April Art Update!

Hello! Welcome to MAY!

Did you hear?? Westlawn is holding its first PAINT NIGHT on Thursday, May 24th! No, it doesn't include wine, BUT it does include quality time with your kids, which is even better! I am so excited to paint with Westlawn families and hope to see lots of you there! Hurry and sign up, because there is limited space. You have two paintings to choose from and I would personally hang up either one 😀
Here's a link to the flyer if you missed it! Family Paint Night

Here's what took place in art class during the month of April...

5th grade has been enjoying a PRINTMAKING unit! The students created Self-Portrait Relief Prints on a foam sheet and are now in the process of making a background for their portraits in the form of linoleum printing! The project allows the students to use two different methods of printing. For both the foam and linoleum the object is to create a raised surface and a lowered surface create a relief. The lowered area on the foam is created by pushing down with a pencil or wooden stylus, and the lowered area on the linoleum is created by carving away with gouges. I have heard the word "satisfying" from many students as a way to describe the printing process. They just can't get enough! I can totally relate. Printmaking is up there as one of my favorite types of art!

4th grade has been having LOTS of FUN with CLAY! They are in the process of making Clay Coil Pots. The students first sketched out their ideas in their sketchbooks and practiced making coils with play-dough. After a handful of classes, the students are now getting pretty good at making coils and using the 4 S's (score, slip, stick, and smooth). The 4 S's are the clay making techniques used to join two pieces of clay together. Although lots of fun, the coil projects are a challenge and require that the students make a strong pot that is also creative and pleasing to look at. Next month you will see the finish projects!

3rd grade spent the month of April completing their Warm and Cool Collagraph Prints AND their BONUS print (which included any color palette of their choice). The Warm and Cool Prints were cut into strips that the students then glued onto a template with 16 columns. This process led the students to create an "Agamograph" which is a type if kinetic/moveable art inspired by Israeli artist, Yacov Agam. The students basically folded the template into an accordion pattern and glued it into another piece of paper. The finished products looks SO awesome! 😃

2nd grade students began a new project during the month of April... Kente Cloth Paper Weavings! We began the project by reading the book, The Spider Weaver" which the students read earlier in the year during their African unit in 2nd grade. The students learned the art of basic weaving and the patterns that are involved. They learned terms such as "warp, weft, loom, and beating the weft." The students are now in the process of adding designs to their weavings inspired by actual Kente cloth! The products are turning out great, and luckily the students also seem to be learning a lot in the process (especially how to persevere and problem solve when facing challenges)!

1st grade are wrapping up their Kimono Portraits! After completing the Kimono self-portraits, the students enjoyed creating backgrounds inspired by real Japanese Cherry Blossoms! The process of creating the branches was the MOST fun, since the students got to experience painting with a straw! I suppose the technical term for this art making process would be "blow art." The students spread the ink/paint mixture around using air through a straw to see the branches grow. We had to be careful to take breaks since blowing through the straw was much like blowing up a balloon and can make you light headed! The students then added the cherry blossoms by painting five petals radiating from the center.

Kindergarten just completed their Creative Shapes artwork! The students stretched their imaginations by transforming a shape into an object. They then stretched their creativity even further by creating a background for their object. The students enjoyed using crayons, tempera paint, and oil pastels for their projects. Very soon we will be beginning a new project! Stay  tuned for the next update to see what it is 😊

4-K students completed their Clay Flower Bowls this past month! The students used oil pastels to color their flower and then painted over and around the oil pastels with tempera paint. We talked about the relationship between the oil pastels and paint by calling the oil pastels "bossy!" The oils pastels say to the paint, "Don't go here paint, I was here first!" I had the kids say it with some attitude and sass. They enjoyed that very much (I have a feeling some have had some practice at home 😉). The finished flowers are BEAUTIFUL and FRAGILE! Hopefully all made it home in one piece. If not, feel free to send it back to school and I can fix it.