Folk Art Painting

Acrylic - 4th Grader

This Kid's Art Workshop embraced layering. As I watched the classes I was surprised by how uncomfortable layering was for most of the students. The idea of painting something like the shape of a house and then painting over part of it with the trunk of a tree was difficult. Some students left a hole in their drawing for the trunk of the tree. It was fascinating. 

I remember as a young painter studying paintings as if they were puzzle pieces or that I had to break my idea into a coloring page to fill in. Layering paint was a foreign concept. I'm so happy to expose my young artists to this painting technique. And look at the wonderful results.

Acrylic - 3rd Grader

Acrylic - 2nd Grader

Acrylic - 4th Grader

Acrylic - 4th Grader

Acrylic - 6th Grader

Acrylic  - 4th Grader

ARTitude Painting Workshop Examples

Here are the types of examples a student might accomplish in a three hour painting workshop! They are all acrylic. The method is teaching the students to work their painting in layers, and not looking at a painting as though it is a flat paint by numbers project.

I create a new painting for each workshop, mostly because it is fun for me to create the example:) But I also create the example so that I know how to teach it. I love how giving students some boundaries help students stay focused so that they can explore their own unique take on a subject matter. It can be overwhelming for young minds to sit down and have to start something from scratch.

The students mix their own paints and draw their own piece, but are following an example, so every single painting is really an individual masterpiece.

During the painting process we discuss composition, variation, rhythm, balance and technique.

Fifth Grader

First Grader

Fifth Graders

Second Grader

Fifth Grader

Third Grader

Fourth Grader

Art Camp Tuesday

Well, I have some extremely fun and talented artists in my first session summer art camp. I promised the students that I would post three pieces today. Everyone will get a chance to be on the blog. It's just fun to let the kids wonder who will be up on the site:)

The Proud Rooster by Emmy (11 years old) The students painted two sheets in watercolors and then drew the pieces over the paint, cut it out and pasted into a collage. I LOVE this project!

Perspective (Kat, 11 years old) This was teaching the kids about foreground and background. Getting students  to bleed off the edges of a paper is very challenging. I thought this was a great project to show the illusion of distance.

Reflection (Haley, 9 years old) Colored pencil on top, watercolor paint on the bottom, spectacular effect. Haley's piece is so vibrant in person. I love how she just let go in the reflection.

Hayden's Reflection (11 year old)

Choosing Projects for the Art Auction

Choosing projects for my upcoming April Art Auction has been challenging. I want the projects to be more than just fingerprints or a poster of multiple student pieces. I want kids to create pieces that I'd put on my wall in my home.

3rd-5th Grade Project

I have a huge skills gap between kindergartners and fifth graders, so I've kept that in mind during my search. My Third-Fifth grade students will be doing an acrylic painting of Koi Fish, individually. It is a painting that teaches them how to layer paint, and will span across three class periods. It is also a great lesson on composition and arranging a painting. Here is an example of the piece they will recreate with their own personal flare.

The Second grade piece, which I will post a sample of after I've completed it, will be a watercolor of birch trees. I've seen this done on multiple sites and can't wait to see how it goes. The students will do two paintings. One painting with be with the lighting at night, and one at sunrise. Each student will have both of their pieces mounted side by side and auctioned off that way.

The First graders will be creating Mondrian-inspired pieces, using primary colors. Again they will be small pieces so that I can mount three students per mat board (won't that create some bidding wars, tee hee.)

One of my Kindergarten classes will be painting a 2-D tea cup. Using crayon and watercolors, they will have the freedom to design their tea cup with shapes and colors. I will be stacking five tea cups on each other and mounting them on one mat board.

My other Kindergarten class will be doing flowers and vases (2-D) using watercolors and acrylics. I'll be taking the flower bloom of five students and creating a 2-D bouquet and choosing five of the best vases to hold them.

I'll be creating samples of each of these pieces and post them as I go. Now that I've decided what will go into the auction, I will be creating a supply list and calendar for myself. It will be one thing to have the students create all the beautiful pieces, it will be another for me to pull it all together and mount them professionally.

We are already planning a week of preview in our school's entrance before the auction to get the parents and children excited. One concern I have is deciding whether every child gets to be a part of the auction or only the best artists. It is difficult to be that kind of judge, even if that is part of life, but I won't need to make that decision until much later.

Art Auction Research

Oil Pastel version of Van Gogh's Starry Night
I did this as an example for my students.

Third grader adaptation of Starry Night

I am planning a fundraising art auction for the elementary school where I teach art. Each grade will contribute their own projects for the auction. I've never planned this kind of event before. I know schools do this on a regular basis but I've been unable to find a blog or books on how to do this successfully. I've found art auction project ideas around Pinterest and art teacher blogs, but I'm bummed that I haven't been able to find any planning information. 

So, the wheels have started turning. I'm going to track my process on my blog and possibly turn it into a book? If I can figure out how to raise money for my school through an art auction, then maybe it's a way to save art in other schools.

Art beautifies our classrooms, our homes, our life and yet it's the first subject to be cut in school. Recently, my third grade class used oil pastels to replicate master artist, Vincent Van Gogh's, Starry Night. These are perfect individual pieces for an art auction. 

Color Mixing Acrylic Paint - Elementary Art

 

It is all about the COLOR! I didn't start painting until I was in college, which left me scrambling to learn the basics. I love the fact that I get to explore color with young children. With this project I did the following:

 

1) On a plate I gave the students (K-5 classes) all three primary acrylic colors, and the three mixtures to make up the secondary colors.

2) Each table had a pile of Q-tips to mix up their secondary colors.

3) They used those  Q-tips to apply their colors in a rainbow-like pattern.

4) I allowed the kids to choose whatever kind of patter they wanted, I just asked that they painted patterns and not a scene or mix all the colors together on the page.