Hundertwasser Architecture

Fifth grade students learned about the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.  He was a highly creative painter, architect and philosopher from Austria. After analyzing his artwork, students helped create a list of common characteristics in Hundertwasser's artwork:  

Common Characteristics:

Subjects:

- Faces

- Buildings

- Plants

Art Elements/ Principles:

- Line: curving, especially spirals

- Pattern: shapes and colors

- Colorful

- Variety

Most classes came up with a basic list like the one above.  We used this list to create requirements for our Hundertwasser artwork.  Students completed 2 thumbnail sketches of their architectural plans and consulted with me about layout and details before moving on with their favorite on the final paper. During work time, I read the book Hundertwasser for Kids: Harvesting Dreams.  

This is a fantastic book that really gives a window into the philosophies of Hundertwasser and shows how his thinking impacted his artwork and architecture.  He was an artist who strongly believed in uniqueness, imperfection and the importance of nature.  All of the classes enjoyed listening to this book while coloring and painting their own unique masterpieces!  The kids loved the freedom and creativity that this project involved... and lets face it that is how Hundertwasser would have wanted it!

Learning goals: I can...

- Tell about Hundertwasser

- Explain what an architect does

- Create my own unique architecture inspired by Hundertwasser

Rousseau Tigers

Second grade kids created tiger masterpieces like Henri Rousseau!

We read the story "The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau" and learned all kinds of things about Rousseau.

He was a self taught artist who loved to paint in the greenhouse.  He was in his first art show in his early forties. He loved to paint jungle pictures even though he had never been to a jungle.  Instead, he used pictures from the newspaper to help him figure out how to draw wild animals like lions and tigers!  This is great news for us because most of us have never been to the jungle either! 

Here is some of his art:

Here is some of our art!

Learning Goals: I can...
- Tell about Henri Rousseau
- Create smooth sides and lines with tempera paint
- Create a step by step painting without using any pencil!

Rizzi Frogs

First graders studied the art of James Rizzi. James Rizzi was a painter from New York City who loved his hometown and the people in it. Students looked at many of his artworks and listed common similarities or characteristics of the paintings.

Characteristics of Rizzi's art:
- many bright colors
- cartoon style
- faces
- buildings
- shapes
- funny

In order to create a frog painting in the style of Rizzi we used the neon color family and a cartoon style.

Learning Goals: I can...
- Create art in the style of James Rizzi
- Describe Rizzi's art
- Paint smooth lines

Texture Hen Collages

Second graders read the book Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum to learn about texture. This is a fun book with great illustrations. The author uses interesting texture words.

On the first day of our project, we painted paper and talked about how to use brushstrokes to create a rough textured look for the feathers and a smooth look for the hen's coat.

Next, we talked about collage and strategies to use when using glue and scissors to create a collage.

Here are some sayings we use in the art room for good craftsmanship!

Glue: "Just a dot, not a lot!"
Scissors: "Turn the paper, not the scissors! Scissors always point, up, up and away!"

Finally, we added the background using oil pastel to make it appear like dirt texture (visual texture) and rocks so that we could actually feel the texture (tactile texture).

Learning goals: I can...
- Create texture
- Create a collage
- Use good craftsmanship

Mooseltoe

We love to use children's books as inspiration for art in the elementary art room! Second graders created these moose art projects after being inspired by the book "Mooseltoe."

Learning Goals: I can...

- Paint carefully

- Use the right paint brush for the job (watercolor vs. tempera paint)

- Create unique designs

An Eagle with Many Colors

Every year the Forest Grove 5th grade class creates a piece of collaborative art to leave behind at our school. This year the 5^th grade class of 2013 created a piece in the style of artist Chuck Close.  Chuck Close is an artist that uses a grid technique to enlarge and paint portraits.  Using the same technique, 5^th graders enlarged the Hudsonville eagle logo and added colorful circles around the eagle.  

Chuck Close is an inspirational artist who has overcome exceptional difficulties in his life.  He was born with a neurological disorder called face blindness.  This disorder makes it so that he does not recognize faces, not even the faces of family members.  He also struggled with dyslexia in school.  Later in life, after becoming an artist, he lost the use of his legs and much of the movement in his arms.  In spite of it all, Chuck Close has become a hugely successful artist whose style has been borrowed and adapted by many artists.  Here is a video link about Chuck Close if you want to learn more!

Blue Dog

George Rodrigue’s Blue dog is always an exciting project for our third graders.  This year I showed our artists a huge variety of examples.  It is amazing to see all the variations of Blue dog that Rodrigue has created!  Students were asked to decide what kinds of clothes they wanted their blue dog wearing.  

Typically, I have students do two drawings one on the back and one drawing on the front of their paper.  This helps students to try out a couple ideas and choose the one they wanted to turn into the finished masterpiece.  Not only are they gaining more experience, correcting for past mistakes and trying out new ideas but, using this method, they are also given the opportunity to evaluate their own artwork. 

Learning Goals: I can...

• Tell about Blue Dog (art history)
• Create my own unique version of Blue Dog
• Use complementary colors (dog color compliments background color for contrast)
• Use good craftsmanship when drawing and painting

Blue-Ringed Octopus

Since our elementary districtwide cultural focas area this year is Australia, I couldn't help but introduce classes to some of the unique wildlife found in Australia.  After studying Australian Aboriginal artwork and creating our Kangaroo dot paintings, we dove into the ocean for a closer look at this particularly unique creature! Fourth graders learned about the blue-ringed octopus.

The blue-ringed octopus is found along the southern coast of Australia.  While it is about the size of a golf ball it is one of the most deadly creatures for humans. The poison is produced by bacteria that live in the saliva of the octopus. Unlike other octopus, this octopus has blue rings that light up when it is agitated.   Here is a link if you want to read more!

Learning Goals: I can...
- Tell about the blue-ringed octopus (where is it found and what makes it different?)
- Use good craftsmanship to create smooth edges with paint (keep your paintbrush loaded)
- Show form using paint (add shadows to make it look more 3D)
- Use found objects to print bubbles (marker caps)