CCE Art Happenings

Study of DEPTH with 3rd grade

2012-02-10T15:33:00.003-05:00

Teaching depth on a two-dimensional surface is not always an easy thing to convey to young students. The goal is to get them to understand "portrayed space" and to know how to create the illusion, by placement, size, and color of objects and the foreground, middle ground and backgroud. These 3rd grade students used two art mediums (well, really three) to put togther this composition of fish.
They were able to use the new Crayola color sticks (like colored pencil without the wood) to draw and color in their tropically colored fish on seperate pieces of black paper. They could also do a couple of underwater plants if they wanted. Using cool analogous colors of tempera paint, they painted in their backgournd using lots of overlapping of plants, rocks, etc. Then oil pastels were uses (again, only cool colors) to embellish the background. Fish were cut out of the black paper and glued onto the cool colored background giving an illusion of depth.

2nd Grade Colorful Clay Lizards

2012-02-10T15:25:00.002-05:00

This is always a fun project with students. For some reason they all get excited over lizards! This process teaches the coil method of clay handbuilding as well as learning attachment techniques. They really did a nice job!

Analogous Color Exercises

2012-01-11T15:54:00.005-05:00

These third grade students experimented with ANALOGOUS COLOR. Analogous color is color that is related. They are usually found next to each other on the color wheel. The two most typical analogous color groups are the warm and cool colors. However, those are not the only two. Here we have some students that chose some other groups to use.

Just had to Share

2012-01-11T15:42:00.003-05:00

Here are more beautiful Batik pillows. I just want to keep all of them!!!!!!!!!!

Batik pillows! Awesome!

2012-01-05T17:20:00.007-05:00

Two of our 5th grade classes learned a little about the textile art of BATIK. One class used the glue method, where they squeezed glue onto the lines of the design they had drawn, let it dry, painted the design, then soaked the material to get the glue out. Where the glue washed away, the material was left white. The other class used the wax method, where they used melted white crayon to paint on the design, painted with acrylic paint, then we melted off the wax. Again, where the wax was melted off, the material remained white.

Then we really pushed ourselves (or maybe it was me who pushed me) but we decided to turn these into pillows. So, we stuffed and sewed our batiks. They really turned out beautiful!

More Monochromatics

2012-01-05T17:15:00.004-05:00

Here are some more beautiful monochromatic paintings by our 4th grade students.

Beautifully MONOCHROMATIC!

2011-12-01T17:13:00.004-05:00

MONOCHROMATIC COLOR SCHEMES are not the easiest way to paint. But these 4th grade students seemed to make it look easy. Monochromatic painting means that you are painting with only ONE color. Now, you may think that they used more, but they have learned that BLACK and WHITE are not actually colors. White is the absence of pigment, and black is the combination of all pigment. Therefore, adding black and/or white to a color to lighten or darken that color, is still painting with only ONE color. Pretty neat, huh?

Why would someone WANT to paint with a monochromatic color scheme????? Well, one reason is that colors illicit different emotions therefore they would more strongly communicate that emotion to the viewer. Another might be that the artist is focusing on that particular skill. Can you think of other reasons?

The RADIALS are rolling in again.

2011-12-01T17:03:00.004-05:00

Once again, 2nd grade is learning about RADIAL BALANCE, which is one of the concepts on which they are tested. I have done this project for the last 2 or 3 years, and every year I am amazed at the final pieces these students produce. They not only understand radial balance, but they understand it BEAUTIFULLY!

We look at examples of objects that show Radial Balance. That would be objects reflecting a pattern that begins in the center, and radiates out to the edges. When turned in any direction, you should view the same pattern. Examples would be a flower with a center and petels moving out, a bicycle wheel, a propeller, doilie, just to name a few. What kind of radial balanced patterns do you see around you??????

This year, we made them smaller and glued them onto CD's. I put holes at the top and bottom, connecting a class of Radials together to form a mobile of sorts, to be hung outside their classrooms. They really look great!

It is nice to have a FAN!

2011-12-01T16:58:00.004-05:00

It is always nice to have an art fan, but to have a SUPER FAN is even BETTER! This student dressed up as WONDER ARTIST! It is no "wonder", because she IS a super artist! Carry on WONDER ARTIST! Keep up the great work.

1st Grade learning about SHAPE

2011-11-15T15:22:00.004-05:00

1st grade always gets a lesson on shapes. Most GEOMETRIC shapes they know - square, triangle, circle, rectangle, oval, even trapezoid and paralellagram. And some even throw out hexigon, and octagon. BUT they become stumped when I ask them to name an ORGANIC shape. Well, that's because you can't!!! Organic shapes are those that are free form. Sometimes they occur over and over again, sometimes they only occur once. For example, the shape of spilled milk on the floor would be undescribable, therefore it would be ORGANIC. That exact shape would more than likely never happen again. The shape of an oak leaf is organic, and occurs over and over again on the tree.

In these collages, the students had to tear ORGANIC SHAPES out to paper to form clouds, hills, grass, tops of trees, etc. Then they used GEOMETRIC SHAPES to build their houses, buildings, all those things that "named" shapes can create. As you can see, we really ended up with some fabulous collages.

Of course, we continued to learn how to glue and cut as well.

ILLUMINATED INITIALS

2011-11-15T15:04:00.004-05:00

Some of our Third Grade students have been learning about ILLITERACY. At least that, which abounded in the Middle Ages and earlier. We learned that during that time period, most people could NOT read and write. Mainly those who were wealthy and the priests of the churchs could read. There were very few books to be had, and those were HAND COPIED by scribes and monks. Can you imagine having to rewrite a whole book by hand? That is why they were called MANUSCRIPS (meaning written by hand). The scribes would elaborately decorate the pages and illustrations, as well as the first letter of each paragraph or page. Most of the time, they would use GOLD paint which, when hit by the flicker of candlelight, would light up......thus called ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPS.

This project focused on one of the students initials, which they designed, painted gold, and then decorated with personal symbols or pictures that reflected something about them. We used paint and markers for embellishments and details.

Then students chose a piece of wallpaper on which to glue their initial. THEN they glued that onto a black sheet of construction paper, decorating those edges with metallic pencils.

These turned out to be BEAUTIFUL and ILLUMINATING!

2nd Grade Warm/Cool drawings

2011-11-15T14:48:00.003-05:00

Many of the 2nd grade classes are working on understanding WARM and COOL analogous color groups. We are also talking about EMPHASIS. So we created a picture where students EMPHASISED a certain area by grouping colors into warm and cool colors. Can you tell where they want you to look first?

Chets Creek has a Quilt!

2011-10-28T10:33:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Mrs. Holloway, one of our itenerate Art Teachers, Chets Creek has a quilt entered in the Greater Agricultural Fair! The Quilt contest is centered around a pre-chosen book for the county. This years book was one familiar to Chets Creek - The Curious Garden. She worked with one of our 5th grade classes to produce the images and then she sewed them all together, quilted and submitted this beautiful Masterpiece. Go the the Fair and vote for Chets Creeks quilt! And a HUGE THANK YOU to Mrs. Holloway!

We are getting into the REAL stuff now!

2011-09-27T16:11:00.004-04:00

Art to Remember is being finished up and classes are now moving on to regular art projects. The emphasis this year will be on the elements of art and the principles of design. Below are Kindergarten students learning about LINE. STRAIGHT,CURVY,WAVY, ZIG-ZAG, AND BROKEN. We also are discussing line DIRECTIONS. HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, DIAGONAL. Later on, these colorful sheets of LINES will be used in a collage about shapes. Be on the lookout!

Below, my Second Grade Students are learning about RADIAL BALANCE! These are patterns that radiate out from the center, in all directions.

More to come as we move into other exciting projects.

New Art Teachers At Chets

2011-09-02T09:34:00.001-04:00

We have two new Itenerate Art Teachers at Chets Creek this year. On Tuesdays, Trish Holloway will be teaching students in the Resource B groups. On Thursday, Elaine Perez will be teaching students in the Resource A groups. Welcome to them both! I know your students will love their time with these two exceptional Art Educators.

Art To Remember Time Again

2011-09-02T09:13:00.004-04:00

Summer certainly flew by with a flurry, and now school is rolling along with excitement of the new year, soaring everywhere! Our new theme "Empowering the Future" has superheros coming out of the woodwork! How much fun!

The beginning of the year also signifies the beginning of our Art To Remember Fundraiser program. Each child will produce a small work of art that will be sent home in a special envelope in October. You will have the opportunity to purchase many different items with YOUR CHILD'S personal artwork displayed. This makes beautiful Holiday Gifts for family members, as they are as one of a kind as your child. Look for examples to be set up during OPEN HOUSE on Sept. 15th and 22nd!

