Group Drawings!

For our first project of the second semester, middle school students worked in pairs or groups to create gridded, geometric works of art. Students used colored pencils and focused on differentiating "bright" and "dark" colors to emphasize contrast within their work. The projects turned out really well and they are being hung all over the school this week! Good craftsmanship, everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, we have a moving image GIF from two students. They have a warning statement for you: "If you are sensitive to flashing lights and/or awesome artwork, please proceed with caution!"

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Project: Secret Messages

For our first project in middle school art this year, everyone created an abstracted "secret message." Students chose a message, idiom, or quote they thought represented themselves in a positive light. Students then wrote the message in all capitals, and using markers, filled in the spaces in and around the letters. This created a kind of flat and abstract painting. Many people didn't even realize the works of art contained words (which means our messages truly are "secret!"). Take a look!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art From Home

Below is a selection of art students made at home (and brought in to show me) during this semester. Enjoy!

6th grade robots made from electronics parts.

7th grade wire flute.

8th grade ice sculptures.

7th grade silhouettes (cut paper and watercolor).

7th grade silhouettes close-up (cut paper and watercolor).



Portrait Prints

This year, sixth grade learned about Die Brucke (literally: The Bridge), a small movement within the greater Abstract Expressionist trend in early 20th century Germany. Students and I mostly discussed why an artist would paint/print sad, abstract faces, when he could have very well painted realistically. Why go abstract? Why go sad? Students decided it was because the artist thought expressing emotion was more important than being realistic. Students also proposed that the artists may have been sad, depressed, etc. I think they were correct on both accounts.

Here are some examples of prints made by Die Brucke artists:

And here are some beautiful (and colorful) prints made by the sixth grade: