2nd graders are painting their adorable clay snails. These are works in progress. The children used two large coils to create their snail. Then they added lines and shapes to create interest. They also used the pinch and pull method to make the eyes of their snail. All the skills learned for this project will be explored more in the upper grades. I will post a finished snail later.

4th graders are working on a butterfly resist project. I just love using oil pastels with watercolor paint! The kids enjoy this process too! Here are just a few of the finished projects looking quite beautiful!

I LOVE this project and so do the kids! They love using the gold paint to add the final detail. They also like that it is a project where they get to do printmaking, collage, and painting all in one! Here are some photos of some 3rd graders working.

The fourth graders created a radial design for this project. They used line and shape to come up with an idea for their design. After their designs were complete we studied about different color schemes. Each child chose a color scheme that interested them. Then they used colored pencils to add the element of color to their project. The completed designs are bold and beautiful to look at! Great work 4th grade artists!

The three photographs below follow an Analogous color scheme. They are all Analogous, but they are different color combinations. What makes the colors Analogous is that 3-4 colors that are next to each other on the color wheel were used. When these colors are put together they are very soothing and easy to use when put together.

2nd graders at Riley used their painting and collage skills to create this multi media project focusing on different uses of tools. We used chalk, paint, and hand painted papers to make a lovely spring landscape!

I was inspired by some online photographs of art being done with paint swatches. I have used paint swatches with the children before to make bookmarks in the style of Piet Mondrian, but when I saw a cityscape idea online I had to use it. I incorporated a lesson on Russian Architecture. Their ornate and colorful buildings seemed to fit perfectly into this lesson since paint swatches are all about color. Children used line, shape, and color to create their buildings. They used a lot of problem solving skills to figure out how to cut up the swatches and create buildings out of them. These cityscapes are OUTSTANDING!!!! Great work 2nd graders!

Students are working on their clay mirrors. The past few weeks they learned about how to use a clay slab and use the correct process of building a mirror. They used all the skills they have learned over the past 5 years in this project. While designing their mirrors they combined all of the elements of art to express an idea about nature. That was the inspiration. Thanks to Ms. List (Art teacher at Longfellow and Kindergarten teacher at Riley) for her mirror idea! We are loving this project!! Here are some photographs of all the stages of this project.

Clay is dried out for one week.

Then the clay is fired in the Kiln at very high temperatures. After the clay comes out and cools it is time for paint!

The shiny top coat is added and the mirrors are attached in the final stage.

The students were encouraged to use what they learned to create paper pysanky in art class.

Riley and Frost students in Group A just completed their art classes for the year. I am sad to see them leave, but feel so proud of their accomplishments. When I look through their final portfolios I am astonished at what amazing art these young children are capable of doing. All they need is someone to believe in them and then they shine! It is bittersweet that the students in Group A will be without art class for the last few months of school. Just because art class is over for the year, it doesn't mean that children shouldn't participate in art. Encourage them to create always!

One way to celebrate your child's accomplishments this year is to look through the art portfolios that came home last week and discuss what was learned and enjoyed over the past school year in art class, picking a favorite art piece and framing it for the home is a nice way to celebrate and encourage your budding artist. Very affordable frames can be bought at IKEA, Michaels or JoAnn Fabrics (and they often have coupons).

Below are some things we did in February and at the beginning of March.

Native American Landscapes Riley Art Pictured

Piet Mondrian Inspired Art: Frost

1st grade hearts and 5th grade artist research. A collaboration with Art and Technology (thanks Mrs. Novak!!). The technology project was made on Wordle http://www.wordle.net/.

Earlier I blogged about these works in progress, but here are the finished products!!!! They turned out AMAZING! There is a clear connection to Roy Lichtenstein's Pop Art Images. If you would like to know more information about Roy Lichtenstein, you can read about him here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Lichtenstein.

If you click on the link below you will hear second graders discussing this art project! Make sure the volume is up on your computer!

Students at Frost have been inspired by the winter landscapes outside! Take a look at some of the beautiful projects being created!

5th grade

Birch Trees in Winter

Mixed Media (paint, chalk, and ink)

3rd Grade

Chalk Snowman

Using line shape and pattern to create a unique snowman picture.

Warm and Cool Colors were also discussed.

1st Grade

A Study of Eric Carle: Snowman Collage

Students created their own papers using texture rubbing plates, crayon and watercolor just like Eric Carle!!!

Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday! Enjoy winter break! I will see you in the New Year!

Mrs. Kekstadt

I hope everyone enjoyed a great Thanksgiving! I hosted 16 people at my home and it was wonderful! I can't believe it is Dec. 1 already. The holidays will be upon us in no time! And so will all the beautiful winter art projects. It is bittersweet because it will be getting cold, but I do love the snow!

This week students switched from Computers to Art. I am looking forward to spending time with my new groups! These new groups will only meet for six weeks and then they will go back to Computers for six weeks. At the end of that session I will get this art group back for the rest of the school year! I am looking forward to many more days of fun filled art lessons with all of the children! I love seeing all the children's abilities grow!

-Mrs. Kekstadt

Ms. Young's class explored texture while they added paint to rice and mushed it around with their hands. Things got messy for this project!!! After the rice dried the children dipped the fruits into the correct colored rice bin. The children enjoyed this very sensory activity! Some skills we worked on were color recognition, gluing, and blending chalk pastel. I think these turned out beautiful! Can you see the texture on the fruits?

First graders are so proud of themselves after they complete this project! Their once lifeless stick figures become line, shape, and patterned filled people that resemble family members. In class we discuss how to use shapes for clothing and go over what features need to be included on our figures. We also talk about adding detail and lots of color to our artwork! One other point that we touch base about is the size of our people in relationship to each other. The patterned frames add just a little extra kick to these already beautiful works of art. Great work 1st graders! I am proud of you! The final touch will be adding a watercolor wash to the background.

Kandinsky, a russian painter is well known for his composition Squares with Concentric Circles. 2nd graders discussed the artwork of this artist and learned about color mixing for this project. We started by filling in the six squares on the paper. First we painted the primary colors red, yellow and blue. Then I taught the children how to mix the secondary colors green, purple, and orange. As we mixed colors we sang the song "If Your'e Ready to Mix Colors Clap Your Hands" written by yours truly!!! :) I am hoping to record the children singing and uploading it to this post. I just need to figure out how to do that! I will keep you all updated! Below you will see the goals for this project:

You will identify a famous artist and artwork.

You will identify the primary­ and secondary colors.

You will practice mixing the ­secondary colors.

You will practice using the tool of a paintbrush properly.

FIfth graders at Frost learned about Molas. They studied where Molas come from and we discussed the artwork in detail. Molas are most commonly seen on the blouses of the Kuna women in Panama. However, it has become an art form that is used to decorate homes. These embroidered pieces of artwork are detailed, bright, and colorful pieces of art! The goals for this project are below:

You will understand what a Mola is and where it comes from.

You will be able to describe the art seen on Molas.

You will practice drawing a fish or bird using line and shape.

You will use pattern in the background of your Mola.