Experiments in Art Education

Collaborative Circle Weaving

2015-01-14T12:10:00.000-08:00

Using cardboard looms all 6th-8th grade art students created two small circle weaving for a permanent collaborative installation in the library. Most of the yarn was collected by sending out a district wide email and the cardboard was cut from the numerous Blick art supply boxes I have been saving. With very little cost, and a high level of visual impact, this project was a great success!

Making the Loom:

Prep- Cut MANY 3x3 inch squares

1) Using a scissor cut the corners of the square off to make a circle

2) Around the edge mark with a pencil an odd number of evenly spaces lines (13,15, or 17)

3) Using a scissors, make a 1/2" cut towards the center of the loom using the pencil lines as a guide

4) Poke hole in center of circle

There are a couple of ways to begin setting up the loom once created. I have written detailed instructions below describing what worked best for us after some trial and error:)

Getting the Weaving Started:
1) Cut 3' of yarn and thread one end with a tapestry needle
2) Holding the loom, stick the needle through the hole from the backside and pull through to the front side of the loom.
3) Pull until you have 4" of yarn left hanging out the backside of the loom (do not make a knot)
4) Then, holding the 4" tail of yarn with one hand on the backside, take the yarn and place into one of the 1/2" along the cuts
5) Wrap yarn to the back side and again pull the needle through the center hole from the back side to the front.
6) Repeat step 4 and 5 until a piece of yarn securely placed in each cut.
7) Using the extra 4" of yarn left of the backside, knot the two ends of yarn together twice. Knot should be resting snugly against the backside of the loom.
8) Stick needle up the center hole one last time.
9) Begin weaving over under over under
10) Tie on additional yarn as needed in different colors as desired:)
11) Tie off yarn once done

Faux Digital Oil Painting

2014-07-23T21:57:00.003-07:00

Need a 1-2 Day project before winter or spring break next year? This one is sure to please! All you need is a classroom filled with youngsters, a computer lab with internet access, and a digital photograph. I teach a couple sections of middle school digital photography so I had students explore with both personal and found photos.

This is a is very basic photo manipulation, but I will break down the steps for you anyway below... :)

Using the free-ware "Pixlr" (pixlr.com, editor version, no download necessary) you first upload an image saved to your computer desktop. Second you will select the "smudge" button in the tool bar on the left hand side of your screen (it looks like a hand with the index finger pointing out). Find a space you would like begin within your photograph and select an area of color. Hold down you mouse and drag across a small area. You should see the colors smear and glide across the area you are working in. Almost like a painting the pixels begin to mix and mingle together, your mouse acting like a paint brush!

Extra Tips: On the upper left hand side of your screen in Pixlr you will see the option to change brush size and alter the strength of the smudge tool. This can be very helpful when needing to work over large spaces of apply small areas of detail.

hyper detail on this one!

...this student wanted it to look like a still life painting...

lovely!

...more delicious than a Wayne Thiebaud Painting...

what great movement in the "brush" strokes!

Hat Designs: Wearable Art

2014-02-14T14:55:00.001-08:00

Students were given the challenge to use paper, and other 2d or found objects, to create a non-traditonal hat design. After using my teacher website as a resource, we began creating origami shapes (crane, flower, leaf). We talked about the capabilities of paper in becoming a 3d form through folds and pleats.

After a few days folding origami (which we later used for classroom beautification) the sketching process began. After 6 designs were created we had "mini elbow partner critiques" to help finalize our directions. Then is was work, work, work for a week.

So in awe over these amazing creations! more to come!

100 Color Challenge

2014-01-21T10:24:00.004-08:00

In order to get more comfortable with color mixing for our new water color project I had students attempt a challenge. Using what we know about color mixing (primary, secondary, complimentary) create 100 different colors on one paper. After making a grid of 100 squares the experimenting began.

I was surprised as we worked how many of them stayed engaged. Some were saying it was their FAVORITE project of the entire semester! wow!

Once done they become little art works of color exploration and experimentation. lovely!

