7th Grade Chalk Pastel Close-Ups

In seventh grade art we learned about the work of Georgia O'Keeffe. O'Keeffe was an American painter who specialized in close-up paintings of nature (mostly flowers). Here are some examples of her work:

 

We discussed O'Keeffe's process of "selection, elimination, and emphasis." The students decided this meant that it is okay to eliminate some things from your composition, and select/emphasize other parts for dramatic effect. They worked on this in their own chalk pastel close-ups. Students did not need to do a flower -- they could do anything as long as it was close-up and required blending. Check them out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6th Grade Abstract Landscapes

This year, the sixth grade learned about Wassily Kandinsky's landscape paintings. Kandinsky was a Russian Abstract Expressionist painter. We looked at examples of his work (below) and spent multiple class periods debating the artist's intentions.

 

For this painting, students debated whether Kandinsky was trying to paint an inviting landscape or a scary one. Students had to explain why they thought it was scary/inviting. The question I posed was, "Do you want to visit this house? Why or why not?"

 

For this painting, students debated weather the landscape has a stream or a road, and whether the composition is inviting (and why). They really got into this one. Pretty heated arguments!

 

And below you can find the students' abstract landscape paintings. Students were only provided with primary colors and black and white. I think they did a great job of blending, color mixing, and showing a range of values!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FYI this is a man holding onto to a cup and a bowl to prevent himself from being sucked out into the universe. Yes, you read that correctly.

 

 

Cool paper-towel texture technique!