September Art Update

Hello Westlawn families! I am so glad you stopped by the Westlawn Art Blog for the first Art Update of the school year!

Before we get into pictures and descriptions from each grade level, here is an update on the fish project from last school year...

The much anticipated fish mural at the St. Paul's Fish Market has been completed and is up for all to see! I first visited the fish market at the end of August and was SO excited to see all of the students beautiful artwork on display! A handful of students have mentioned to me that they have visited and even found their fish on the wall in the "grouper" room. If you have not had a chance to go, I hope you can make it at some point. Even the staff at the Fish Market commented on how wonderful the display is and how much their customers enjoy looking at the one of a kind art pieces. Way to go Westlawn Dolphins (and other Cedarburg Elementary art students)!

For our first art project or the school year, all Westlawn students (5K-5th grade) took part in a collaborative art display that fit the theme of this school year... GROWING. In morning pods, the students learned about characteristics of a Marigold flower, which served as a great analogy for how we want to act as learners and people of good character.

Each grade level was given a mini theme to fit the BIGGER theme of GROWING. Prior to the art making process, the students got inspired by reading a book by Lois Ehlert (Milwaukee author and artist). The kinders and first grade students read "Planting a Rainbow" which showed the process of planting and nurturing flowers in order to help them grow. The book contained a variety of colorful flowers that Ehlert made using her collage technique. 2nd-5th grade students read the book "Scraps" which gave the students an inside look to Ehlert's childhood, her sources of inspiration, and the creative thought process behind her art making and book making. The older students especially enjoyed this book since it reminded them to take risks and enjoy the process of art making, just as much as the final product.

Following the reading and viewing of Lois Ehlert's books, the students started their own art making process for our Collaborative Westlawn Garden!

Westlawn Garden Collaborative Art Display

Kindergarten artists enjoyed making Fingerprint Hyacinths! The students first drew the stem and leaves using green crayon and then used their one of a kind artist tool, their finger print, to make the petals on the flower! We talked about placing the petals close together and making many rows so that the flower looked full and plump! The students then practiced their cutting skills once the paint was dry. A fun and fairly simple process for their first project :)
The students also spent two art classes exploring the Free Choice Art Station... an important and favorite feature in the art room! On occasion, students will be able to enjoy the Free Choice Art Station by choosing their own art activity. Over the two classes, they learned what art materials and activities were available for Free Choice Art and how to use them. They had a lot of fun at the stations and wish they could have spent more time at each one!

1st grade artists had the opportunity to experience a super fun and unique art technique of bubble printing for their Bubble Print Hydrangeas! The students began the project by painting a piece of paper with different shades of greens. They then cut out a stem and leaves, and added details with ultra fine sharpie, after the paint was dry. For the hydrangea prints, the students used a straw to blow bubbles into a mixture of paint, printing ink, dish soap, and water. Once they filled the plate with lots of bubbles, the students took their paper circle and gently pressed it over the bubbles to create a print. The prints didn't always come out perfectly the first time, so we persevered and tried again until we got it right. To complete the project, we cut out our circles to resemble the look of a hydrangea and glued on the stem and leaves!

2nd grade artists continued with the theme of Marigolds by making French Marigold Flowers! Like the first grade students, the 2nd graders painted the leaves and stem with a variety of greens which they later cut out and glued together on a new piece of paper. The petals were the most fun to make since the students showed the technique of value change (gradation) by gradually changing from one color to another. This was easier said than done, but the students enjoyed the process. Once the petals were cut we arranged them in a radial pattern and glued them down. Lastly, the students crumpled up a small piece of colored tissue paper to add to the center of their flowers.

3rd grade artists had the chance to work with felt for their first art project! Their Felt Flowers turned out SO cool and attracted a lot of attention once the display was out up in the hallway! The students were given the challenge of making their own templates for their flower rather than tracing ones that were premade for them. They needed to understand CONTRAST, in the flower designs, size, and colors. Once their flower designs were approved, they traced, cut, and glued their pieces together, with a button of their choice on top. Lastly, the students added leaves (and a stem if they wished) to complete their one of a kind flowers!

4th grade artists learned how to make art like Lois Ehlert for their Lois Ehlert Inspired Flowers! This was definitely not easy for all students, as the "collage art technique" takes time, planning, and patience. Unlike drawing and painting a two dimensional flower, the collage making process involves painting a variety of papers and cutting and gluing the pieces together to resemble the desired subject. Once the students got a hang of the technique they really seemed to enjoy it and the final products were so fantastic! My favorite part of the project was the creative freedom the students had to choose their own flower (real or make believe). The creativity, problem solving, and risk taking brought a huge smile to my face!! Way to go 4th grade! What a creative and fun group of students!

5th grade artists were given the challenge of making Creatures or 3-D Flowers for our collaborative art display! Although some students would jump at the chance to have total creative freedom in making a one of a kind project, it is also a greater challenge to take risks and essentially "figure it out on your own." Of course, I made a couple examples of creatures and 3-D flowers, while also providing lots of visuals, but I really wanted the students to be creative, take risks, and guide their own art making process. I will be honest and say I was nervous to do this because it's hard to watch students struggle (if they lack motivation and direction), BUT I was pleasantly surprised to see that EVERY student created a project that was meaningful to them and fit their level of artistic ability. Yahoo! SO proud of you 5th graders! The students were ALSO excited to see what they were able to create. I think the message Lois Ehlert gave in her book "Scraps" was more effective than I thought it would be :)

Westlawn 5th graders ALSO had the privilege of taking an art and music field trip to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra AND the Milwaukee Art Museum! This is certainly a yearly highlight for Mrs. Wilson and myself and this year was no exception. What a NEAT opportunity for students to be exposed to the arts OUTSIDE of school. They saw and heard a lot on the trip that will hopefully inspire them and give them a greater appreciation for art and music, even if they don't choose that career path for themself. In preparation for the field trip, the 5th graders learned art museum etiquette as well as ways to talk about art in a meaningful and educated manner. They were introduced to the seven Elements and seven Principles of art, which are connected to ALL art. (The elements are: line, shape, color, value, texture, space, and form. The principles are: balance, contrast, emphasis, pattern, unity, movement, and rhythm).

Westlawn 5th Grade students on the Art and Music Field Trip!

All students (grades 5K-5th grade) are now starting to create SKETCHBOOKS, which will be used throughout the school year. Stay tuned for more pictures and description on that, and MORE, at the beginning of November!

See you then!