Low Relief Tiles

2014-01-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

Students created low relief tiles that involved foreground, middle ground, and back ground while in some way incorporating overlapping.

Slabs were first rolled out to a 1/2" thickness and then cut to a 6"x6" square. Students then transferred a sketch they made two classes earlier onto the clay surface.

Over night I let the tiles sit in between two drywall boards to help them reach a leather hard state quickly.

For the next couple work days students started in their background removing clay. Once the background was cleared they moved onto middle ground and the finally the foreground.

Final details were added on the last days.

For glazing we used watercolor underglaze amaco paints and coated with a layer of clear transparent glaze.

Islamic Tiles

2014-01-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

These Islamic Tiles were so amazing to see all together in the end!

On 3"x3" slabs students used symmetrical designs to detail their tiles. Each one of the lines draw is then carved away with a linoleum carving tool to ensure straight crisp lines.

Once bisque fired students pooled glazes thick in the shapes made from the carved lines. After the final glaze firing we filled the carved areas with grout in order to make the tiles appear like faux mosaics.

Salt and Pepper Shakers

2013-12-18T16:58:00.000-08:00

So excited to share these beauties! Like most ceramics projects, the day I unloaded the kiln felt like Christmas! Every time I removed a shelf I got the goosebumps. all of these sets of salt and pepper shakers were made by 6th, 7th, and 8th graders using a double pinch pots method.

Day One: I started by briefly discussed and demonstration the double pinch pot method for creating a closed container. We then looked as some samples from my teacher website of various plastic and ceramic s&p sets. The students sketched four ideas and chose one to try first.

Day 2 & 3: Finalized sketches and began creating pinch pots.

Tips: when creating two pinch pots of the same size start with two spheres of the same size. Create each pinch pot, one representing a hollow half of a sphere. Then, after placing a small support of newspaper on the inside, attach the pots together. (I had the students make a small coil and add it to the welded seam since we can only attach from the outside.

Day 4-6: Add elements to the pinch pot spheres. Students made trays if their base was round or they finished early.

Pacman

Last day: students release the trapped air by making an opening for the cork on or rear the bottom. Next create holes on top for the salt and pepper to come out (we used needle tools). I ordered mini corks from amazon (100 for around $8, not bad)

Peas in a Pod

These were the shinning center piece for our winter art show! A crowd pleaser for sure!

Lone Minion (the other was still getting glazed)

Penguin Party

Pair of Turtles

Roll the Dice

Ninja and Throwing Star

Egg and Dinosaur

Volcano and Mountain

A whole sushi set!

Beautiful swimming sea turtles

Digital Painting on Pixlr

2013-11-17T20:24:00.002-08:00

So excited to post some amazing digital paintings made by my 7th and 8th grade students. This semester has been the first year we have been able to offer a Graphic Arts and Design class at my middle school and it has been an incredible experience!

First, on my teacher website, students selected a high resolution photograph of an famous painting. Then, after watching the tutorial video on my website, students began their creations in pixlr editor. I love how easy this is, and the results are so amazing! Some tools such a burn, dodge, smudge, and sponge I didn't discuss in my tutorial video, but they are great tools that can help achieve realistic effects.

This is 100% a digital painting! yeah... i know!

Barcode Re-Design

2013-11-14T07:51:00.000-08:00

This was the first project completed by the Graphic Design elective I teach to 7th and 8th graders at McMurray Middle school. It was in incredible project. Find resources at my teacher website.

Photography Edit Challenge: Color Blind

2013-05-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

For this project students used the color replace tool from the online photo editor Pixlr. See video below for tutorial. The project is extremely simple and can offer some astonishing results.

I allowed students to choose their image, but encouraged a recognizable image from nature. Mainly because the visual impact of this edit challenge is increased when the viewer recognizes the animal or plant that is being manipulated. Black and white animals tend not to work as well as colorful ones, zebras and pandas are not the best when working in pixlr.

