Crayola Doesn't Make A Color For Your Eyes

Blazing Banyon Trees

Looking for attention grabbing art projects? Check out "Dynamic Art Projects For Children" by Denise M. Logan, Crystal Productions. One of my favorite projects from the book is The Blazing Banyan Tree. It is such a high impact project that it is a great way to draw kids in at the beginning of the year. My students really enjoy working on this project. If you would like to see more examples of this project check our Artsonia exhibit.

4th grade Dinosaurs

Kids love dinosaurs! That makes this subject a great art tool. The excitement for the subject matter makes it an excellant opportunity to work on things like composition, use of elements and priciples, style, and skill development. We use silky crayons to add color to this project, a medium which the kids are always eager to work with.

First grade Line Drawings

After discussing the art element of line and using verticle, horizontal, diagonal, curves, spirals and dots as jumping off points my first grade students began working on their first official drawing of the year. I've included a couple of examples here. I love to see the spontaneity and creativity of these young artists.

Outrageous Hair - 5th grade

The kids in 5th grade love starting the year with this outrageous project. We have been talking about lines for may years by now and the kids take the opportunity to show what they know about this important art element. We review line types, the use of repetition to create pattern, the use of variety to create interest and use portrature to tie it all together. Students begin with a U or upside down U to start their face. They then may choose to place hair either on the top of the head or on the face as long as the paper is filled with outrageous hair.

It's a brand new year at school

There is something so wonderful about starting a new school year. Everything has a new glow. Everyone is looking forward to a fresh start. My first day back I had two young gentlemen run up to me, throw there arms around me and state, with grins on their faces, "long time no see". The excitement of the start of a new year is electric. So I say, "Welcome school year 2009/2010". I am looking forward to a year filled with new possibilities. Our Artsonia web gallery is nearly ready for it's first post and my 3rd, 4th & 5th graders are busy creating their first ATC's (Art Trading Cards) and looking forward to an exchange with a school in Monroe, North Carolina. I am also looking forward to trying out some new projects that I have found thanks to my friends at art ed 2.0. Hopefully I will be able to maintain this new enthusiasm long after my art room floors have lost their shine.

Introducing Artsonia

As we begin a new school year look for student art work to begin appearing on the online gallery Artsonia. Students in grades 3-6 have just had pieces posted to the gallery and others will soon follow. Want to know more about Artsonia? Check out the great video by Tricia Fuglestad and her students at Dreyden Elementary found in the bottom left hand corner of the Artsonia home page.