Happy Thanksgiving! I searched for some fall art to inspire you and here are some gems that I found. Norman Rockwell is always a winner. I really love this folk art landscape by Walt Curlee. This would be good to show students to demonstrate perspective and depth techniques. How about this painting by Grandma Moses called Catching a Turkey? Is it snowing yet by you? Janet Fish has some amazing still lifes, including this pumpkin one. and this one… Do … Read more…
Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you an interview with Margaret Peot, author of the new book Stencil Craft. Earlier this week I wrote a book review, with the chance to win copies of this book (there is still time to enter). You can see that blog post here: Stencil Craft Book Review and Giveaway. Since I am an elementary art teacher, Margaret is also going to share a fun project to do with little children. 1. What … Read more…
Often I get so wrapped up in the curriculum, I don’t take time to do “extra” projects which are just for fun for holidays. Kids love celebrating holidays and often ask to do themed projects. I am fine with that.. art should be fun! I do like to incorporate skills and art techniques into each project we do. For these yarn-wrapped hearts, I cut cardboard circles into heart shapes. Since they had to be cut with a utility knife, I … Read more…
Hi! I hope you all had a very merry holiday season. We had a great December here, other than our kiln setting off a sprinkler at school and causing some minor flooding and damage. (That was a disaster.) I usually do a year in review on my blog every year just for funsies and it makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something. First I will share my personal highlights (in chronological order) and then I will share the 10 most … Read more…
October 31 to November 2 is the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead. My first grade students learned about the celebration a bit in their Spanish class and then in art class, we read a story about the holiday and drew these symmetrical skull pictures. The book we read was Day of the Dead, by Tony Johnston. It’s a nice story with great pictures. My only complaint is that the book is very very small, so the kids have to … Read more…
Sometimes when the scrap box gets too full or it is holiday that gets the kids all hyped up (like Halloween) I will give the class a “scrap box challenge.” What can you make by using the scraps in the scrap box?! Here are a few of their fun creations.
Don’t you just hate when your ribbons get into a big tangly mess? If I ever let a class of kids loose in a box of ribbon, this is what happens: I figured out a way to store ribbon for kids to use without making a tangled mess. First, cut your ribbon into about 2 feet length pieces. Smaller scraps are ok too. Get a big plastic see-through jar to hold them in. I used this old Cheez Puff container. … Read more…