I like using pixlr because #1 it's FREE! Photoshop is definitely superior, but so many of the tools, accessories, and filters in pixlr correlate so closely with photoshop if you learn one you can easily understand the other.

Dale Chihuly Recycled Sculptures

2013-04-16T11:38:00.003-07:00

For this project students were challenged to create a recycled sculpture inspired by Dale Chihuly. On Day 1, after looking at some images of dale chihuly's glass work, we brainstormed different materials that could apply to this project (other than glass). I gave examples on how to manipulate the materials and think about using them in alternative ways. Some examples included plastic pop bottles, old transparency sheets, wire, tissue paper, newspaper, ribbon, foam, white drawing paper, ripped fabric/canvas, etc.

After day one work time was fairly independent. I would supplement each days lesson with short tutorials and demo new techniques, but for the most part they were made aware of deadlines and led the way.

With all of the materials floating about it can feel chaotic and with the level of independence expected it is necessary to schedule check-ins with students. Having a rubric of expectations was important to make sure all students were aware of the grading criteria. If I were to give any advice to those wanting to attempt a similar project I would say share the rubric on day 2 or three of the project, and hold at least two individual conferences with each student during work time. The one on one conferences act as a critique of sorts where students can ask for and listen to advice.

Foam pink ribbon support with hanging shapes cut from
permanent marker covered plastic transparencies.

The wide array of results was astounding to me!

Variety of ribbon hanging from a wire spiral

Looped paper and origami

Tissue paper supported on a wire armature with oil pastel
overhead transparency tendrils hanging below.

Display in the main office!

Photography: Rules of Composition

2013-04-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

When teaching photography we usually start with conversations about composition. I break down the rules of composition into 8 categories including rule of thirds, lead in line, cropping, viewpoint, framing, depth, background and symmetry. These are just a way to help focus the photographs. The results our first project of the second semester are included in the slideshow above. Enjoy!

Anthotypes: intro to photography, no camera needed

2013-04-03T09:35:00.001-07:00

An Anthotypes is an image created on an surface covered in light sensitive plant based material. Think of it as one of the first photographic methods. I completed this project with middle school ages students but really you could do this with children in 1st or 2nd grade. I great way to introduce photography and its methods without needed 25-30 cameras!

The images you see were created by painting the juice from crushed up blackberries (emulsion) onto tag board. Once they were dry a paper cutout previously made was placed on top.

An example of an undeveloped emulsion with the paper cut outs still attached.

We used small bits of sticky tack and a photo frame to hold everything together. After sitting in a window for a month to removed the paper and revealed our photograph. (our school is near seattle so we don't see a great amount of direct sunlight, resulting in a longer exposure time)

Some words of wisdom, keep the anthotypes at school if at all possible. I work in a basement space and had no area to let the images sit in the sun. I had my students take the images home and return them in a month, but the results are much more spotty. Some images I never see again after they leave class.

Clay Tile Mosaics

2013-04-02T20:09:00.001-07:00

I always hesitated trying out mosaics in my classroom because I was under the impression that they were really expensive to create. I couldn't have been further from the truth!

I would search google and comb through blogs looking for ways I could make the project happen for less than .50 a student (which I have found to not surprisingly be impossible if you are purchasing glass or tile mosaics pieces)

Then it hit me one evening... make your OWN tiles! I over ordered clay and was needing to use it up anyways... I also had a bunch of scrap wood pieces to use as the backing board. All I had to purchase was the grout and glue. perfect!

Making the tiles was a cinch, a basic slab and paper template demo was all that was needed to show the students after sketching out some ideas. And BONUS! kiln space is not an issue... Everything is FLAT and I was able to get all project pieces bisque fired in one shot, even with a smaller kiln

I purchased the large gallon and dispersed it into small disposable bowls . Students used a junky old paint brush to place the glue on the back of the tile piece. This is a non-toxic, water based glue, that is extremely economical and very easy to find and will securely bond the tile to many different surfaces.

