

Here is the link to the Paul Cezanne  slideshow.

There are so many talks you can do with Cezanne, what a great artist.  We wanted to do something for fall, and he was a natural tie- in since he did so many still life's.  

Materials:
black art paper
colored artists chalk
black oil pastel
pencils

After you give the slide talk, the kids will draw a pumpkin in sections on their paper.  You want them to do the pumpkin big enough so it will be easy to color and shade.
I bring a pumpkin in so they can see that it is not perfectly round, or perfectly shaped in any way.  Show them how to draw each segment starting with the middle segment individually.  After their pumpkin is drawn, then they will go over the lines with the black oil pastel.  This will keep the chalk from drifting.
Each segment will be colored in separately with dark orange at the bottom, medium orange, then yellow at the top.  I tell them it should look like candy corn, they will then blend it together lightly with their fingers. Add the green stem in chalk, and then draw a black line through the middle of the background.  Have them choose two bold bright colors to fill in the background.

Post your photos to Artsonia

I'm including a link to my box account.  If you take a photo of the artwork, make sure that its straight on, natural lighting is usually best.  If you are computer savvy, then you can change the file name to the first name of the kids name.  For instance,  london.matisse.2smith.jpg, also you could crop them if you wish. If you can't figure it out,  email me and I can help you.
Artsonia archives all of your children's artwork from kindergarten onward.  You can even upload your own scanned artwork.   The school makes money from anything ordered on Artsonia as well!
Here's the link to upload your photos.

Henri Matisse- Master of Color

Henri Matisse

 Henri Matisse (1869-1954)
French painter and sculptor; full name Henri Emile Benoît Matisse. His use of nonnaturalistic color led him to be considered a leader among the Fauvists. His later paintings and sculptures display a trend toward formal simplification and abstraction.
Here is a Art Masterpiece Project that was on Artsonia,  Johnny Appleseed Day is coming up and this is a great project for it.  It really is adaptable for any age group, this masterpiece below was done by a Kindergartener!  

materials:
White 12"x18" paper
Liquid Laundry Detergent Lids
Black, Red, Yellow and Green (to make "apple" green) tempera paint
Warm and Cool watercolors OR watered down tempera
Brushes
Large Circle tracer and crayon for plate
Sharpie fine point black marker

blow dryers to dry the paint

LOTS OF HELPERS!

most of these supplies can be had from the art department,  make sure to check in advance.

procedure:
1. Introduce Henri Matisse "Apples" 1916, The Art Institute of Chicago Image found  here. 

It is also found in the slide talk -link is below.

2. Compare and contrast other still life images.
3. Have the students trace large circle on 12" x 18" white paper - or to save time,
 I pre-draw the plate with brown crayon prior to distributing to the kids.
4. Discuss warm and cool colors. I have them paint the plate first and then one half with warm colors.
(I have used watercolors in the past but now I find that if I water down tempera and put it in little cups,
the effect is much nicer.) While they are painting the outside of the plate, I go around and soak up any
puddles to keep the apple print from bleeding into it.
PRINTMAKING
I made green apples by mixing tempera paints. We used liquid laundry caps (of different sizes) to make
 the print. I tell them to lift straight up and hold the paper down with their other hand if the paper sticks
to the cap. While they are printmaking inside the plate I soak up any puddles outside the plate in case
they want to show an apple falling out. We let dry until the next week.
The second week . . .or if you have helpers,  break out those blow dryers from the art department, and
 try to dry as much as possible where the apples will be printed.
1. I start with sharpie for the apple stems.
2. I premix watered down tempera for the cool colors and the black shadows. When they are doing the
 shadows, I turn the warm colors so that they are on the "right" side of the student.
3. I ask the children to draw the letter "C" ON the apple (this makes the cool side the shadow side).
Then I have them draw the letter "C" for the cast shadow and fill in. I do the two shadows separately
 because the tempera from the apples sometimes remoistens and will spread into the cast shadow.

link to slidetalk for Matisse

Don't forget to take photos - natural light, straight on, of each artwork, 

then they will be posted on Artsonia for all to see!

art by a Kindergartener.