ART & ENGINEERING: A 3-D expression of Form and Balance

2011-06-22T18:10:00.011-04:00

The 3-D thing just keeps on going. After wonderful experiences with the students AND an amazing workshop with fellow Art Teachers, I had the opportunity to hold the workshop with classroom teachers at the Arts For Learning: Tools for Teaching Conference at UNF. I am never disappointed at the creativity that is displayed from everyone who "tinkers" with sculpture. I wish I could show more pictures, especially of the finished products, but, alas, my camera batteries died. Trust me! They were FANTASTIC!

Wonders Never Cease!

2011-06-22T17:53:00.005-04:00

No......your eyes are not deceiving you. This is Dee Dee with a paint brush in her hand. You did not know just how multi-talented she was! I appreciate all her help on the 3rd grade backdrop. She paints wonderfully straight lines!

3-D Problem solving at its BEST!

2011-02-23T15:18:00.005-05:00

Often, when I think of doing Three Dimensional projects with my students, it usually ends up being clay. Clay is not bad.....it is just not all that there is with which to work. This year, we are breaking away from so many clay projects and we are moving toward using different materials. Below are some cardboard sculptures done by students with only a few instructions. That means, they had to tinker with the materials, experiment to see what worked, come up with some personal solutions and make some decisions. I did allow them to use hot glue guns, with parental permission, to make the process move more quickly, but otherwise, they came up with the final pieces themselves. Two of the pictures below are abstract sculptural pieces and one is a cardboard tube tree, with the "leaves" made from different found objects.

I have to admit, the students really liked this as they were fairly free to go where they wanted with the media at hand. Expect to see more pictures as they finish these :-)!

Worhal Pop Art Prints

2011-02-23T14:59:00.003-05:00

What is popular right now?????? Definitly cupcakes, coke, cellphones, water plus many more objects that we see around us all the time. We decided is was time to look at POP ART and imitate the master, Andy Worhal. The students chose a "popular" image and carved it into Soft-Kut linoleum. This was a two ink process, focusing on complementary color combinations. When completed, they glued them on to one sheet of paper, forming the repeating pattern recognized in Worhals work.

As stated in an earlier post, this requires some backwards thinking.

Planning Day Workshop..Sculptural Success!!!!

2011-02-01T20:43:00.009-05:00

This past Planning Day, I was asked to give a workshop entitled "Sculpting with things at hand". Art Teachers, many times, are limited to what they can use to create three dimentional pieces in the classrooms, due to budgets and space. In this workshop, we experimented with what could be sculpted with cardboard (which can be found in abundance) and found objects. Participants were give two hours to come up with unlimited ideas, and they really did come up with some great ones. I brought back some new ideas to try in my classroom.

Fun seemed to be had by all AND we contributed to the Green movement by recycling cardboard and all kinds of interesting donated treasures.

6th grade students coming back to glaze

2011-02-01T20:01:00.003-05:00

We have been welcoming home our old 5th grade students, who have gone on to experience the world of middle school, to paint their "high 5" tiles for our upcoming Formal Five event. I must admit, it has been fun to see them again and its been a blast watching them react when they see each other. The conversation has been priceless! The interesting part is how the parents have commented how much they miss Chets Creek. I guess we do kinda have that effect on people!

5th Grade Watercolor Seascapes

2011-02-01T19:49:00.003-05:00

Studying DEPTH and various watercolor techniques, produced exceptional work by these 5th grade students. We talked about wet and dry brush techniques, then how to detail with detail brushes and marker.

Do they make you want to go there???

2011-02-01T19:34:00.006-05:00

Our After School art students are producing some beautiful work. Below you can see some of the landscapes that they painted on textured paper. They first glued on various textures onto their paper and then painted on top, adding interest and variety to the final piece.

Wild Cat Faces frozen in clay

2011-01-28T15:13:00.003-05:00

This really turned out to be a wonderful project where every student enjoyed creating these wildcats in clay. We looked at pictures and noticed shapes seen in the faces and discussed how to put them in to "form" through clay. Using the pinch method, we pinched a thick bowl, inverted it, creating the armature for the face. Then we used clay attachment techniques to build the wildcat of choice. Some students put small holes in the lips, and then when fired, they cut and glued monofilament in for whiskers.

PRINTMAKING- and thinking backwards!

2010-12-15T09:25:00.006-05:00

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:-)

2010-12-08T10:58:00.008-05:00

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

2010-12-02T20:19:00.005-05:00

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

2010-12-02T19:43:00.009-05:00

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

2010-12-02T19:08:00.003-05:00

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.

Continuing Patterns

2010-11-29T19:40:00.005-05:00

This was a fun little project for Middle School students that I picked up at Conference. I did it with my third grade students. The idea is to glue a small square of pattern paper (1x1") into the middle of a larger piece of paper. The larger piece can be whatever size desired, depending on how long the project needs to last. This project was done on 6"x6" black paper as it was a one day project.

Whats the point? Well, this one takes some thought. The goal is to continue the pattern from the small square out to the edges of the big square. The trick is, the student doesn't have all of the pattern revieled in the small square so they have to figure it out OR develope a pattern that fits. Sometimes the pattern grows and evolves as it moves to the edges utilizing a lot of problem solving and decision making skills.

Weaving with Kindergarten

2010-11-29T18:48:00.007-05:00

If you have ever tried weaving with Kindergarten students, you know that it is a slow, tedious process. Weaving is not a skill that this age child understands easily or picks up quickly. BUT, it is a skill that they need to BEGIN working on as it helps with "pattern" as well as mathmatical thinking skills. So, I decided that simple weaving would be the place to start. I precut the "worp"(the piece being woven into) and the "weft" pieces (the pieces being woven). We talk about how weaving in found in many cultures as an art form and a means for creating every day objects. I also tie it into their study of Native American cultures.

As far as the actual weaving process, the students determine the color pattern they want to use and then we weave together, one strip at a time. Finally, we glue down the ends to keep them from falling out.

Coming soon......weaving with a twist! Keep an eye out for additional projects!

As POW WOW Approaches

2010-11-16T08:51:00.007-05:00

Our Kindergarter students always take time, in the fall, to study various Native American tribes. Each class studies one tribe in depth, then later participate in a POW WOW with all the other classes, dressed in the clothing that represents that tribe. I like to do a little project with them that pertains to their specific tribe to expose them to Native American art. Above are three different lessons. The blue Nez Perce blanket patterns, the Iroquois legend of the The Turtles Race with Bear and the Sioux turtle, representing their 13 month year with 28 days each. More are on the way as they are completed.

First grade Portraits starting to Emerge

2010-11-10T16:21:00.002-05:00

This is one of my favorite projects. Perhaps, that is why it is done on almost a annual basis. I really love seeing how this little guys express themselves when learning about PORTRAIT. First we discuss PORTRAIT. What is it? What does the artist want us to see? Then we learn about putting the face together, where the features go, and how big they are compared to each other - perspective. After a couple of practice drawings, we start on the final sheet. The next step is to begin filling in color with oil pastels. I usually have them layer a couple of colors, such as orange and a "skin" color, to give our faces some warmth. Then we move onto clothing, making sure to mix at least two similar colors, finally we get to the hair. We discuss that hair is not one big piece, but many different strands that are different colors. I demonstrate how we can create the look of strans by laying lines of different color, then they create hair. To top it off, we fill in a background that could deal which seasons, events, or even different artists styles. The result is some truly amazing work!

Rough Weather Ahead!!!

2010-11-10T16:03:00.003-05:00

This class of 3rd grade students experienced rough seas as they painted seascapes depicting stormey skies and large waves. We talked about weather and how skies look when storms are approaching.
First, we took white, turquoise, and violet tempera and painted a stormy sky onto the manila paper, using white first, then, while wet, we slowly applied turquoise and violet, to create stormy clouds. I did allow them to use A LITTLE black, but only after a demonstration showing how little was really needed.
Then, we used violet, blue,turquoise, and white to work in the water. We reviewed "horizon line" and talked about how the waves would form peeks. They should paint the water using brush strokes that immulated rough waves. The last thing we did was add a small jut of land, far in the distance. Some chose to put in lighthouses and ships. Overall, we had some real weather brewing!

Beautiful Painted landscapes

2010-11-10T15:41:00.004-05:00

These are some beautiful landscapes that were created by our 3rd grade students as they learned about deep depth. To understand how to create an illusion is not an easy task, but these students did it quite well. In this class, the students learned about landscape, then chose photographs of the landscapes as inspiration for their paintings. It was not required to copy the image exactly. In fact, it was encouraged that they combine ideas from different pictures or just use a part of the image and then "imagine" the rest. The layering technique was similar to the techniques listed in the above entry. There was a little more detail added after the sky, however.