Any sanded grout will due. I like to use a dark gray grout. If you purchase a white grout you can add acrylic paint to the mixture to color it any color you like. I like to purchase a dry mix and then mix it outside the classroom before school starts (you need an air tight container to prevent it from drying out). A more hassle free pre-mixed grout is less of a classroom headache, but much more expensive. This bag will run you about $10 or so.

Here are the steps:
1) Sketch and create templates (make sure students are aware of their base board size so they know how much space they will need to take up)
2) Create a slab, and use template to cut out (I like using x-acto blades, but needle tools work as well)
3) Make 3 extra 6"x6" tiles, these will work as your background tile pieces to break up later
4) bisque fire and glaze fire all tiles (use a kiln safe pencil or underglaze to place initials on back of tile pieces.

5) Once out of the kiln, students may begin placing and gluing tiles onto their board.
6) Start with main tile and then add smaller pieces. You can use a tile nippers for breaking slabs into smaller pieces, but that was kinda fussy for me... instead... we used old canvas to wrap the tiles in before safely smashing them with a hammer. Worked surprisingly well! just remember safety glasses!
7) Glue, glue, glue as you go, one bump from a neighbor could erase a whole days work.
6) Let sit over night after all pieces have been placed down, and grout after 24 hours.
7) If mixing grout, follow box directions, one person told me once that the grout mixture should be the consistency of sturdy browny mix... whatever that means.
8) Once grouted, rub the surface of the mosaic vigorously in circular motions with an old rag, I used old t-shirts. Do this until all tile pieces are clean and grout free. Use a small dab of water on the rag if necessary in spots stubborn to clean.

What a unique piece of art to cherish! Loved them all, more to come with my new semester soon!

See what I have been up to!

2013-03-23T12:11:00.002-07:00

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ElevenSkiesStudio

Recently I have been working on creating some jewelry and decided it was time to open up an etsy shop! I call it "Eleven Skies Studio". The name comes from all of the mnemonics my students would creating in order to remember my name. The greatest include "eleven dusty skis" and "lemon skies". I decided to take a combination of both.

As an art teacher. time is constantly being devoted to fostering the creative growth in others. A creative habit, however, should not only be taught, but also explored. Jewelry is just one of my explorations into many artistic ventures that are intended on keeping me at my creative best.

If you have a moment please check it out and let me know what you think! https://www.etsy.com/shop/ElevenSkiesStudio

Tissue Paper Windows

2012-05-25T12:05:00.003-07:00

I am completing some glass on glass mosaics for the end of the school year on some hold skylights from the high school library (pictures coming soon!). We used up all the glass but we were left with three extra windows! I'm was not able to purchase any more mosaic materials so I was left scouring the web for some ideas. I can't remember what site exactly had posted an activity where children painted tissue paper onto windows, but once I spotted it I knew that is what we had to do!

We started by ripping the tissue paper into smaller pieces. Then once we had a pile, students started painting elmer's art pastel over the glass pane and onto the tissue. We layered and observed our colors mixing together. I left the project open for exploration. I was curious to observe their solutions.

Once dry they will be installed in a window space somewhere in the school. I'm expecting the tissue paper to fade eventually, but with warm soapy water the window and be wiped clean for another creation. Looks like a faux stained glass masterpiece!

UPDATE: Here is an image of a mosaic we did on the extra window! now on display at the district office (taken from my phone camera, not the best image but you can still feel the sparkle)

Surreal Collages + Drawings

2012-05-23T07:02:00.000-07:00

5th Grade students learned about surreal art and then created collages constructed using magazine clippings. From these collaged students created surreal drawings.

"No Strings On Me" Marionettes

2012-05-11T13:06:00.005-07:00

After learning about the history of puppetry and looking at different styles of marionettes, 3rd grade students created "no string" marionettes of their own. Each student sketched their animal design before beginning with their own puppet template. Brass pins were used to holed each hole punched piece together. Although there are no strings, the puppets are very animated when wiggled and swung with life as the students manipulate them in the air!