Self-Portrait Goals for the School Year

Let's start the school year off right!  Here's a short slideshow with instructions for the project.  I bought frames from the dollar store so the kids could frame their masterpiece and hang it on their wall.
They draw a self-portrait and then write their top three goals for the school year.

It could be anything from:
Work hard to get good grades this year.
Make sure to turn in all my assignments on time.
Read a book a week.
Finish my AR goal on time.
Give encouragement to someone every day or week.
Be extra kind to my family and siblings
Earn my bible verse trophy this year.


Encourage them to really think about realistic goals that they could accomplish by the end of the year.
Also encourage them to be specific in attaining their goals.
In other words..." read loads of books" is vague, but " read a book a week" is something they could strive for and at the end of the year have a feeling of accomplishment.


Materials:
dollar store frames
colored pencils
link to template
pencils, erasers

The instructions to the project on on the slide show here....   self-portraits goals slideshow

This fun project is from www.artprojectsforkids.org

European style self-portraits

Our last art masterpiece of second grade, I like to do something that will be a remembrance of the year. I do a yearly end of year memory book, and this I thought would be a great self -portrait.
The history and varied styles of self-portraits is fascinating.



link to slide talk on self-portraits

A Treasure Hunt for the Lascaux Caves!

A Treasure Hunt for the Lascaux Caves!

On September 8, 1940, 17-year-old Marcel Ravidat and three of his friends were looking for a lost treasure supposedly buried in a secret tunnel in the woods near Montignac, France. His dog Robot ran on ahead and became stuck in a hole. As the boys pulled Robot to safety, they discovered that the hole seemed bottomless.
Marcel Ravidat and his friends were certain that they had found an entrance to the treasure-filled tunnel.  Ravidat first tried to explore the site himself, but without a light, he didn't get far.  On September 13, he and his friends returned, this time prepared with a homemade lantern.Carefully, they made their way down into the cave and across a large room, about 100 feet long and 40 feet wide.  It turned into a narrow passage and as they entered it, they raised their lamp higher and discovered that the walls were filled with the shapes of many animals.    The next day, the boys made another remarkable discovery. Near the back of the cave was a shaft (now called The Pit) that Ravidat decided to explore. As his three friends held a rope, Ravidat climbed sixteen feet to the bottom of The Pit. He took a few steps, quickly realizing that The Pit was a dead end. But when Ravidat turned to retrace his steps, he discovered a painting of a bison knocking down a person: the person had a bird's head and four-fingered hands.    Soon the boys decided to tell their schoolteacher, Leon Laval, about their discovery. They knew Laval was interested in archaeology and would know what to do about their fantastic find.    Monsieur Laval explored the cave and wrote the following description of his adventure:        Once I arrived in the great hall accompanied by my young heroes, I uttered cries of admiration at the magnificent sight that met my eyes.... Thus I visited the galleries and remained just as enthusiastic when confronted with the unexpected revelations which increased as I advanced. I had literally gone mad.    In a short time, word spread about the fantastic paintings of Lascaux.

Link to Lascaux Cave Slidetalk

www.savelascaux.org

Official Lascaux Site, amazing virtual tours!

Georgia OKeeffe flowers

Georgia  O'Keeffe (November 15, 1887 – March 6, 1986) was an American artist.

Born near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, O'Keeffe first came to the attention of the New York art community in 1916, several decades before women had gained access to art training in America’s colleges and universities, and before any of its women artists were well known or highly celebrated. Within a decade, she had distinguished herself as one of America's most important modern artists, a position she maintained throughout her life. As a result, O’Keeffe not only carved out a significant place for women painters in an area of the American art community that had been exclusive to and is still dominated by men, but also she had become one of America’s most celebrated cultural icons well before her death at age 98 in 1986.