To be honest, this was a real stretch for me as I have been more "controlling", to an extent, in my last 23 years, by doing a little more leading and not as much facilitating as I did in this project. In order to really get these students to make personal decisions and choice, I left the type of landscape up to them as well as how they would paint it with the techniques they had in their arsenals. The results were quite varied showing different skill levels. Overall, I think the lesson was successful and most of the students were happy with their work.

5th grade works on VALUES

2010-11-03T11:56:00.008-04:00

My 5th grade students are required to know about VALUE before they leave us and go to middle school. One great way to teach it is through pencil drawing, learning to create shadow and light, and make a two dimensional drawing pop out into a three dimentional illusion. Almost every students is amazed at what they can do when it is finished and they step back and take a look.

* Students first observed many examples of pencil drawings and discussed the value scale that was used. We discussed high and low value and all the "in betweens."
* A blank value scale was passed out and the student practiced different pressures on the pencils to achieve the different values between black and white.
* We then put the values to work practicing how to use them on "3D forms" drawn on a 2D piece of paper (see above). Here they really had to learn how to "see around" the object, determine a light source, and create the illusion of mass and volume by applying a full range of values.
* Then came the crushed paper bags (crushed soda cans work as well). Students had to carefully draw the lines they saw and then apply the value to the drawing.

This is not an easy concept, but these 5th grade students did exceptionally well. Having to visualize FORM really uses the RIGHT side of the brain!

Wallpaper Still life

2010-11-03T11:42:00.004-04:00

This was a wonderful project done with 3rd grade students.
* First a lesson on DEPTH and how artist achieve this on a flat surface.
* We talked about CONTRAST and how they would have to think about their wallpaper choices so the viewer could make out the objects.
* The students then drew a plan of their still life objects and where they would place them in the composition.
* Then students were given a piece of cardboard and a whole lot of scraps of wall paper. They really went to town, designing their still life, using all the patterns and textures available.
* Finally, the students were able to embellish and clarify with oil pastels to enhance the final piece.

This was a fun project,definitly worth repeating! Check with local stores that carry wallpaper and ask if they would donate their old books of wallpaper samples. You can usually get more than you need.

Kindergarten Color Study

2010-10-29T14:54:00.006-04:00

From PRIMARY colors to SECONDARY colors! That is what these kindergarten students are learning about. They are identifying colors that belong in each catagory. These projects show the result of mixing two primary colors together to produce a secondary color. The pumpkins are examples of painting with the mixed colors. The fish are collages, where the students painted the paper first, mixing two primary colors, and then, later, cut shapes out and glued them into their composition.

Kindergarten Collage

2010-10-29T13:15:00.001-04:00

Kindergarten students, many times, come to school not really knowing how to use scissors correctly. So, what better way to learn than doing collages. Here they learned about shapes, gluing procedures, and a little watercolor techniques. They cut the shapes from newspaper, glued them down, then painted right on top. These are wonderful masterpieces.

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-29T13:00:00.005-04:00

This third grade class used oil pastels to create VOLUME and MASS, when drawing these pumpkins. The goal was to blend colors together to give the optical illusion of form. We wanted you to think you could actually walk around these pumpkins, maybe even pick one up off the ground. Did it work?????

Monochromatic Color Schemes

2010-10-29T12:51:00.007-04:00

Above, these 4th grade students have been experimenting wth VALUE and MONOCHROMATIC COLOR SCHEMES. They have used TINTS and SHADES of one color to create their compositions. This is not an easy task, but these students accomplished the goal with flying colors.

Collage Citiscapes

2010-10-29T12:45:00.006-04:00

This second grade class looked at Citiscapes and began to reproduce them in paper. In their collages they showed understanding of depth, overlapping, in some cases, even reflections. It was fascinating to see the different ways they portrayed cities in their collages.

Cart Resource doesn't have to be a drag.....

2010-10-21T16:33:00.007-04:00

I will have to say..........our Art Cart Resource teachers really know how to spice things up. Who needs to have a boring old cart when you can dress it up. Mrs. Miron has morphed her cart into a "Pic Nic" theme, while Mr. Tamburrino has hidden away in his "Hobbit Hole". Then comes Mrs. Kristy with her John Deere tractor. I know the kids love seeing these carts roll through the door when it is art time at Chets.

Our Local Artist - Macy

2010-10-21T16:22:00.003-04:00

Macy D., a second grade student at Chets Creek, was asked to paint a "Food Flow Chart" for Second Harvest Food Bank. She came in after school for several days and painted this wonderful piece that will be displayed at SHFB. It was really fun to watch her work progress through the planning,painting, and detailing stages. CONGRATULATIONS, MACY, on a job well done!

a HUGE Congratulations!!!!

2010-10-06T21:11:00.005-04:00

Our own Elizabeth Miron won TEACHER OF THE YEAR at her 4 day school, Whitehouse Elementary! This is only her 2nd year teaching!!!! She has really made a major impact and it was immediately noticed. We are all proud of you! Great Job!!!!!

Awesome 5th grade Photographers

2010-10-06T20:53:00.009-04:00

Our 5th grade students never cease to amaze me with their photographic "eye." We talk about the difference between taking photographs to create memories and to create an artistic composition. The classes have had assignments such as TEXTURE, STILL LIFE, "HANDS", and EMPHASIS. In all, the focus has been on how to compose the image to best communicate an idea. Students have learned about simple manipulation of the images with color and cropping. This project seemes to rank right up there at the top of the favorite 5th grade art assignments!

2nd grade Working on "Cool" colors.

2010-10-06T20:42:00.009-04:00

Actually, they are working on warm colors too! And emphasis. We have been talking about how color can make the viewer feel and why an artist might use a warm or cool color scheme. Our new vocabulary word is......ANALOGOUS - colors related to each other, located next to each other on the color wheel!

Art To Remember Questions and Answers

2010-10-01T15:10:00.006-04:00

Art To Remember Project on the Way HOME!!!!

We have completed the Art To Remember Artwork and have them all stuffed in the envelopes, ready to head home. Included on the envelope, should be instructions on how to fill out the order forms so that you can receive all those fabulous items with YOUR child's artwork on them. This is really one of the greatest projects that we do because nothing is better than getting the artwork of a child, as it is fresh and honest. The following are answers to many questions you might have. If your answer is not there, my number appears on the sheet that is attached to your envelope. Give me a call.

What if my child did not finish their artwork? Well, that is not a problem. They are welcome to finish at home with whatever art medium you have available. Many were completed with crayon or markers, or a combination of both, so either of these would be fine.

What if my child did not do a piece of artwork? There were some students who were absent during several art classes or did not enter the school until after we were finished. They are welcome to do a piece of artwork. You can use a piece of copy paper but you must cut it down to 8' x 10 1/2". If you forget this step, I can cut it down when I get it. Make sure they put their first and last name, their teachers name, and Chets Creek, on the back. Have your child come to the Art Lab and get an extra envelope, which contains all the things you need to order.

What if my child does not like their artwork OR what if I would like them to draw something different? When we introduce this project to the students, we normally allow them (at least the older ones) to pick their own subject matter. We do stress the importance of choosing something that would be nice printed on one of these items. However, sometimes, the subject matter of the work is not necessarily something you would like to see on a coffee mug or a T-shirt. You are welcome to have your child draw another picture on a piece of copy paper (see above instructions) and send the new picture in the same envelope you received.

If I have another child that does not attend Chets Creek, can I have them do artwork and include it in the order? Absolutely! Again, just cut a piece of copy paper down to the size mentioned above and have them include their name on the back, their sibling's teachers name, and Chets Creek. You will have to get a seperate order form so that the company is not confused as to what artwork to print on what object. I should have extras in the Art Lab. You can put the artwork in the siblings envelope when your order is complete.

What do I need to return with my order? The order must have the original piece of artwork, the order form, and the payment.

How do I pay? You can pay by check Made out to CHETS CREEK OR by cash. A district change has stated that Duval Schools can no longer recieve checks for over $250. If your order is over $250, you could break it up into two checks.

Will I get my child's artwork back? Yes. If you make an order, the artwork will be returned with the items purchased.

When is my order due? Orders are due back to school by October 15th. I can send in ONE LATE ORDER on Nov. 5th. After that, we will not be able to send in any additional orders.

When are we expecting the orders to arrive? This year, we are looking to receive them before the Thanksgiving break. If not then, then right after we return. They will be here in plenty of time for the holidays, especially, if your gifts are being sent out of town.

What if an item I have purchased comes damanged? Not a problem. Send the damanged piece in to the Art Lab. ATR keeps student artwork, digitally, until June. We can contact ATR and they will replace it and send it directly to you.

