The North Star Studio

5th grade landscapes

2017-01-09T14:35:00.001-05:00

These 5th graders do some incredible work!

Landscapes that show perspective, or the illusion of space, and show a personal interest. Students also used tempura and acrylic painting techniques.

Some complete and other works in progress

It's been a while

2017-01-08T17:33:00.000-05:00

Hiking in the snow today. There where some amazing views!

Flanders farm Woodbury CT

2015-10-26T10:03:00.001-04:00

I heart CT and Winter

2015-01-19T21:48:00.001-05:00

Beautiful ice!

Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife Refuge in Connecticut
733 Old Clinton Road, Westbrook, CT 06498

In the classroom

2014-05-05T12:02:00.001-04:00

My amazing students in 3rd and 4th grade have been hard at work. These landscapes And still lives are some examples of how truely creative they are!

Brr it's been cold out there .... In here too

2014-01-25T13:54:00.001-05:00

This is what the windows in the kitchen looked like this morning, from the inside.

Boston

2014-01-15T09:19:00.001-05:00

A winter or late fall trip to Boston for Tom's 40th birthday at the end of Nov. Was awesome! Love Boston. Makes me want a trip back..... Oh wanderlust!

In the classroom

2014-01-15T09:17:00.001-05:00

Been working on these with my amazing 3rd and 4th graders.

In the classroom- Fourth grade abstract line

2013-12-04T09:51:00.001-05:00

My Amazing 4th graders worked on abstract line drawings and came up with these beautiful works.

In the classroom

2013-11-15T09:16:00.001-05:00

Fourth grade students studied Wolf Kahn. His landscapes are incredible! They worked on chalk pastel landscapes of their own. They came out great!

Happy Halloween!!

2013-10-31T09:57:00.001-04:00

Because my little guy loves everything train and Thomas, this years jack-o-lantern is brought to you by the letter T. Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga Boo boo, boo boo!

Private Pumpkin Patch

2013-10-29T18:13:00.001-04:00

Went a pumpkin pickin this Sunday and had our own Private patch complete with totally private hayride pulled by an antique tractor. All within 5 miles from home, what a day! Thanks Warrup's Farm! Www.warrupsfarm.com .

In the classroom- Picasso Line Potraits

2013-10-24T10:42:00.001-04:00

Been working on some portraits with my third grade. I got the idea of Picasso Inspired portraits from a awesome colleague of mine a few years back and have doing them ever since ( thanks Mrs. Noe) http://noeartstudio.blogspot.com/?m=1

But this year we focused on Line. Here is the PowerPoint, lesson samples and student work. I think they did a great job!

http://www.slideshare.net/carolinehduggan/picasso-line-portraits

Relaxing weekend in Newport last weekend.

2013-10-19T10:07:00.001-04:00

A girls trip to Newport is always a good one! It was perfect weather so the walking was great! B&B def could have been better ;) but it was in a perfect location so it did the job. Had some great food too, The best at 22Bowens wine bar. Such great food! Wonderful trip altogether!

Long beach stratford CT

2013-10-02T13:59:00.001-04:00

Beautiful Long beach in Stratford, CT, nice place for a walk.

In the classroom

2013-09-27T09:50:00.001-04:00

Been back in the classroom and it is going great! What a wonderful school, and amazing little artists. Here are some of the things we've been doing...

3rd grade, Luggage tags with blOck lettering, concentric designs and shading.

And radial symmetry/ name designs for 4th grade.

We are having so much fun!

Brimfield at the beginning of the month.

2013-09-24T10:05:00.001-04:00

Had an awesome time at the Brimfield market this season. I am always surprised at how many awesome things are there. Also had great fun with great friends Ye old Sturbridge Village.

Looking forward to fall!

2013-09-06T09:02:00.001-04:00

Fall is my favorite season, and it seems like the signs are everywhere. School is in full swing. The weather is cold and sunny, love that. And our delivery of wood came in, looks like we are ready.....

Our wood shed

Sunset at Huntington state park.

Berkshire vacation

2013-08-12T19:26:00.001-04:00

Went on a mini break vacation at the end of July to the Berkshires Massachusetts. Very pretty place. Very like home too :) .

