The Art Room

It's Summer Time. Let's Do Origami!

Hey kids.  Well, it has been another wonderful year.  Thank you for all of your hard work in art class this year.  I have really enjoyed teaching you can't wait to see you next year.  To all of the 5th graders, good luck in middle school and know that I will miss you all!!!

If you liked doing origami in class, go to the library this summer and check out a book or go to this website   http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-for-kids.html  Remember that sometimes you must start with a base fold.  There are instructions for base folds on the top left side of the website.  

Have a great summer!!!!!!

Happy New Year!

                                                     

Welcome back !  I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season!  With the new year comes new art projects, and this is what you can expect from art:

3rd Grade- You will start your 3-D unit and make ceramic owls.

4th Grade- Although we just celebrated the begining of the new year, the Chinese calendar is a little different.  Chinese  New Year is on January 23rd this year.  We will be celebrating the Year of the Dragon by creating our own dragon artwork begining this month.

5th Grade- The second half of the school year brings us around the world.  Look forward to learning about different cultures and artwork from around the world.

December in the Art Room

                                                              

With Winter Break soon approaching, we are trying to get one more project finished!

3rd grade has started a printmaking unit, and they are working on drawing forms instead of shapes.  Look for snowmen coming home soon.

4th grade is working on using observational skills to draw a realistic winter tree.  There are no green leaf clouds to be seen in this peaceful and serene painting.

5th grade is also working on using observational skills to draw more realisitcally.  They are using a taxidermied horned owl to create a beautiful mixed-media project using both crayon and paint.

November Art News

Leaves are falling, and art is in the air...

3rd grade is srudying Ancient Egypt.  We are using the golden death mask of King Tut as inspiration.  Check it out!

4th grade is studying optical illusions and how an artist can use elements of design like line and color to trick the eye.  Look at how this artist changes the lines to create movement and three-dimensionality.

5th grade is finishing up their one-point perspective landscapes, and they are looking amazing.  Just look around and you can find examples...

October News

 

Art updates for the month of October:

3rd grade is finishing a symmetry unit.  After creating a symmetrical spider web line design, students are adding a three-dimensional spider to their work.  I hope you enjoy this fall themed activity and the self portraits brought home last week!

4th grade is studying the work of American artist Georgia O'Keeffe.  Students chose a flower and started a drawing inspired by the artist.  These flowers will be completed using both crayon and watercolor.  They will be beautiful!

5th grade just took home their clay work and is now starting a unit on one-point perspective.  Students are using real life examples to learn about this challenging skill.  They are practicing first (PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT) and will be starting on a landscape next week.  You should recognize the above picture as an example of one-point perspective.

Students, remember to bring in pictures of any family who are currently serving in the US military or veterans for the Big Shanty Veteran's Day Celebration.  You can bring these pictures to my classroom in an envelope or bag labeled with your name, the relation to the family member, and your teachers name.

September Spills from the Art Room

 

Third grade has been working hard learning how to draw the human face as they work on their SELF PORTRAITS.

Fourth grade just started their CLAY SCULPTURE unit.  Making frogs are fun.  After they are fired in the kiln, we will paint them with acrylic paint.  Our COLOR WHEELS will be coming home soon.

Fifth grade is finishing up SELF PORTRAITS.  They will be sent off so that they can be used for the yearbook cover art!  How exciting!!! 

This month's featured artwork is Triple Self Portrait by the artist Norman Rockwell.

 

Welcome back to another exciting year in the Big Shanty Art Room.  All students have quickly jumped into their first projects!

Third grade is beginning to study the human face in the Self Portrait unit.

Fourth grade is learning about color theory as they create a Color Wheel.

Fifth grade is working on art to be showcased on the cover of the 2011-2012 Big Shanty Yearbook!

I look forward to another great year with all of you!

End of the Year

This has been such a wonderful year!  I hope that you all have enjoyed learning all of the new skills and projects that we have done.  All of your work is being sent home as you are finishing your final projects.

Third graders are finishing their Henri Matisse inspired collage.

Fourth & Fifth graders are doing a Chinese watercolor.  They are beautiful!

I hope that you all have a great summer, and I look forward to seeing you next year.

To all of the fifth graders,

Thank you for a great three years.  I have really enjoyed teaching and getting to know each of you.  I will miss you and wish you the best as you move onto middle school!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Palen

I'm Back!

                                                    
It is so nice to be back at Big Shanty after the birth of my son!  Thank you for such a warm welcome.  I truly love this school and all of the students and staff!

As we are approaching the end of the year, we are finishing up all projects.  Expect to see the following projects coming home soon:

3rd grade- Ancient Egyptian Death Masks & Henri Matisse inspired Expressionism

4th grade- Origami Book

5th grade- Oversized Pop Art Playing Card

April Art News

3rd Grade:

    The students are finishing up their Egyptian Death Masks and will be bringing them home shortly. We will be moving on to learning about Expressionists and Henri Matisse. Students will be learning about organic and geometric shapes, what a collage is and how to create their very own Matisse inspired collage.

 

4th Grade:

    Students are still working on their hand made books. We have almost finished mounting the front and back covers onto hard poster board. The final step is to learn the origami folds that will make up the pages inside the book. When the books are put together, students will complete last minute touch ups and will come home with their very own hand made origami books!

 

5th Grade:

    Students have finished their brainstorming on ideas for their pop culture playing cards. Students are completing their drawings and are almost finished applying sharpie to their outlines. The next step will be to choose a medium (crayons or colored pencils) to add color to their illustrations.