What if I want to order more items at a later date? Again, if you have put in a previous order, the artwork is stored digitally with ATR and they can simply pull it up and print it on whatever you like. You can work directly with ATR at that point.

What does the ATR fundraiser support? All funds raised by this project go to support the Cultural Arts at Chets Creek by bringing in quality presentations and performances for all our students. It also supports our annual Cultural Arts Week, which is a week long celebration of guest artists and family workshops that allow students and families to enjoy different aspects of the arts. The Arts Extravaganza evening event is also supported so that families can come enjoy and participate in the arts together. Finally, these funds help support the resources at Chets, allowing them to purchase special equipment and/or supplies for our students to enjoy.

Hopefully, your question has been answered. If not, you can leave a comment with a question and then check the blog for the answer in a day or two. OR you can call the number on the information sheet attached to your envelope. Let me THANK YOU for your support of and through this project. I KNOW you will be WOWed by these objects with your child's original art. It make the item that much more special.

Labels: ArtToRemember, childsart, fundraiser, questions

First Project of the Year - Art To Remember

2010-09-08T22:01:00.002-04:00

Once again, we are starting our year with the Art To Remember Project, an art fundraiser for Cultural Arts at Chets Creek. You get to purchase items with your child's artwork beautifully presented for all to enjoy. We raise funds to help bring in quality guest presenters, local artists, and put on special events like our Cultural Arts Week and Arts Extravaganza. Funds can also go to purchase special supplies for the various resources at Chets Creek, to enhance your childs experiences in Art, Music, and PE.

Begin looking for your childs Art To Remember envelope to come home at the first of October. With the Holidays coming up, these beautiful works of art could make wonderful gifts for family. We encourage everyone to order at least one magnent to help support Cultural Arts.

Please contact me at 993-6390 x 108 with any questions.

Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ART LAB "TREASURE" LIST........

2010-09-02T19:43:00.002-04:00

There are many different items in your home that you may consider trash, that the Art Lab would consider a "Treasure". The following are things we are collecting:

small green soda bottles (rinsed)
water bottles (rinsed)
styrofoam egg cartons
clean soup/veggie cans
wood scraps
metal scraps (not sharp)
small game pieces
toilet paper and paper towel rolls
buttons
beads
old calendars
any crafty items
cardboard
old cd's and dvd's
ribbon
old broken costume jewelry
silk flowers and plants
material scraps
anything that might be fun to glue into an art project

If you are not sure whether or not we can use an item, send it in and let us have first dibs. If we can't use it, we will throw it away for you!

ART LAB WISH LIST....

2010-09-02T19:34:00.002-04:00

Below are several items that could be used in the Art Lab this year. Any of these donated items would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!

HEAVE DUTY ALUMINUM FOIL
WAX PAPER
WOODEN CRAFT STICKS
TOOTHPICKS
LIQUID STARCH
LIQUID DISHWASHING DETERGENT
BARS OF IVORY SOAP
CELLO SPONGES
COPY PAPER
PHOTOPRINTER INK (HP 02 ALL COLORS - CYAN, LIGHT CYAN
YELLOW, MAGENTA, LIGHT MAGENTA)

Thank you thank you thank you!

Cultural Center offers Adult and Student Classes

2010-08-25T12:22:00.002-04:00

The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach is offering art classes and workshops for both adults and children. Visit their website ( www.ccpvb.org ) or call them at (904) 280-0614 and see what they have to offer. Registration ends September 8th, so hurry up and have fun with art!!!!

PLEASE READ.....

2010-06-29T16:23:00.003-04:00

http://blog.futureofed.org/index.php/2010/06/26/robert-redford-myths-and-the-future/
(if you can't get there from this link, click on "Please Read" and it will take you there.)

The Above link is a VERY INTERESTING read about where we are and are heading. Daniel Pink hit it right on the nose. Looks like the Creative mind will be what will keeps us a float as well as keeps us sane as we travel quickly through the 21st century.

Tell me what you think!!!!!

I got a job!

2010-06-24T13:40:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to share the good news that I have been hired on in Davidson county! I have been working very hard as a substitute teacher this past school year. The job hunt was tough, but I am so fortunate to have been hired on at my top choice school!

I will be teaching K-4 at Hickman Elementary. I have my own art room with 2 sinks, shared storage and 2 kilns with the second art teacher at the school. I am very excited to start my career, its a great school! The principal is very nice and values the arts and I am so pleased there is already a second established art teacher that can deal with all my first year teacher questions :)

It was my very first interview with a principal and I beat out 4 other candidates! The principal was very impressed with my rich portfolio, that I couldn't have put together without the wonderful help and guidance of Mrs. Snead. Thank you so much for taking sooooo many pictures of me in action and helping me create such awesome lesson plans! Mrs. Snead is the most talented art teacher I know and I am so glad to have worked under her wing because I feel confident in tackling my first year! I start August 9th :)

Up and Coming Graphic Designers

2010-06-15T12:21:00.004-04:00

This was a fun project where the students had to design a wrapper for a new candy bar. What they had to think about was how the wrapper would attract a potential buyer. How could they design it so that a customer would choose their candy bar over the rest of the selection. It was quite challenging! With the little bit of time left over, they designed a magazine advertisement about their product. We discussed how advertising had to capture your attention in a glance that lasts a second or two. They were able to share their candy bar and advertisement to the class using the document camera. What fun! It is definitly a project I hope to spend more time on next year.

HUGE Congratulations

2010-06-09T12:34:00.002-04:00

A very HUGE congratulations goes to all students who had their artwork submitted to the Florida Art Education Association Digital Art Show. You can view all 10 entries in a post below. ALL 10 STUDENTS RECIEVED TOP RATINGS AND RECEIVED AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE for their works of art. I am very proud of all of them and hope this will inspire them to continue working hard in the arts. GREAT JOB!!!!

Another Great Summer Art Activity

2010-06-09T12:29:00.002-04:00

Atlantic Potters is offering classes for kids and adults this summer, so check out their website and take a look. You might find something that would interest the whole family. Go to classes@atlanticpotterysupply.com and have some fun!

Summer Art Activities

2010-05-13T23:45:00.003-04:00

Visit the Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach website for some wonderful summer fun. They are offering art classes and workshops for ages 4 years old to adult.

Go to http://www.ccpvb.org OR click on the title of this post, and see what fun you can find!

Portside Mural - What Fun!

2010-05-13T23:14:00.002-04:00

Three if us, Kristy Sappington, Karen willett, and myself, had a wonderful opportunity to work together on a mural for a very special project. ARC and Chets Creek have joined up to open an Academic Resource Center in one of our local neighborhoods called Portside. This center will allow the students to have a place to work on computers, view their displayed artwork in frames, check out books, and attend storytime sessions. And that is just the beginning. ARC donated two rooms for this center, one of which, the story time room, we painted a mural of the seashore. As you watch the slideshow above, you will see the transformation from gold walls to a day at the beach.

I was such fun working with Karen and Kristy not just because they are wonderful artists, but our styles seemed to meld together so well. Plus, it was just a lot of fun. The pictures don't do justice to this project, so you will have to make plans to see it in person.

I know there are other plans for this room to even take it to the next level. May 19th will be the grand opening, so come take a look.

Arts Extravaganza was a Hit!!!!!!

2010-04-25T23:02:00.004-04:00

WOW! What a wonderful finish to a fabulous week. Arts Extravaganza was full of art experiences through guest artists, hands on activities, and a huge, school wide student artshow! There was a large turnout for this special event and fun was had by all! Thank you to all the faculty, staff, and parents that volunteered to make this a perfect evening!

Cultural Arts Week is Really Rocking!!!

2010-04-22T22:58:00.005-04:00

We are having a BLAST this week with all our guest performers. Monday we had SUGAR AND SPICE who entertained us with puppetry - very funny! On Tuesday we had a small group from the Synphony come and play for us as well as teach us about the instruments - beautiful! On Wednesday we had Glenis Redmond, "Miss Poetic" share her wonderful poetry in a very dramatic style - captivating! On Thursday we had ORISIRISI entertain us with the stories and drums of Africa - exciting! On Friday we have the Banjo Man from the Listening Project allowing us to experience the county - knee slapping! On Friday Night we have ARTS EXTRAVAGANZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The big finale! This is TONS of fun. Guest artists, hands on art activities, school wide student art show, food, and the PTA basket auction. Make sure to be there to experience this awesome event.

Click on this blog post title and see all the wonderful photographs of our week's activities. Thank you, Melanie, for documenting for us, through photographs!

Kids Art Fair had an Awesome turnout.