Portfolio Prep - Drawing the figure

2013-08-05T15:28:00.000-04:00

A Good lesson for beginning to draw the figure in motion/ Also helps with people siting still in different positions.
http://www.juneauschools.org/uploads/elementaryart/Sixthgrade/lessonplans/gestureFigureDrawinglesplan.pdf

A good Youtube for drawing the figure after minute 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp8eMZRcUmUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp8eMZRcUmU

Portfolio Prep- Color Studies and OP Art

2013-08-01T16:13:00.002-04:00

Some helpful info on Kandinsky's color studies

http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/wassily-kandinsky/color-study-squares-with-concentric-circles-1913

OP Art lesson and Info

Op art, also known as optical art, is a style^[1] of visual art that makes use of optical illusions.

"Optical art is a method of painting concerning the interaction between illusion and picture plane, between understanding and seeing."^[2] Op art works are abstract, with many of the better known pieces made in black and white. When the viewer looks at them, the impression is given of movement, hidden images, flashing and vibration, patterns, or alternatively, of swelling or warping.

a really simple lesson thanks to

artful artsy amy blog!

http://artfulartsyamy.blogspot.com/2012/01/lesson-plan-op-art-spheres-easy-way.html

A little bit more complex

http://afterschoolforkids.dreamhosters.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Checkerboard-Op-Art-Lesson.pdf

Almost Massachusetts, a July 4th on the CT border

2013-07-27T15:40:00.001-04:00

Almost in MA. For the 4th. Took a ride to the north west of CT. Neat old town, Canaan Ct

Portfolio prep-

2013-07-18T16:45:00.001-04:00

Some helpful links about drawing the hand

http://thehelpfulartteacher.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-draw-hands.html

http://thevirtualinstructor.com/how-to-draw-hands.html

http://artmideast.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-draw-hands-step-by-step-guide.html#.UehMLhG9KSM

Drawing the face in proportion

http://www.artyfactory.com/portraits/pencil-portraits/proportions-of-a-head.html

Portfolio Prep Day 3

2013-07-03T10:20:00.002-04:00

Greyscale helpful links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkHWlXTZFB0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gTsyP5Thps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grayscale

Still life looking great so far!

things to work on over the weekend:

Using charcoal, vine and compressed, explore materials, smudge use paper towel, water Have fun.

timed still life drawing- 5minute timed sketches 3 object minimum

Drawing from observation Outside use a viewfinder

Summer Portfolio Prep - Day 1

2013-07-01T12:02:00.002-04:00

Still Life Drawing Sites for still life drawings http://www.artyfactory.com/still-life/still_life_pencil.html

http://www.artistsnetwork.com/medium/drawing/draw-a-compelling-still-life-basic-drawing-techniques

Vocabulary

Elipse - http://sibleyfineart.com/tutorial--draw-ellipses.html

- a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it; "the sums of the distances from the foci to any point on an ellipse is constant" oval

Sighting with a pencil - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgw1CXghL5k Portfolio info: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/education/edlife/guidance.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

RISD Requirements

Your portfolio should consist of 12 to 20 examples of any type of two- or three dimensional work you have completed recently. We suggest that the work reflect your ideas, interests, experience and abilities in the arts to date. It may be in any media, may be finished or in sketch form, and may be the result of an assigned class project or a self-directed exploration. We strongly suggest that as part of this visual presentation you also reproduce and submit 2-3 pages from your journal or sketchbook to indicate your process of research, thinking or investigation. To submit your portfolio, we prefer that you use Slideroom, an online portfolio submission service. Detailed instructions for using Slideroom are available on the site (risd.slideroom.com), which charges $10 for using this submission option. As an alternative, you may reproduce your work and submit it as digital image files on a CD or DVD or as unmounted digital or photographic prints (no larger than 8.5" x 11" or 21.5cm x 28cm each). If you choose to send your portfolio directly to RISD on a CD/DVD, each image should be submitted as a separate file in .jpg format. Individual files should not exceed 3MB. Do not combine images in a prepared presentation or slideshow of any type (e.g., PowerPoint or Keynote). Please be sure to include a printed thumbnail page showing all the images submitted digitally. Time-based work or performance pieces may be submitted as QuickTime or .mpg files on your CD or DVD. Whichever format you select, include a work description sheet. Number the examples you are submitting and on your description page list the corresponding number, medium, size, date of completion and title for each work. It is very important that your full name and address be clearly noted on each CD, DVD, print, description and thumbnail page submitted.