Her abstract imagery of the 1910s and early 1920s is among the most innovative of any work produced in the period by American artists. She revolutionized the tradition of flower painting in the 1920s by making large-format paintings of enlarged blossoms, presenting them close up as if seen through a magnifying lens. In addition to this, O'Keeffe's depictions of New York buildings, most of which date from the same decade, have been recognized as among the most compelling of any paintings of the modern city. Beginning in 1929, when she first began working part of the year in Northern New Mexico—which she made her permanent home in 1949—O’Keeffe depicted subjects specific to that area. Through paintings of its unique landscape configurations, adobe churches, cultural objects, and the bones and rocks she collected from the desert floor, she ultimately laid claim to this area of the American Southwest, which earlier had been celebrated primarily by male artists; the area around where she worked and lived has become known as “O’Keeffe Country."

Georgia O'Keefe slideshow

American Folk Art

American Folk Art- American folk artists were generally self-taught artists who wanted to tell a story, through pictures, about specific events depicting life in rural areas.                The most famous is Grandma Moses- (1860–1961), US painter; full name Anna Mary Robertson Moses. She took up painting as a hobby when widowed in 1927 and produced more than a thousand paintings in a primitive style, mostly of rural life.  see American Folk Art Museum

The Checkered House- Grandma Moses

The kids are going to do a Watercolor and Salt Painting I had seen on a great blog, Art Projects For Kids

Materials needed:
White paper
 Oil pastels, I used dark purple, they just need one to draw with.
pencils

Folk Art Chicken by Devon Roe

Water colors and palettes to put it in. you can use watercolor pans and have them pick and choose what colors they like,  or you can use liquid watercolor which is highly pigmented and limit the colors used. 
salt
brushes




Show them the slideshow below and then,


Demonstrate and have them do the following...


1.The students will first draw a round circle on the upper left for the head.  Then a line is drawn to the right, and curve below to make a large half circle for the body. Two legs are added, curves for the tail, and details on the head.  All these lines are traced with a oil pastel when complete. 

2. have them paint the chickens body first with watercolor.  while the paint is still wet, sprinkle a bit of salt on it.  The salt absorbs the water, making a cool texture, and may be rubbed off when the entire painting is complete.  After the body is filled, the background may be painted in with one or more colors. 

Another fun chicken folk art

3. When it is completely dry, after a day or so, you can wipe off the salt, and take pictures for Artsonia.  The chicken looks great framed in your kitchen!

Link to slideshow

Op Art of Victor Vasarely

Victor Vasarely(1908–97), French painter, born in Hungary. A pioneer of op art, he was best known for a style of geometric abstraction that used repeated geometric forms and interacting colors to create visual disorientation.


Welcome back from Christmas Break! We're going to get immediately in the swing of things, and have a fun colorful art masterpiece.


Materials Needed:
11 x 15 White Paper
Pencils
Markers
circle templates
vine charcoal, or shading pencils- gray/black
rulers

1. View power point on Victor Vasarely. Discuss how he creates artwork that fools or tricks the eye. This is called “OP ART”. It was popular in the 1960’s. It used repetitive forms and bold colors as well as curved lines.
   
2. Trace around a circle template. Find the middle with a dot. Draw a vertical line through the circle. Continue drawing lines that curve to the edges of the circle, making sure that the lines never touch. Do this both vertically and horizontally. This will create a checkerboard with squares that form to the sphere. Color with TWO contrasting colors.
   
3. Using a ruler, create the background and color in checkerboard fashion.
   
4. Add a shadow with vine charcoal for a more three dimensional look. 
   

Websites on Op Art...
Op Art UK
Wiki- Op Art
Optical Illusions for kids
Artclub blog- this has info on Vasarely, and illusions, and printables of op art to color in.

Art Masterpieces by Abby and Devon

Thanks to Cedar Elementary for the art lesson idea!
Link to Vasarely slideshow






slideshows- vasarely 

James Whistler - Nocturne in Black and Gold

(1834–1903), US painter and etcher; full name James Abbott McNeill Whistler. He mainly painted in one or two colors and sought to achieve harmony of color and tone. Notable works: Arrangement in Gray and Black: The Artist's Mother (portrait known as Whistler's Mother, 1872) and Old Battersea Bridge: Nocturne—Blue and Gold ( c. 1872–75).


