3D Names

Fifth graders began the year by using perspective to create 3D names.  This was a great project for learning not only one-point perspective but also different color concepts.

Learning Goal: I can...
- Use a horizon line, vanishing point and perspective lines to create the illusion of form.
- Use watercolor pencils to blend analogous colors
- Use complementary colors to make my name stand out

Chinese Dragons

Fourth graders are so enthusiastic about creating these Chinese dragons.  We talked about the difference between the European dragon and the Chinese dragon. The Chinese dragon is a symbol of good luck and wisdom. It is a symbol of power for people who are worthy of it and a creature to be feared by fools and evildoers. The European dragon on the other hand is typically an unruly dreadful beast feared by all for its ruthlessness.

We talked about how the appearance of the Chinese dragon has changed over time. It has become a creature that flies with a serpent's body, hawk claws, cow ears and the whiskers and scales of a carp (koi).

We also learned the Chinese Waterfall Legend. It tells if the koi fish that swam up the Yellow river against the current and tried for 100 years to jump up the waterfall. When he finally made it, he became a dragon that chases pearls of wisdom.  We talked about the life lessons that this story teaches us such as perseverance.

The dragon is a huge part of Chinese culture and makes many appearances at celebrations. We also watched some dragon dance videos while we worked. Notice that it is chasing a pearl of wisdom!

The main art concept that we talked about during this project was color blending. We talked about how to layer colors to blend, and we talked about using water to help colors to smoothly transition on our papers.

Does it Blend Well?

YES: 2 Primary Colors, 2 Analogous Colors (next door neighbors on the color wheel)

NO: 3 Primary Colors, Complementary Colors (opposites on the color wheel), Secondary Colors

When we talk about blending, I explain that our goal is to use vibrant rainbow colors on our artwork, so it's important to know how to avoid brown.

Next, we do some color math. I explain that to make brown, you combine all 3 primary colors.  I write out this basic equation on the board...

Red+Yellow+Blue = Brown

Then, we simplify the equation a variety of ways:
If, R+Y=O, and Y+B=G, and R+B=P, and R+Y+B= Brown then...
(R+Y)+B= O+B = Brown ...or...
(Y+B)+R= G+R = Brown ...or...
(R+B)+Y= P+Y = Brown

As it turns out, when we simplify the equation we end up with complementary pairs: (notice that these are on the "NO" list).

Orange and Blue
Green and Red
Purple and Yellow

Why can't we blend secondary colors together Mrs. Seitz? To answer this question we expand the equations and discover that all 3 of the primary colors are present in the mixtures.

Orange + Green = (R+Y)+(B+Y)
Green + Purple = (Y+B)+(R+B)
Purple + Orange = (B+R)+(R+Y)

The color math really helps the kids understand the reasons behind what works and what doesn't. It also gives them a way to figure it out if they haven't memorized what works. When I teach it this way, it creates an ah-ha moment for many of the kids. At this point in the year, my 4th graders are really quite good with color concepts because we have already done our Kandinsky color mixing lesson with fractions!

Learning Goals: I can...
- Explain the difference between Chinese and European dragons
- Tell about Chinese dragons
- Blend using analogous colors (next door neighbors)
- Give examples of colors that do and do not blend well

Abstract Circles

Second graders did a quick project on abstract painting.  We talked about the difference between abstract and realistic.  At the most extreme end of abstract art we have non-objective art.  This project would fall into this category because there is not even a hidden picture camouflaged by shapes and colors.

When we painted our acrylic circle paintings with watercolor we talked about color relationships.  We learned that if all 3 of the primary colors (red, yellow, blue) are present in a mixture then the color turns brownish.

To illustrate this concept did some MATH! We simplified equations:

R+Y+B =Brown: this equation can be simplified the following ways:

Mixing Complimentary Colors (opposites)

O+B=Brown

G+R=Brown

P+Y=Brown

We also expanded equations and discovered that all 3 of the primaries were present in these secondary mixtures:

G+P=Brown becomes Y+B+B+R= Brown

O+G= Brown becomes Y+R+Y+G=Brown

When blending our watercolor paint we tried to avoid the above combinations!

Students learned that they can play it safe by blending analogous colors (colors that are right next to each other on the color wheel).  These color combinations always involve only 2 primary colors!

Learning Goals: I can...

- Tell the difference between abstract and realistic

- Blend colors and avoid a muddy look (brownish)