Pastel Portraits

This has become a signature project for the middle school classes and it's one of my favorites! We begin by taking a photograph and drawing a half inch grid over it. We then draw a 1 and 1/2 inch grid over a large paper and transfer the information to create an equal ratio. The students love this project because the drawings are so accurate and proportional! We then use oil pastels to create realistic values that make the drawing more dimensional. The results are fantastic and really capture the look of the artists!

Bug Jars

The 1-3 classes finished their first project, a big jar filled with detailed, symmetrical insects! We began by drawing several insects- they needed to be symmetrical and have many details like legs, antennae, spots, wings and tails. We also used some painted paper to create some cut out insects. As a final touch, we outlined the bugs and colored the lids. This was a fun way to turn the summer activity of collecting bugs in a jar into an interesting art project! 

Shapes and Patterns

PreK and Kinder have finished their first projects of the new year! We began by using some basic cut out shapes like squares, circles, rectangles and triangles. Students learned how to use these shapes to create many different things and add details to them with crayons. As a finishing touch, we used squares to create a pattern around the border.

A Bright and Shiny New Year!

I can't believe it is already the beginning of a new school year! We are off to a great start at G.B. Dealey Montessori Vanguard and International Academy. I hope eveyone had an amazing summer- I spent over a month abroad in Europe (two weeks in Italy followed by visits to Athens, Paris and Madrid). I have recharged and I am ready to bring many new ideas and projects into the classroom!

I have included some pics of the classroom (it will be nice to remember how clean it started) and a shot of me in the Cinque Terre region in Italy.

All of my classes are already hard at work on our first projects! PreK/K are making art with different shapes, the 1-3 classes are designing jars filled with beautiful symmetrical insects, and the 4-6 classes have begun a watercolor self-portrait. The middle school has begun a week long adventure into the world of drawing, followed up with some Chuck Close inspired portraits. I can't wait to line the halls with these masterpieces!

If you are wondering about donating supplies, the following items are needed for the classroom:

1. Fine Point Black Sharpies
2. Large Pink Erasers
3. Hand Held Pencil Sharpeners
4. Books about Artists
5. Patterned Papers (like for Scrapbooking)

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me.