Watercolor Masks of Nepal

International Academy students created these traditional style masks from Nepal. We began by learning about the country of Nepal. We looked at the native people, discussed the religions and languages spoken there, as well as the geography of the country. We saw that seven out of the 10 tallest mountains in the world are in Nepal, including the tallest; Mt. Everest. Students learned the uses of these masks for ceremonies and why they are so fierce and vibrantly colored. Students created sketches of several masks and chose the strongest designed to create a larger version. The masks needed to be drawn and painted symmetrically, have a third eye and sharp pointed teeth, as well as contain some type of color blending.

Mandalas

Mandala is the Sanskrit word for circle and is a form of art stemming from the Buddhist and Hindu traditions. A Mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol that represents the universe and is meant to increase focus and strengthen meditation. These mandalas were created by middle school students by repeating a design to create radial symmetry. Students then outlined these designs with black sharpie and used colored pencils. We learned different techniques with the colored pencils- like blending colors, shading light to dark and creating smooth coverage. More advanced students were able to incorporate more detail into their patterning as well.

Tiki Time!

These wonderful Tiki masks were designed by our 4-6th grade artists! We began by sketching perfectly symmetrical masks and giving them a strong black outline. These were then painted in brown because Tiki sculptures are usually made from wood. Students then painted on top or added cutout painted pieces. The students learned about the Maori tribes of New Zealand and their style of artwork. These masks were a fun way for our students to explore the art and culture of many Polynesian countries!

Watercolor Dragons

Students in grades 4-6 created these vibrantly colored dragons to celebrate the Chinese New Year! We started by learning about Chinese New Year- the traditions, why each year is named after an animal and how people celebrate the holiday. Next, students looked at different examples of dragons and began sketching a dragon face. We chose the best sketch to draw large- folding the paper in half to only draw half of the face. The drawing was then traced with black crayon and rubbed off onto the other side to create a perfectly symmetrical dragon. For the painting, students could use any combination of colors they wanted as long as they kept the symmetry. Students loved the results especially because dragons are our school mascots!

African Mask Sgraffito

I love trying out new techniques with my students! This was a new twist on an old favorite- African masks with some sgraffito patterns! We began by working out sketches of African masks- we looked at different examples of masks from Africa and talked about why they looked the way they do. We examined the materials used and the different ceremonies the masks are used for as well. Students then drew half the mask on a folded paper and rubbed it out to transfer to the other half. After the mask was drawn and completely symmetrical, students colored them in using oil pastels. I gave students the option of using a color scheme or using any colors they wanted. The final step was to use a pick to etch patterns into the pastels. This created a cool sgraffito effect that the kids loved. 

O'Keefe Style Flowers with Butterflies

Students in grades 1-3 completed these brightly colored mixed-media artworks for spring. We began by learning about the artist Georgia O'Keefe and making a watercolor flower in her style. We looked at examples of many different flowers and students were free to create their own. I did require some type of texture lines in the petals and the flower had to touch every edge of the page. Students used a combination of regular liquid watercolors and fluorescents. During the next class, we learned about symmetry and created perfectly symmetrical butterflies. These were then painted symmetrically as well. For the final class, students cut out and glued the butterflies and also used oil pastels to blend the flowers and create some value. The end result is a beautiful painting perfect for the beginning of spring!

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!

Tiki Time!

These wonderful Tiki masks were designed by our 4-6th grade artists! We began by sketching perfectly symmetrical masks and giving them a strong black outline. These were then painted in using bright colors and detailed patterns drawn out on top with crayon. The students learned about the Maori tribes of New Zealand and their style of artwork. These masks were a fun way for our students to explore the art and culture of many Polynesian countries!

Masks of Nepal

International Academy students learned about the culture of Nepal and created these vibrant watercolor masks. We began by drawing out a symmetrical mask in pencil. Masks of Nepal typically have a third eye, sharp teeth and a decorative crown. Students painted these using bright colors and some color blending. The final step was to outline all the edges. These masks are usually used in ceremonies and are hung in the temples when not in use. Students really enjoyed the ferocious look of these masks and they have received many compliments while on display.

Personal Color Wheels

These color wheels were made by the artists in grades 7 and 8. We began by creating a design that showed radial symmetry. This design needed to contain 12 equal parts to show all the colors of the color wheel. Students needed to include the three primary colors (red, yellow and blue), the three secondary colors (orange, green and violet), and the six intermediate or tertiary colors. This gave students the opportunity to learn about color theory and relationships while gaining experience with mixing. Once completed, the students outlined their designs with black sharpie. 

Islamic Tile Designs

Students in grades 7 and 8 created these symmetrical Islamic tile designs. We began the lesson with a talk about Islamic art- mainly how it is primarily decorative and rarely represents people. Students created a square design that incorporates geometric and organic designs. This design was then repeated throughout the page the same way a tile would be repeated on a wall. Students colored them with marker and outlined the design with sharpies.