Personally my favorite part of this project was watching the "Lonely Goatherd" video clip from the Sound of Music! So many of my students had never seen the movie! Fun to introduce it to them.

Stop Motion Film Festival

2012-05-09T14:14:00.002-07:00

Environmental Machines

2012-05-09T07:05:00.001-07:00

After seeing a post a couple years back I was inspired to at some point create an "Environmental Machine Collargraph" lesson. Finally I was able to put something together and I couldn't be more excited by the results. The stars couldn't have aligned better. Both the timing of the "Lorax" movie coming out and Earth Day on April 22 really made this lesson current and well rounded.

After discussing the word "environment" and coming up with a brainstorm list of things that are negative towards our environmental, students watched clips from the old "Lorax" movie. I then assigned their mission...

To create a "Truffula Seed Planing Machine"!

Many of the machines used in the story cause negative impact towards the environment. IDEA! Lets create machines that help the environment. Fresh off the train named "Dr. Seuss Inspiration Express" the kiddos were ready to sketch!

Collagraph printing plates.

After a day of brain storming and sketching students were ready to learn about collagraphs. On a small sheet of tag board students sketched their final idea. Then, on top of all pencil lines, students began to glue small strip of craft foam. This process took two full class periods. On the forth day we printed using brayers and block printing ink!

Now for printing I have no organization advice.

No matter what I did it turned into a MESS!

But thats ok...

Because we tried out best

While were riding...

The "Dr. Seuss Inspiration Express"!

In my next life I will teach poetry and creative writing:)

MORE Stop Motion Animation!!!

2012-05-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy more stop motion animation films, this time from our 5th graders!

(4th grade videos can be found here)

Song: "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest

Song: "Daylight" by Matt & Kim

Song: "Some Nights" by Fun.

Mark Rothko: Color + Emotion

2012-04-27T14:08:00.002-07:00

How delicious are the colors and compositions of these Mark Rothko inspired chalk pastel drawings!?

To introduce the links between color and emotions, we read the story "My Many Colored Days" by Dr. Seuss". We then made a mental list of all the emotions we had felt during the day (tired when we woke up, excited to be at school, happy hamburgers were for lunch, and so on). Whatever color we felt we drew.

Our next step was to talk about artists who use color to influence emotional responses from a viewer. Enter...Mark Rothko!

Using chalk pastels on black construction paper we mixed and blended our Rothko inspired works. WOW! I'm still getting goose bumps, they turned out so stunning! I'm so proud!

Wolf Kahn Landscapes

2012-04-23T08:02:00.004-07:00

Students were introduced to Wolf Kahn and his color field landscapes using arbitrary color. After discussing horizon line, background, middle ground, and foreground, students began creating chalk pastels landscapes inspired by Kahns work.

Example of Wolf Kahn's work

We did four small 6"x6" drawings in total. First I would show them a large picture of Wolf Kahn's work (see above) and they would create a landscape inspired by it. At the same time they were asked to include background, middle ground, and foreground. Adding details was the final step.

I encouraged no blue skys and no green grass and showed students how to achieve texture using blending and drawing techniques. Pure exploration of the medium really made this project a joy for me to teach, just allowing them to learn the capabilities of this material.

Our final step with this project will be to create a landcape more details and textures on a larger scale. Still creating a landscape with arbitrary color, but drawing in a more calculated way. Excited to see where they take it!

Amazed with this composition, the colors, and the textures of this work.

Again the texture and color choices are so delicious to me!

100th Post & 100 Followers!

2012-04-17T13:34:00.003-07:00

WOW! Thanks to all who have been following my blog, stopping by for a comment, and inspire me to continue doing what I've doing for the past couple years. As Art Teachers we are at times so secluded in our specialty we are rarely offered the opportunity to collaborate. This blog was an "experiment" for me to share ideas and be be inspired. I can safely reach a conclusion and say a professionally blog is truly a way to, among other things, remain creative, reflective, and spontaneous as an educator! Thank You again!

-Katie

Stop Motion Animation

2012-04-16T12:37:00.000-07:00