For Dot Day we are inspired by the author Peter Reynolds and his story The Dot. We start every school year by reading this book. After creating their beautiful paintings using values. tints and shades I shared another Reynolds story with students called Happy Dreamer. The boy in the story is shown flying around as he is embracing his dreams. We took inspiration from this and cut our paintings into various feather shapes.
Next we took inspiration from artist Kelsey Montague, who is known for her large angel wing murals. Each mural also includes #whatliftsyou. People photograph themselves with her work and are asked to share a positive message about what lifts them up and brings them joy on their social media. Students discussed lines and patterns and using white colored pencils added a variety of these to their feather shapes!
(Purple feathers are 1st grade, blue is 5th)
Third Grade students explored the work of Henri Matisse. We focused on the contour line portraits he created and made our own using his art as our guide. In the following class we discussed the art movement Matisse helped to start known as Fauvism. Artists in this style are known for the wild crazy colors they use in their art. Students added their own wild colors to their portraits by coloring with marker on tin foil, spraying with water, and printing on top of their drawing!
Kindergarteners discussed the different ways to make a portrait--how some artist try to make them look real and others like to explore lines shapes and colors to make them more abstract. One such artist is Gaston Chaissac. Students looked at various examples of his work, drew their own portraits and collaged around them with shapes and color!
Next we took inspiration from artist Kelsey Montague, who is known for her large angel wing murals. Each mural also includes #whatliftsyou. People photograph themselves with her work and are asked to share a positive message about what lifts them up and brings them joy on their social media. Students discussed lines and patterns and using white colored pencils added a variety of these to their feather shapes!