Surreal Collages + Drawings

5th Grade students learned about surreal art and then created collages constructed using magazine clippings. From these collaged students created surreal drawings. 

Stop Motion Film Festival

MORE Stop Motion Animation!!!

Please enjoy more stop motion animation films, this time from our 5th graders! 

(4th grade videos can be found here)

Song: "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest

Song: "Daylight" by Matt & Kim

Song: "Some Nights" by Fun.

Wayne Thiebaud Desserts... Again:)

Our taste-buds have been excited lately in the art room here at Bert Raney Elementary. Treats of all kinds have been popping up across all grade levels! Her are some examples of 3rd grade layered oil pastel drawings on black paper. They completed sets of four drawings and then taped them together on the back to create an exceptional collection of bright and beautiful drawings.

We also completed some tantalizing treats in 5th grade. We created Pop Art paintings inspired by Wayne Thiebaud. After learning how to complete step by step drawings of three different desserts, students sketched multiple desserts onto a final paper. All pencil lines were outlined with blue paint and then an underpainting was laid down. A final coat of paint was added and then oil pastels helped add some final "pop" to the edges.

Claymation Videos

3rd-6th Graders recently completed claymation videos over a two day span as part of an activity time offered during after school programs. On day 1 students created their creatures and props out of a non-drying oil based clay. It doesn't dry out so you have the opportunity to reuse it! On day 2 students created their videos, I set high expectations and had them aim to get at least 60 photos taken, more if they could. If you have about an hours time, they need to take a little more than one photo per minute. I would recommend not dragging the photo taking into two class periods. File management once uploaded onto your computer is time consuming and complicating enough.

I'm currently completing a Stop-Motion Animation project with 4th and 5th grade students in my classroom and plan on posting step by step info describing the editing stage of all this. It's truly not all that complicated but I did go through some trial and error that you all could avoid when trying it yourselves. 

Teaching this animation technique was challenging and provided a steep learning curve. I got a handle on common student mistakes after teaching it during after school programs and the recent videos we have completed in the 4th and 5th grade classes have a much higher quality! I'm so excited to share them soon. Until then, I hope you enjoy our first attempt!

Abstract Chalk Drawings

Day One: Students learned about non-objective abstract art. They then used glue to create an abstract drawing on black paper. First we started with shapes, then connecting those shapes with a variety of lines. No space could be large than your palm or smaller than your thumb. 

Day Two: Students used chalk pastels and outlined shapes. They then smeared the chalk into the center of the shape with their fingers. This created the glowing effect we love so much. 

Once they were done students look at their drawings from further away. I had them squint their eyes, and watch images and objects suddenly appear! Like magic, their imaginations were soaring. It was glorious!  

Tibetan "Resolution" Flags

Prayer flags originate fron India and can be found in countries usually surrounding Mount. Everest (Tibet, Nepal, India, and China). They are hung with intentions to carry blessings and prayers by wind. Usually each flag has a central symbol that is surrounded by text, and if you plant a flag it is said to bring you happiness, long life, and prosperity. 

Inspired by these flags and their purpose, I devised a lesson for my 5th graders as a way for them to express their hopes and dreams for the new year and for their futures. It is our hope that as they hang in the hallway we can be reminded of the things we want to accomplish. Along with being an opportunity to introduce a new culture, this project also allowed me to get to know my students a bit better and to celebrate the New Year.... and they make for a pretty snazzy looking display!   

Each color used in the flags represents an element of the earth and follow the order of the colors listed below. 

Blue = Sky/Space

White = Air/Wind

Red = Fire 

Green = Water

Yellow = Earth

My Instructions: pick five resolutions you have for the new year or the future. Use symbols to draw that hope/dream on a flag square. Arrange in order and hang from string. 

Frank Big Bear

I have done this lesson for a couple years now, probably four times in total at different schools, and every time the results are just stunning. 

We discuss facial proportions, but break the rules like Picasso:)

We practice drawing eyes, mouths, ears, and a nose. (three sketches of each). We then circle our favorites and begin our drawing.

More Fish Collographs...

Gyotaku Inspired Collographs (5th)

A print before color was added

Students first learned about Gyotaku and collographs printing. They then sketch out some fish designs and picked one to be the inspiration for their final fish. I gave them a print out that had a variety of fish images on it for them to work from. After coming up with some ideas, students drew a fish on a 1'x1' piece of black tag board. 

On day 2 and 3 students cut and glued foam pieces over their tag board fish to create their collographs. I had them first focus on establishing an outline of their fish first emphasizing the need to include fins, tails, and scales in some way shape or form. A red signature seal was made when they finished on the third day. The signature seal was carved into a small piece of printing foam with a pencil. (They really got into the signature seal portion of the day making secret codes and discovering how to make letters not print backwards. Awesome creative problem solving opportunity for them. I kept my lips sealed and let them be the detectives)

Day 4 was printing day and time to add some color. I found it best for them to create a test print just to get the hang of the process. I had them do this on the back side of their final to save on paper. Once their final print was made, the fish was outlined and colored in with oil pastels (portfolio series oil pastels are my favorite for color mixing and blending, LOVE THEM!) The red signature seal stamp was the final step of the day. I'll post more pictures once the next 5th grade crew finishes! Definitely going to be doing this again. The kids loved it! 

"Pinwheels for Peace"

Pinwheels are coming out my ears!!!

Bert Raney Elementary is taking part in Pinwheels for Peace this year! I have always wanted to do this project with a school so I'm very excited to get the chance. We will have 400 pinwheels spinning on September 21st on the front lawn of BRE! Well 95% will be spinning... some causalities went far beyond repair for the Kindergardeners (I would like you to know that no tears were shed... thank goodness). It's projects like these that really show the community what an art program can bring to a school. The art specialist position has only been active for three years here and this is my first year at this school. Lets just say I plan to make my presence know, starting with the inspiring display of BRE students beautiful pinwheels!

Non-Objective Drawings

5th Grade students were asked to create a non-objective colored pencil and oil pastel drawing that was inspired by a small triangle magazine clipping. Clippings were required to be abstract and have a good amount of lines, shapes, patterns, and colors to help inspire the non-objective drawing. Final projects were required to have movement (we talked about how an eye can move and dance around a drawing following the lines, shapes, and patterns) and unity (as a class we looked at various student examples of this project and we critiqued each drawing talking about whether or not the drawing had unity). Overapping was encoraged in order to give the drawings a sense of space.