2010-04-21T16:02:00.005-04:00

On Monday and Tuesday evening we hosted our Kids Art Fairs so our parents could come purchase their child's artwork matted and framed. It was beautiful!!!!! I almost wish we could keep the work up all year long, right there in the lobby, because it makes such an incredible impact when you walk in the school. We had a wonderful turn out on Monday and Tuesday nights, with all attending amazed at the talent our children possess.

We are still selling the artwork through Friday Night at our big Arts Extravaganza. If you have not purchased your child's work, it is not too late.

Thanks to all who helped volunteer during the event!

Two Opportunities to Show Off Our Young Artists

2010-03-20T12:47:00.007-04:00

Coming up VERY QUICKLY is the ELEMENTARY LIBRARY SHOW for the 2009-2010 School Year. It is a part of our celebration of the Arts during Youth Art Month (YAM), even though, this year it will be up April 1st (not an April Fools joke :-). On that planning day, art teachers from around the county will be installing this show at several libraries around the county, with beautiful works of art from their schools. Chets Creek's work will be displayed at the Pablo Creek Library for about two weeks after instillation. Make sure to go visit the Library and see the exquisit work by our students.

The second opportunity we have is the FAEA (Florida Art Education Association) Digital Student Art Show. For this show, student artwork is photographed and sent in to be JURIED. Our Chets Creek Cultural Arts Committee will pay the $5.00 per work entry fee required for these entries. Once Selections are made for the show, a digital powerpoint is produced that is shown during the FAEA Conference in the Fall AND to tour Florida for a year. From these piece, jurors also choose certain works for special awards. We have had the opportunity to send in several pieces for this show. Good luck to all students whose work was entered.

What Color is our Future?

2010-03-18T10:54:00.005-04:00

An interesting question with the current conversations in our State Senate and House of Representatives. What color will our future be?????? It might be bleak in shades of gray as our students will be without much that they need in their immediate future. With more and more money, time and talent being pulled away from education, and that I mean a WELL ROUNDED, COMPLETE, education, our children have very little to look forward to in terms of jobs, income, and ability to survive, much less succeed, in the years to come. NOW IS THE TIME TO BEGIN CONTACTING YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU WANT!!!! After all, they ARE supposed to represent you.

It is also vitally important, that to survive in the 21st century, that students be well able to create, to make connections, to discover needs and to invent. This comes from using the creative side of the brain that helps us to see the big picture. These abilities are taught and experienced in the Arts. They are not a frill or fluff. They are essential to the education of our students. MAKE SURE OUR DECISION MAKERS, who, in many cases are NOT educators, know that the arts must remain a vital part of our students education.

What is YAM???????????

2010-03-11T16:01:00.010-05:00

What is YAM, you ask??? Why it is Youth Art Month and it happens every March. This is the month where we celebrate the arts and the impact it has on our children, our students, our schools, and our community. According to the Council for Art Education, the purpose is....

1. To direct attention to the value of art education which develops divergent and critical thinking; multicultural awareness, and technical communication, and expressive skills.

2. To increase community, business and governmental support for art education.

3. To recognize art is a necessity for the full development of better quality life for all people.

4. To expand art programs in schools and stimulate new ones.

5. To increase community understanding and interest in art and art education through involvement in art exhibits, workshops, and other creative ventures.

6. To provide additional opportunities for individuals of all ages to participate in creative art learning.

7. To encourage commitment to the arts by students, community organizations, and individuals everywhere.

8. To recognize art education as a viable component in the total education curricula that develops citizens of a global society.

9. To reflect and demonstrate the goals of the National Art Education Association that work toward the improvement of art education at all levels.

If you have not stopped by Chets Creek and walked our upstairs gallery, then you are in for a treat, as we have displayed spectacular works by our students for all viewers to enjoy.

DID YOU SEE THE SUPER BOWL????

2010-02-07T19:52:00.001-05:00

As I sat with the majority of the country, watching the Saints and the Colts battle it out, I found myself anticipating the commercials. I actually heard it said that many people were really excited to see the commercials during the game, with some watching the game mainly for that purpose.. My thought was "THANKS TO THE ARTS" and the creative minds of the graphic artists that put all those together. Not to mention the field design, uniforms, banners, equipment, advertisements, logos, cameras, Jumbotrans, architecture, just to name a few.
Amazing how much art is integrated into the SuperBowl, as well as everyday life.

Sleeping under the Stars

2010-01-29T15:45:00.006-05:00

FIRST GRADE SLEEPOVER.......what a fun day, filled with all kinds of activities dealing with SPACE..............THE FINAL FRONTIER! It started with a flashlight studded parade complete with aliens and a storm trooper. Then they broke off into stations, all dealing with space. In the art room, we did

12th Birthday Candle up

2010-01-29T15:39:00.006-05:00

Once again, Chets Creek celebrated its birthday with the addition of a new candle. This years theme is "Orchustrating A Symphony of Student Success" so the candle was all about different musical genres. I have to admit, I think it is one of my favorites. My question is......after this wall is filled.......where will we go next??????? The world may never know.

Mrs. Snead goes to School

2009-12-02T15:07:00.009-05:00

This past November I had the opportunity to attend a Portrait Workshop with Ann Kenyon, an internationally known artist, at the UNF Campus. WOW! Did I ever learn what I didn't know about painting portraits in oils!!!!!!! This was an all day workshop and I must say, I was exhausted at the end. On interesting point was I experienced some of the frustrations the kids feel when they are tackling a challenging project with me. Many times, I will tell them to look at their work and figure out what it needs. They tend to look at me with blank stares and say "I don't KNOW what it needs." Well, I was feeling their pain during the production time. I would look and know that my portrait definitly needed something but I could not figure out what. I was having trouble getting the right color mixed with the paints and ......well, I could go on and on. Ultimately, I did paint a portrait that looked like a human being, however, it did not do justice to the beautiful model I was painting. BUT, the great thing was the EXPERIENCE! I know I have a lot of work to do to be successful at Portraiture, but I know that I was motivated to do the work and get better. What a wonderful experience!!!!

LIME GREEN... the color for 2009-2010

2009-12-02T14:56:00.004-05:00

Have you noticed that new artwork has FINALLY begun to fill our frames and cases on the 2nd floor? Well, if you are not sure, look for the lime green tags and you will see fresh work. We are framing 2-D work and are replacing old 3-D pieces with new ones. Make sure to look around when you are up there. We have some fabulous artists here at the Creek!

PTA REFLECTIONS "VISUAL" PARTICIPANTS

2009-12-01T23:10:00.004-05:00

This year's entries for the PTA Reflections Visual Arts Exhibit are ready to compete! We had some very nice art pieces as well as photographs. These student's work will compete locally. Those selected at the County level will then compete at the state level. If they are selected at the state level they will then go on to compete at the national level. Congratulations to all these students and good luck!!!!

Another Great POW WOW!

2009-11-20T16:58:00.004-05:00

Every year our Kindergarten classes study about various Native American tribes for two to three weeks, in their classrooms. I try to have the students work on a small clay piece when they are with me to teach the importance of that medium to these people, as it was used to create vessels, bowls, everyday items necessary to life, ceremonial items, as well as items with which to barter.

To culminate the entire unit of study, the whole kindergarten class participates in a huge POW WOW, including Native American music and dances. The resource team is responsible for running the various centers that the students visit throughout the day. My job is to talk about natural dyes and paints made by the early Native Americans and then let the students experiment by painting with beets, paprika and tumeric. Always fun! The students really have fun playing with food, but they also learn a lot about having to be resourceful with what you have available.

FAEA Conference Report

2009-10-28T15:15:00.003-04:00

I can't believe how much time I DON'T have to post info on my blog. It has been forever!

Just wanted to say the FAEA Conference was wonderful as always. It seemed I was really in "collage" mode as most of my workshops dealt with collage techniques. One was particularly interesting, as it dealt with layering digital images ( on a very wide variety of papers) to create a collage. I am thinking I need to think about doing this with some of my 5th grade classes.

My other workshop was about different collage techniques, using a large variety of media. It was fun and refreshing. I had done something like that before BUT we can always use a second time around reminder.

I attended the District Workshop and was amazed at the art advocacy and activities going on around the state. We came back with some wonderful ideas for DATA to think about.

One workshop I attended was a lecture on how one school created large mosaic murals. I am thinkin'.....I am thinkin'............

The big thing that happened was I was elected to the FAEA (Florida Art Education Association) board as the Elementary Chair for the state of Florida. WOW! I start officially in January. Now I can really get great ideas from around the state.

I will try to blog more often so I can share all the wonderful things happening here , and now, around the state.

Miss Fravel Moved to Music City

2009-10-20T15:36:00.004-04:00

So it has been almost 6 months since I completed my internship and graduated from UNF. Amazing how it only seems like yesterday I was teaching the students about maps and helping with the Kids Art Fair Fundraiser!

