PRINTMAKING- and thinking backwards!

One project that really seems to bring about the "ooooohs" and "ahhhhhhhs" with students is PRINTMAKING. There is something about having an image magically apprear on the paper, when printed. Especially, when we do reduction process, where the students continue to print on top of the same picture 2 or 3 times, with different colors. Every pull brings new excitement as the image becomes more clear and detailed.

In this lesson, my 4th grade students drew a still life, which they choose from a variety of pictures, onto linoleum sheets. They then used the various gouges to cut the linoleum away, printing a different color as they took more and more off the surface. This really stretches their thinking as they have to think in reverse, understanding that what they carve away, will remain the last color they printed. Trust me........they really have to think!

2nd learns Radial Balance...and I am not talking about tires:-)

Second grade is one of the "tested" grade levels in Duval County, and one of the items on this test is Radial Balance. I love doing this project with these students, not only to teach them about radial balance, but also because they really turn out some beautiful art projects. Below are some examples from the first class to finish. More than likely, I will be putting more on later, so keep coming back to see what shows up!







LESSON PROCESS:
We discussed Radial Balance and looked at examples.
Students used a circle pattern, traced it on black c. paper and cut out.
We folded the circle in half (taco) than in half again (pizza slice) and then one more time in half (ice cream cone).

When unfolded, it showed the middle of the circle and eight radiating folds, on which to draw patterns, by repeating the motif in all directions, in each of the 8 sections.

We chose a color theory to use to paint in patterns and then embellished with oil pastels.

Later, these will be mounted on another piece of contruction paper for display

3rd Grade Georgia O'Keefe Flowers

These students experienced flowers O'Keefe style! They were give a choice from many flower photographs as to which one they wanted to reproduce in a larger than life format. After doing some practice drawings, paying attention to shape and detail, they were ready to put it on their final sheet. Then we used layers of drybrush painting to fill in the composition followed by oil pastel embellishments. The results were fabulous! Enjoy!

Drawings, Weavings, Round #2

I just get so excited about what my students do, that I have to share......even though you have seen similar projects a couple of posts below. The pencil drawings of cloth were done by 5th grade students and the weavings by Kindergarten students. These weavings have a little added extra - patterns by printmaking!

4th grade Jewelers

This was a fun project to do with my 4th grade students, and it was certainly popular with both the boys and the girls! Several comments were made about this being "the best project" and "my favorite project." It is always music to my ears, when I hear students excited about what they have created. The neat thing about this project was that every necklace was beautiful! Not a bad one in the bunch.

HOW IT'S MADE.......
The students made just about every part of the necklace, with exception of a few small plastic beads used for spacing and extentions. They made the paper beads, using magazine paper cut in long, thin, triangles, then rolling them around a wooden stylist (beginning with the thicker end and ending with the thinner end, gluing the 2nd half to seal the bead). Then clay beads were made into different forms, with various patterns and textures etched in to the surface. Lastly, students used some rectangular sample chips (that someone gave me thousands of - literally), created a design in relief using shirtboard, covered in foil, and aged with india ink, to create the center medallion. After painting the clay beads with metallic paints, the students strung their necklaces thinking about how to "balance" the beads on either side. Some students chose to go a little asymetrical with their designs which made for some very interesting pieces.