Howard Perrin Art Show

 

Last night was the Howard Perrin Art Show.  We had a GREAT turnout - and I had some wonderful volunteers help set up, work, and take it all down.

 

Kids who attended also had a chance to make some crafts (for free).   Their choices this year were:

 

Printmaking/Stamping

Paper Weaving

Pebble Magnet

Group Project

 

Thanks to the BHS Art Club for working my tables!  It was fun to see so many of my FORMER students, all grown up and still creating and enjoying art.  These pictures are all the "before's".

 

 

Legacy Wall

 

Earlier this year my principal approached me about doing something SPECIAL in the cafeteria.  After discussing a few options, we chose to do a legacy wall project with the Art to Remember company.  The PTO paid for this - the students did not purchase their own tiles.  Also, there was no fundraising for it.  Every student in the whole school created a self-portrait with a red background (our school colors are red).  I created the center design.  Then a wonderful dad at our school put them all together and mounted them on the cafeteria wall.  We ended up with two separate murals.  Love it!

 

Dancing Sock Monkeys

I found this image while on Pinterest one day - and was instantly "pinspired" to have my students create their own "dancing" sock monkeys.

I gave them a paper with very basic instructions, and they drew their own creative version.  

We colored ours with Crayola Construction Paper Crayons.  I just love the colors and the texture they gave these - more like a cloth sock monkey than marker or paint.

I really wanted ours to look like our inspiration, so I bought some bright copy paper and printed an argyle pattern for our background.  We will add dots to our borders next week.  The kids loved making these.  And, since I was only doing this project with second grade, I got a sub plan out of it, too!

Here are some more, after we finished decorating our borders.  Love these!

Kinder Owls

I have to say a special thank you to Deep Space Sparkle for the inspiration for these Kindergarten owls.  So cute!  I loved them all. 

Valentine's Day

Just a few Valentine's things.  I got the popsicle tray idea from another blog Painted Paper - you should definitely check it out.  One of my Kinder classes made these.

These were more of my fantastic, free Styrofoam "canvasses".  They were too small for our Klimt tree project, so I let a class of 1st graders paint a Valentine-themed design on them for fun.  

More 1st Grade Flowers

Here are a few more of our O'Keffe inspired flowers.  These are on flat, 9x9 inch paper.  Drawn in pencil, traced in sharpie, painted with tempera cake paints.  

Klimt Trees

I have a WONDERFUL parent who sends me all kinds of trash from where she works.  She started sending me these cool, styrofoam packing pieces a while ago.  I thought I was going to have to order acrylic paint to work on them, but one day I tried my normal, CHEAP, tempera and it worked great!  Then I just had to collect enough of them for a whole grade level to use and decide what project to do.

I have always been a HUGE fan of Gustav Klimt.  I thought some swirly trees would be really dynamic.  So, we started by looking at his art and the work of contemporary artists who are obviously inspired by him.

I gave them three COOL COLOR options, and had them paint the background one solid color.  Okay, this year we actually ended up with pink b/c I accidentally ordered magenta, not purple paint.  But they still look nice.

Then I gave them red, orange, yellow, and pink paint (warm colors) to add background swirls and designs.

 Finally, we used black paint to make our swirly trees - black so it would give us more CONTRAST.  I know, there's no gold, and that is the quintessential Klimt detail.  BUT...did you know the Tree of Life was a MOSAIC and Klimt used opals and other semi-precious gemstones as part of his design?  So, instead of gemstones we used sequins and tacky glue.  So fun!

Symbols of the United States (aka, MORE patriotic art!)

Here are the final examples of patriotic art.  We learned about some different symbols of the United States, then we created projects using some of those.

Collaged eagles with creative, red, white, and blue backgrounds.

Statue of liberty drawings glued to either a red, white and blue background OR a fireworks background. 

Fantastic Freebies

Check out our awesome (and well-used) aprons we got for FREE from Cracker Barrel.  Apparently, when a server gets another star, instead of adding a star to their existing apron they get brand new ones.  I knew two people who were working there, and they collected old aprons for me.  I had two whole class sets by the end of the year (I work at two schools).  We had to cover up the logo (iron-on photo paper) but they have lasted years.  I take them home a few times a year and wash them. 

Free Time

When I first started teaching, I had no clue what to do with students who finished early.  I started with simple drawing papers, and over the years have expanded to other activities.  This has been one of the more popular activities, esp. for boys.  I went to Wal-Mart and bought some magnetic white boards that came with double-sided tape to adhere them to the wall.  I also ordered magnetic shapes - some are foam and some are the fractiles, which are flat, and placed them on the boards.  They are hung under my white board, and I have the following rules for them:

   

           1. Only 2 students allowed per board

2. You may not use magnets from another board - even if they have more

3. No throwing magnets

 

 

 

 

 

 

I order one of these Foam Magnet sets and they last me all year.  They come apart easily, but once I tacky glue them back together they STAY.

 

I also order one of these per year or every other year, if I have the money.  The kids love the booklet they come with that shows design ideas. 

What Presdents are Made of

 See what I mean?  MORE patriotic art.  I have to admit, these were so fun!  We read the book, What Presidents are Made of.  Then students traced the outline or silhouette of their president of choice (I only gave them 3 options).  After that, they painted a patriotic background in red, white, and blue.  The next week we painted our presidents using neutrals and skin-tone.  Finally, I let them loose with buttons, yarn, paper and fabric scraps, and other fun collage items to create their faces and other details.  The kids really seemed to enjoy making these and they came up with some creative ideas.  These were just a few of my early finishers. 

PATRIOTIC ART

I have never done SO MANY patriotic-themed projects, but that seems to be all I have done with my students for the last month.  It's weird how that happens.  Here are some samplings from 2nd grade.  

 

 

 

I gave these students a shape printout and let them use red, white, and blue papers to collage a patriotic design into their shape.  Then we cut them out and glued them to a black background. 

 

Two classes drew uncle sam, just in different ways.  Then we used the same collage papers as the other 2nd grade classes to create a dynamic border.