After graduation I looked for jobs in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, and Tennessee. I saw more jobs for art teachers in Nashville then anywhere else, so I made the decision in May that I would move to Nashville, TN.

However, they have a strict policy to not see anyone for interviews unless they have a TN teachers license, I started the long paperwork process as soon as I graduated, first needing a FL license, then needing to apply for an out of state teachers license in TN. The good news is I just got my TN teachers license last weekend! The bad news is all the jobs have been filled at the moment.

I moved in August, now living with one of my best friends and her family. They have helped me adjust to the new environment and shown me what an exciting town Nashville can be! There is a lot of support from the community to keep art and music in the schools since it is Music City, and there is a growing art scene here. I am very excited about how much they seem to love art here, and the new superintendent is really doing a lot to improve the school systems here for students and teachers.

I start substitute teaching next week, which will be a great way to improve my classroom management, as well as learning more about the schools and students around the area. I have also been doing some volunteer work in the area as well through a great organization known as Hands on Nashville. Volunteers can participate in many different kinds of activities in and outside of the schools, so far my favorite volunteer work has been going bowling with the blind.

I certainly miss Jacksonville and can only hope my experiences in the schools here will be as wonderful as Chets Creek, but I feel I am off to a great start experiencing the town and getting involved in the community.

Here's a picture from the park downtown, Cenntenial Park, its a very large and beautiful park, there are always people there jogging, picnicing, painting, and enjoying the outdoors. There is a giant Parethenon replica which you can see in the picture in the middle of the park.

And here is a picture from the Opry Hotel, which is one of the largest (or maybe it is the largest) hotel in the country and its right next to the Grand Old Opry (one of the big tourist attractions here). Inside the Hotel are lavish gardens you can walk through.

I hope everyone is doing well and having a great school year so far!

WELCOME TO STEVE TAMBURRINO!!!

2009-10-09T08:14:00.002-04:00

Many of you who walk the halls of Chets Creek Elementary have heard the name Tamburrino plenty of times............as it pertains to Music Teachers. Now you are going to hear it twice as much because MR. TAMBURRINO will be teaching Art, two days a week. We are very excited to have him and can't wait to see him rolling through the halls on his way to our students' classrooms. Welcome, Mr. Tamburrino, we are all glad you are here!

THE VALUE OF ART!!!!!!

2009-09-15T09:03:00.004-04:00

You may have seen this on other art blogs, but it is important enough to repeat here, as well. If you ever wondered WHY it is important to teach art to ALL of our students on a regular basis, you might want to read "10 LESSONS THE ARTS TEACH." This is by Elliot Eisner and was sent from the National Art Education Association.

1. The arts teach children to make good judgments about qualitative relationships. Unlike much of the curriculum in which correct answers and rules prevail, in the arts, it is judgment rather than rules that prevail.

2. The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer.

3. The arts celebrate multiple perspectives. One of their large lessons is that there are many ways to see and interpret the world.

4. The arts teach children that in complex forms of problem solving purposes are seldom fixed, but change with circumstances and opportunity. Learning in the arts requires the ability and a willingness to surrender to the unanticipated possibilities of the work as it unfolds.

5. The arts make vivid the fact that neither words in their literal form nor numbers exhaust what we can know. The limits of our language do not define the limits of our cognition.

6. the arts teach students that small differences can have large effects. The arts traffic in subtleties.

7. The arts teach students to think through and within a material. All art forms employ some means through which images become real.

8. The arts help children learn to say what cannot be said. When children are invited to disclose what a work of art helps them feel, they must reach into their poetic capacities to find the words that will do the job.

9. the arts enable us to have experience we can have from from no other source and through such experience to discover the range and variety of what we are capable of feeling.

10. The arts' position in the school curriculum symbolizes to the young what adults believe is important.

SOURCE: Eisner, E, (2002). The Arts and the Creation of Mind, In Chapter 4, What the Arts Teach and How It Shows. (pp. 70-92). Yale University Press.

Pretty cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is a lot more going on in the Art Lab than meets the eye!

A NEW YEAR BEGINS

2009-08-26T09:00:00.009-04:00

As the 2009-2010 school year begins to unfold with our new theme, "Orchestrating a Symphony of Student Success". the Art Department is prepareing to scaffold the academics with "right brained" expression and understanding. All of us are excited about the lessons we have planned and the work that will come from our student body. The following are a few things we could use in the Art Lab and on the Art Carts. Any and all items are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!

"Trash" Treasures:
Styo egg cartons
clean soup/veg. cans
old cd's or DVD's
old broken jewelry
small wood scraps
small game pieces
unwanted craft items
"cool whip" like containers
unwanted fake flowers/foliage
old working hairdryer
flat Styrofoam pieces
old calendars
"family friendly" magazines
Any thing that might be fun
to glue or add to an art project.

Art Wish List:

Baby wipes

Lg bars of Ivory soap

Heavy duty alluminum foil

hydrogen peroxide

med. wooden skewers

jewelry wire (or similar weight)

glossy photo paper

HP 02 photoprinter ink (5 seperate colors)

chicken wire

Thank you so very much for any and all donations.

Art ABOUNDS at Chets Creek

2009-08-26T08:11:00.004-04:00

We really have a blessed situation this year in that we have 5, that's right, 5 art positions this year. Besides Mrs. Kristy Sappington and me (Jennifer Snead), we have three other "1 day a week" art teachers that will be teaching and motivating our students. Mrs. Cecilia Dushey-Ward is a veteran instructor that will be here on Tuesdays. I am excited that she will bring much wisedom and experience with her to enhance our program. Mrs. Elizabeth Miron is a new teacher this year, but don't be fooled. She is very smart and quite sharp so she will hit the ground running with some fresh ideas and enthusiasm. She will also be here on Tuesdays. Both of these teachers teach four days at another school so we really appreciate the fact that they are giving us their best on their one day at Chets Creek. Now you may be wondering at this part of the article about our fifth person. Well, at this time they have not been hired. But when that person gets here, I will introduce you to her (or him). That position will be with us on Thursdays.

On a sad note, Ms Hallie Spooner has left us to take a job at home in Ohio. She was, and of course still is, a fabulous art teacher and will be a tremendous asset to the school she serves. We will miss her greatly!!!! Best to you, Ms. Spooner!

So heres to a year full of art and creativity! Be looking for the masterpieces to soon be hitting our walls.

Summer Fun

2009-07-08T22:20:00.005-04:00

Make sure to look back at last year's entry about different art activities that can be done at home this summer. It would be under June 2008. When all the rain comes, kids find themselves inside with very little to do, unless they are glued to video games, the following are some fun art activities they might be able to do with simple supplies that are found around the house. HAVE FUN! GET CREATIVE!

1. Find scrap cardboard. Use one piece as the back piece and use scraps to glue onto it into different shapes. When finished, rub a litte glue over the surface and cover with a layer of heavy duty foil. Rub carefully to make the shapes come through the foil clearly. use a dull pencil to draw into the foil to make thin line designs. If you have black temperal paint (with a small amount of liquid soap added), black ink, or even black shoe polish, then rub it over the surface of the foil and then rub off with a paper towel. The effect is the look of tarnished silver.

2. Get a bar of soap and use a plastic knife to carve it into a new shape. Be very careful to carve slowly and to take off only a litte bit of soap at a time to keep from braking the soap. This is a very relaxing activity. You wont want to stop.

3. Scrap paper, such as wrapping paper, construction paper, notebook paper, newspaper, and any other kind of paper you can find, can be torn into interesting shapes and glued onto a background sheet to create a fascinating collage. Draw on top with crayons to add interesting details. Subject matter could be landscapes, animals, food, flowers, still lifes, ....just about anything.

4. When on vacation, keep a visual diary of where you went and what you did. Draw a picture with a lot of detail that tells the story of your trip. Have fun getting other people to "read" the drawings to find out what you did.

5. Using photographs, create interesting collages that tell the story of an event; a beginning, middle, and end. Photographs could come from magazines or from personal pictures. Use and many as you can to create a sequence that creates a short story.

6. If you have access to a digital camera, see if you can take some interesting shots that show different perspectives of ordinary things. How interesting and creative can you be with what you see?

7. Using wood scraps and/or parts and pieces of old broken jewelry or toys, use a strong glue (with parental help) to build a new sculpture. See how you can make it balance. You could build an imaginary animal or a fun looking robot.

These are just a few ideas. I bet you could come up with some of your own. Leave me an comment to let me know what you came up with. How did you use what you have around your house to create a wonderful piece of art??????

Final Projects, Just as good as the beginning!

