There are many ways to create depth and show space on a two-dimensional surface. Students in grades 4 through 6 learned how to use one-point perspective and highlights/shadows to make shapes look like they are going back into space. As a fun touch, students used fluorescent colored paints to splash and create an abstract outer space looking background. This is a fun lesson that the kids loved and almost all the results were out of this world!

Abstract Sailboats

We began this project by learning about abstract art. We learned about Jackson Pollock and how abstract artists usually use color, shapes and/or lines to express a feeling or emotion. We then used crayons, texture plates and watercolor paint in cool colors to create an abstract painting. During the second class, artists learned about American painter Winslow Homer and viewed many of his different seascapes. We then created a blend of warm color paints- from red to orange to yellow to create a sunrise or sunset sky. The abstract painting from the previous week was torn up to create many layers of waves. The final class was used to create sailboats out of corrugated cardboard and white paper. This project was a lot of fun and covered many aspects of the curriculum-warm/cool colors, space and depth, Abstract art, seascapes and texture.

Watercolor Weavings

To create these artworks, students first began by creating an abstract textured watercolor painting. The students used an analogous color scheme to create a sense of color unity. These paintings were then torn into 1/2" strips and woven together on a large piece of paper. Weaving is an important method of art making around the world and most students enjoy the process.

Surrealist Scratchboards

After learning about the Surrealist art movement, students created these vibrant Surreal worlds using handmade scratchboards. We started by coloring a board with oil pastels. The entire space needs to be colored in or else the paint will stick to the board and the scratching will not work. I encourage students to color in lines and to switch off their colors as much as possible. Next, the board is painted over with black tempera paint with a little dish soap added. Once the board is dry, students attached a magazine cutout of a person to the front of the board. Then, students were able to create a vibrantly colored world of their own creation! I gave students the option of scratching out a landscape or to just include intricate patterns and designs. This is a project I do every semester because all students love the results!

Symmetrical Name Designs

International Academy students used the letters of their names to create these symmetrical designs. We began by drawing out the letters of our names on a small triangle. I showed the students different types of fonts and let them choose the type of lettering and layout, however I did require that some letters go off the edges. These were then transferred onto a 12 x 12 inch paper and flipped to create the symmetrical balance. Once the transfer was complete, students used colored pencils to fill in all the spaces with three analogous colors. The artworks turned into a really interesting and intricate abstract design!

Jackson Pollock Inspired Abstract Paintings

 

 

International Academy students created these watercolor abstract paintings. We first learned about the Abstract and Abstract Expressionist art movements. We talked about how artists started using the elements of art in a non-representational way to express emotions and feelings. Students painted a light wash in watercolor over the entire page. Next, we used straws to blow paint around the page to mimic the abstract line work of American Abstract painter Jackson Pollock. Last, students outlined the paint splatter to add to the contrast.