James Whistler slideshow link is at bottom of post.
This project is from the Usborne Art Treasury Book.
(see link to right)
They're going to create their own Fireworks painting.
Materials:  Large purple paper
Sponges cut up into small rectangles.
Pink, Orange, Dark Purple paint
cotton balls
purple and yellow chalk or pastel.
small paint brushes for splattering.
small disposable paper plates for paint.
a couple of blow dryers

1. Draw a low horizon line on a piece of purple paper.
2.  Use a sponge to dab some pink and orange paint in patches above and below the line.
3. Rinse the sponges, or use clean ones and Press its flat side into
dark purple paint, then print a blocky shape above the line for buildings.
4.  Print more blocky shapes, they can use it any direction, or the side of it too.
Have them do the same block shapes below the horizon lines upside down to show a reflection in the water. ( you might have to demonstrate this or show this to them)
 5.  Have a couple people stationed in the back to dry the paint with a dryer if its too
wet.  It should dry pretty quickly if they don't gob it on.
6.  when the paint is dry, use a cotton ball to smudge on purple and yellow chalk or
pastel for smoke.  the smoke will be just above the horizon line hovering over the buildings.
7. Mix some runny paint in yellow and reds.  Dip in a brush, hold it over the paper and flick the bristles.
Don't forget their names on the back and take photos when they are done for Artsonia

Link to James Whistler slideshow

Native american pottery- Acoma Pueblo

The artists from the Acoma Pueblo produce their works of art almost exactly how the pieces would have been produced several centuries ago. • dig the clay from the earth
• coil and smooth the pots
• fire them (either in an open fire or kiln) 
• decorate them with paints
• used geometric patterns or symbols to decorate their pottery.

Acoma Pueblo  also known as "Sky City", is a Native American pueblo built on top of a 367-foot  sandstone mesa in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Settled and built around AD1100, it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities within the United States borders. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark. Its Native American residents are a federally recognized tribe in the United States.

Slideshow link is at bottom of post.


Link to a Traditional Acoma Pottery site.
Link to photos and information on many types of Indian Pottery
Wiki link to Acoma Pueblo

Link to slideshow on Native American Pottery

Link to a 1952 short documentary on Pueblo Arts Indian Pottery

 

George Rodrigue's Blue Dog Art

 

George Rodrigue (born March 13, 1944) is a Cajun artist who grew up in New Iberia, Louisiana. Rodrigue began painting outdoor family gatherings framed by moss-clad oak trees in an area of French Louisiana known as Acadiana. More recently and worldwide he is known for his creation of the Blue Dog series of paintings, featuring a blue-hued dog, attributed to his deceased dog named Tiffany and influenced by the Loup Garou legend—the first painting in the series bears the title Loup Garou.

link to bluedog slideshow

After reading the legend of the loup garou, introduce students to Rodrigue’s Watchdog, the first painting which depicted George’s now famous Blue Dog. Use this painting to introduce the concept of primary colors. Discuss how primary colors are used to create all other colors (i.e. secondary colors, tertiary colors, etc.) and how color can be used to convey emotion. Consider asking students such questions as: Has anyone in the class ever seen a dog that is blue in color? Do you think the artist was trying to paint a realistic dog? Why do you think the artist chose to paint his dog blue? How does blue make them feel? Would the loup garou have the same effect in this painting if it were red? Does the color blue better convey the feeling of a cool night? What color would you use to convey the feeling of a hot summer day?

After these discussions, have students use primary paints to create their own blue dog portraits (see below).

Scholastic article - conversation with George Rodrigue

Blue Dog coloring sheets

www.georgerodriguefoundation.org

ART PROJECT

will be posted after the Jump......

Wayne Theibaud

Wayne Thiebaud (born November 15, 1920) is an American painter whose most famous works are of cakes, pastries, boots, toilets, toys and lipsticks. He is associated with the Pop art movement because of his interest in objects of mass culture, although his works, executed during the fifties and sixties, slightly predate the works of the classic pop artists. Thiebaud uses heavy pigment and exaggerated colors to depict his subjects, and the well-defined shadows characteristic of advertisements are almost always included in his work.



Link to Wayne Theibaud slideshow