2009-05-27T22:51:00.013-04:00

As the year winds down, we are busy finishing up art projects. Some of the projects are really turning out beautifully. Why does that seem so surprising? Because, ususally, during this time of year, the kids have stopped really getting into the projects and changed their focus to getting out soon.....so I don't usually get the best results. But here are some really nice pieces that will miss being put up on the wall, so I am glad you will be seeing them here.

Farewell to Miss Fravel!

2009-05-03T18:32:00.002-04:00

So the past couple weeks have been busy and exciting. I finished the internship on the 17th, it was so hard to say goodbye to the kids and Mrs. Snead. The kids touched my heart and on the last day there was a big basket of thank you cards from the kids and a few gifts from Mrs. Snead, it made all my hard work worth it.

The following week I returned a few nights to help Mrs. Snead with the Kids Art Fairs Fundraiser, which was a great experience for me to see what sort of preparations and interactions would happen on the actual fundraiser nights.

That week I also graduated! Graduation was the same day as the Arts Extravaganza night, so I brought my family straight from graduation to show them the school, see the students art work, and meet Mrs. Snead. My parents said this was their favorite part of graduation weekend because they could see the excitement in me as I showed them around the school and talked about the projects I did with the students.

Since then I had been busy entertaining my folks who stayed in town much longer then I thought, I resumed my regular hours at my part time job, and I have been job searching like crazy. I am hoping to still come and visit and volunteer at Chets creek until the end of the school year, however I have also got a couple trips out of town and the end of the school year is fast approaching! This year has gone by fast! But I can say Chets creek was a big part of my year so far, and I feel like the luckiest intern to have worked at such a great school and an amazing directing teacher.

Clay Crabs and Slabhouse

2009-05-03T18:04:00.003-04:00

I just found some pictures I had taken of the last two clay projects I did with the 4th graders that were really fun. One project was the slab clay house project which was a two day project. Students were to focus on scoring and slipping parts of the house on such as chimneys, shutters, doors. The students could also carve in brick work or work on the rough shingles. The students houses turned out great, a lot of them came up with some different and creative ideas like adding porches or snowman. I also liked all of the students projects looked very different and the students really enjoyed making the house.

And, finally, true to form as a Marylander who adores crabs, I had another fourth grade class make crabs. We used the hollow egg technique and scored and slipped on the shell, eight legs, and two claws. This was a three day clay project and several of the crabs turned out great, it was a difficult project and I think with another day the whole class would of had more successful crabs.

Don't Miss ARTS EXTRAVAGANZA 2009!!!!!!!!

2009-04-22T18:52:00.003-04:00

If you have never come to one of Chets Creeks ARTS EXTRAVAGANZA'S then you have a huge, family fun, evening waiting for you. Don't miss it this year, because we have lots of wonderful guest artists attending, and plenty of hands on art activities in which to participate for all age levels. NOT TO MENTION THE SCHOOL WIDE STUDENT ART EXHIBITION TO EXPERIENCE. Everyone is sure to have a fantastic time and see some awesome artwork. When is it, you ask????

Friday, April 24th from 6:00-8:00

We look forward to seeing you there!

On Her Way......

2009-04-22T18:46:00.002-04:00

It is sad to see Miss Fravel leave us, but she is on her way to graduate from UNF and go on to become a Fabulous Art Teacher for some lucky school. So a huge CONGRATULATIONS goes out to you, Miss Fravel!!!!! She says she will keep up with us and blog so we can know what she is doing. She will always be a part of Chets Creek! Don't stay too far away.

The Paper House Lesson

2009-04-16T19:07:00.005-04:00

Mrs. Snead has an example of a paper house she made at a workshop displayed in the classroom, I noticed right away that students always thought it was neat and wanted to know how to make it. Because of the high student interest I knew I wanted to try this lesson with a class so Mrs. Snead showed me the general procedures for cutting and folding the paper.

I chose to work with a smaller 5th grade class (one of my favorite classes!), it was sort of an experiment since the lesson had never been done before, it involved geometry and math and it took us about 3 classes to put together the house.

This class really impressed me, once they had the understanding for basic construction of the house and additions, they really took it to the next step adding pools, trees, patios, driveways, etc. What I liked even more was that they were helping each other out, it was like we were all teachers that day. It was a very hands on, cooperative learning experience for everyone. For the lawn, students used tissue paper to create grass and shrubbery.

During this project was also when I had 'the teacher moment', something they told us about at the beginning of internship that makes it all feel worth it, outweighs the bad days, and builds your confidence and desire to teach. One of the students said it was the most fun and best project he ever did, coming from a 5th grader who has been making art with Mrs. Snead really meant something to me. In general the whole class had fun while thinking critically and creatively and I could tell they were proud of the final product. That is one of my favorite parts about teaching, when students are proud of what they learned.

5th grade photography

2009-04-16T18:49:00.005-04:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with three 5th grade classes doing a photography lesson. The kids were all very excited about the project.

For the lesson we focused on framing and using the camera as an artist. Students were to think about what they wanted to say about their subject. We also discussed the how the effects of lighting, shadows, and perspective can influence the visual message. We also discussed some of the features on the camera that can effect the visual message, such as shooting or printing the photos in black and white, antique, or sepia.

With one class I introduced the students to the artist Andy Goldsworthy, this class was to take photos inspired by his work by altering some sort of environment.

The other two classes we worked on doing portraits.

I pulled some images from the cameras done by the students focusing on Goldsworthy, as much as I would like to share the portraits, I think its best not to post photos of students onto the blog. I did however stumble upon many other interesting pictures on the memory cards the students took that may not have anything to do with the required assignment, however I think they qualify as interesting photography. I loved looking through all the pictures to see what students were interested in taking pictures of and to see what sort of artistic decisions they were making.

Doing the photography lesson was one of my goals for the internship, I think its really great that Mrs. Snead has brought these wonderful resources into the art classroom through the use of grants, not all schools are so lucky to have a class set of cameras and printers. Im glad I got to take advantage of this and that Mrs. Snead was willing to let me work with them.

More Soap!

2009-04-13T22:04:00.002-04:00

Here are some soap sculptures that I think turned out great!

Silhouette Project

2009-04-13T21:44:00.004-04:00

So, I am a little behind on updating the blog with some of the exciting projects going on in the art room. I have been putting together my portfolio and tying up all my loose ends at the internship, which has been much more time consuming then I expected.

However with all this going on, we have been having some great projects coming out of the art room!

With the 3rd graders I had been working on a silhouette project. The project required students to think about contour lines on the edges of objects to show detail. Since we were doing silhouettes, we were using black paper, so students couldn't use line or value for interior detail, instead they had to focus on cutting shapes out of the black paper with detail.

They were to first paint the background in watercolor, I decided to use warm colors for a sunset kind of feeling because dusk is when the lightening is best for silhouettes. I showed one class my example of a cityscape with a bridge and gave them free range to do some sort of landscape silhouette, with the other classes I narrowed the subject matter to palm trees.

The project was really fun and most students were successful, they really had to think about craftsmanship when cutting and gluing the black shapes onto the watercolored paper to create the scene.

Hopefully tomorrow I can make some more posts on some other projects we have been doing like the 5th grade photography, the clay slab house project, and some of the kindergarten black line paintings.

Library Show is One Of The BEST!!!

2009-03-27T14:50:00.003-04:00

Tina and I have just returned from helping to set up the Annual Elementary Library Art Show at the Pablo Branch Library. As I stated in the post, below, it is always a difficult decision to choose the five 2-D pieces from so many excellent works of art by our students. We are lucky, however, with the 3-D work, as the Pablo Branch Library always makes a case available for our pieces. Chets Creek was able to get about 30 pieces of 3-D work into the show this year. What a wonderful representation of our young artists.

The whole show is quite impressive, at least at our branch. There are about seven schools in our area, represented at this Library. I am quite sure the at the 14 other Library Branches, the show is just as strong. If you live near the Pablo Branch, or any other participating Library, make sure to swing in and take a look at our Duval County Elementary Artwork. Then let me know what you think!!!!!! We have a very strong program as evidenced by the masterpieces on display.

Cultural Arts Week Celebration Almost Here

2009-03-22T01:30:00.001-04:00

The dates are April 20th through the 24th for this year's Cultural Arts Celebration. We have a week of presentations and activities that will keep us saturated in the Arts and the excitement that they stir up. Each morning we will have a different event; A Violenist, A magician, The Battersby Duo, Fletcher Middle School Band, and Carribbean Sound Steel Band. During the evenings of the 20th, 21st, and 23rd, we will have student art shows on display where parents can purchase the work already matted and framed, ready for hanging. Of Course, on Friday Night, we will have our huge ARTS EXTRAVAGANZA, with many visiting artists, hands on activites, student art exhibits, PTA basket auction, and food and fun! This will run from 6:00 to 9:00 and all our families and friends are invited. Make sure to put these wonderful events on your calendar. We look forward to seeing you ALL there!

This Pics have been Picked!

2009-03-20T09:42:00.014-04:00

It is the best of times. It is the worst of times.......Exciting as it is to get student artwork out in the community, it is one of the hardest things I have to do as an art teacher. The Annual Elementary Library Show is a wonderful venue to expose our students talents. Several Public Libraries display elementary artwork for about two weeks in the spring, showcasing some of the best works from each school. Why is it the worst of times? Because we are only allowed to submit 5 pieces of 2-D work. FIVE! How can I only choose 5 from 50 to 60 exceptional works of art by our students???? It is truly a vexing time for me, because the choices are impossible! But, after many excrutiating decisions, I have finally narrowed down to THE FIVE (one I am having trouble uploading....will try again so come back and visit).

Congratulations to all these artists!

In addition to these fabulous works, about 30 pieces of 3-D work was submitted to this show. Hopefully, they will all get in, but if not, they will be submitted to The Best In Elementary Exhibit.

Try to go by the Pablo Branch Library and see these pieces on display. The show will be installed on March 27th and should remain up for about 2 weeks.

Good Clean Fun

2009-03-18T20:58:00.005-04:00

I had the opportunity to work with a few 4th grade classes making soap sculptures. This is probably one of my all time favorite lessons so far because they students get really into the project, and although the soap shavings get everywhere, the whole art room smells so clean and soapy!

I am waiting on the other two classes to finish their soap sculptures, but here are some images from the class that did complete the project.

We talked about abstract art, what makes something abstract and I showed them some examples of abstract sculpture. I also had the students identify positive and negative space. The students then drew out a plan that was to include at least one area of negative space, and they were to alter the soap to release an abstract form.

The project took patience, and often times the soap can break if students rush, so in those instances we had to really think creatively about either changing our plan or using some toothpicks to hold it together in a unique way.

The Sea Creatures

2009-03-18T20:49:00.004-04:00

The 5th graders have been painting a lot of their clay projects which were sea creatures. Some classes are still waiting to paint theirs or need to finish up, but heres a sneak peak at some of the sea turtles and orcas. I am sure once the projects are complete Mrs. Snead will take a bunch more photos and post them because they are all turning out so well!

Proud of my Pointillists

2009-03-13T11:44:00.004-04:00

I taught a lesson on pointillism to a 4th grade class for their Kids Art Fair project. I had the class 3 days in a row, which is rare, so I decided to start the project with them since it was going to be time consuming.

I showed the class a picture of Seurat's famous La Grande Jatte, and talked about the technique he used. The students then practiced drawing a still life with a vase and something overlapping the vase such as fruit or a cup. The students were to use the pointillism technique for the vase, however it was not required for the rest of the picture.

There were two students who just absolutely blew me away with their work. It was a difficult project that took patience, but I feel it is always worth it when students exceed your expectations. Take a look, I just cant believe these came from 4th graders! They are stunning!

3rd Grade Cartographers

2009-03-12T10:56:00.005-04:00

This has been one of my favorite lessons to teach, I had some 3rd grade classes making maps in the art room. Mrs. Snead told me the students start learning about maps in 3rd grade, so I developed a lesson to reinforce what they learned.

I put together a PowerPoint to show the students different types of maps. The main focus of the lesson was what were the 3 things all maps should have. We discussed how maps needed a compass rose to tell us which direction to hold the map or to navigate the land. Maps needed a legend or map key so we could identify symbols or land features on the map. Finally, the maps had to include a map scale so we could measure distance.

I showed them weather maps and oceanography maps. I introduced vocabulary words such as cartography and we also discussed topographical maps and using contour lines. The students were to create an 'uncharted' island map that included the 3 things we discussed. The students were encouraged to name their island and were given the freedom to come up with some creative ideas for their maps, as long we were able to identify what they had drawn using the legend.

We had some really great islands, some students made islands they had actually been to such as Hawaii, others made candy island with chocolate rivers and peppermint beaches, and I had one interesting 'Kitty Island' with litter box beaches and furry hills.

All in all the maps turned out great, we kind of aged them by crumpling the maps and putting a watered down brown tempera wash over them. I had a great time teaching this lesson partly because of my interest in earth science and geography, I love being able to connect across disciplines to reinforce learning, its one of my favorite things about art, we can connect it to what students are learning in other classes.

Koi Ponds

2009-02-26T20:21:00.005-05:00

This lesson was one of the very first lessons I ever did in my pre-internship experiences. I really liked it and decided to try the lesson with 2nd grade.

The students were to make pond scenes, we discussed using warm and cool colors. They were to blend cool colors to create the water and then to create contrast we were to use warm colors on the koi fish.

I shared with the students some interesting facts about koi fish, for instance they can live for 30-40 years, and are symbols in Japanese culture for luck, love, friendship, and masculinity, as well as being known as the warrior fish and the fish of nobility.

Koi fish are usually a mix of orange, yellow, red, white, cream, and sometimes gold and blue. They can also have black spots on them. The students were really interested when I showed them a visual with all the different types of koi fish, they are categorized by color and scale pattern, the diagram included Japanese symbols for the type koi.

This project is really great because there are so many things you can talk about, we discussed what made the project 3-d because the torn strips bulge so the project is not flat. Finally we also discussed why the project is considered to be a mixed media project. I explained how this refers to what materials we use, in order to create the koi pond scenese we used paper, glue, crayons, watercolor paint, and tissue paper.

Another Candle

2009-02-25T16:37:00.007-05:00

Last year, a committee of teachers, parents, and staff, got together to plan a HUGE birthday party for Chets Creek's 10th birthday. It was quite a week long bash of birthday festivities. One idea, was to paint a large wooden candle for each year, depicting the theme for that year. (1-Building a 21st Century Community of Learners and Leaders, 2-Team up for Success, 3- Aim High, Take Flight, 4 - Hitch Your Wagon to A Rising Star, 5 - Puzzle Paradise, 6 - To Infinity and Beyond, 7 - Mission Possible, 8 -Lights, Camera, Action, 9 - Blazing the Trail 10-The Race is On, 11- The Magic Kingdom, Dreams Begin Here) Here, you see the first 11 (actually 10 1/2) candles with the various themes. These were painted by several people including, Kristy Sappington, Karen Willett, Haley Spooner, Hillery Theverage, Ian Forrester and myself. Believe me, I was ever so grateful to have such a wonderful group of artists to help with this undertaking. It was really fun to see candles ALL OVER THE ARTROOM being worked on in so many different styles. With oldies music in the background.....it was a real painting party. And they ALL turned out fantastic!!!! Below, is the new addition for this year..."Around the World in 180 Days." Not only does it include various forms of transportation, but features our new Mascot, Champion Chet, in the pilot's seat. Now, where it will go......I don't know. But it will mark another wonderful year at Chets Creek Elementary!

THE WALL IS UP!!!!

2009-02-25T16:07:00.003-05:00

Earlier you read about all our old 5th graders (I say old like they have been gone forever), that are now 6th graders, returning to paint their "High 5" tiles for our wall. Well, now all the tiles are done and up on the wall, thanks to our wonderful volunteer, James Boyd. All 151 tiles have been adhered to the Dining Room wall and are looking good for our upcoming HIGH 5 Banquet, where the new section of the wall will be officially unvailed.

Here is our new section. Our Goal is to line the Dining Room walls with these beautifully glazed tiles as, not only an enhancement to the yellow walls, but a motivation to our students to strive for the honor of having their handprint, forever displayed, for all future Chets Creek students to enjoy. It is interesting that each year, the numbers of students receiving the "5" on Math, Reading and/or Science, has grown. Maybe the wall is motivating more than we think!! Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

NOW WE ARE COOKIN' WITH GAS!

2009-02-24T11:24:00.008-05:00

Meaning, of course, that things are really cooking in the art lab......with electricity.......specifically the clay pieces. We have had several of our 4th and 5th grade classes finish up their clay projects, using paint and mod podge. They are really turning out beautifully.

Above you will see 4th grade clay plaques, with open negative spaces, where the students have woven with wire and beads. Below, there are swimming sharks and jumping dolphins, completed by our 5th graders.

Our 4th graders have also had some fun designing their own form of storyteller after being motivated by the Pueble Storytellers that they observed. Here you even see and alien storyteller, passing down a story to the little alien children. Also as woman telling her cats a story. This, of course, lined up with telling a narative, which some of them had for the FCAT writes. Maybe they could actually imaging the story that these storytellers are telling. Hmmmmm.....

There is still a lot more to come as the students are finishing up with paint. The seahorses and Marlins that were shown in an earlier post, are getting ready to be finished. Stay tuned to see what comes out next from the CCE ART LAB!