Last Week's Art Camp

Wow. Kids are so creative. One of my favorite parts of working with students of all ages is when they alter and interpret a piece to make it all their own. You'll see repetitive works and yet how the students choose their colors, patterns, how dark they make something, how light, represents them. I always have an example of the project posted, a jumping point, and the fun is watching them add their personality often very tentatively. I usually get asked if it is okay to use a different color or set of lines from my example and that always brings a smile to my face.

I liked having boundaries to break when I started exploring my artistic talent. I firmly believe all artists need the basics to grow from and I tell my students that. So many think more is more, or I'm an artist I can ignore you and break all the rules. Well, yes, artists should break the rules, but they need to understand them first to break them better. Picasso broke all the rules, but he learned them first.

I become a better artist every day I nurture young artists. I'm lucky that way.

Amelia (4th grader) Watercolor, glue on the black crayon barrier 

Brian (5th grader) Watercolor, glue on the black crayon barrier

Gabriela (1st grader) Watercolor collage rooster

Grace (3rd grader) Acrylic (Mixing colors, learning
about warm vs. cool and compliments.)

Hayden (5th grade) Wave

Katelyn (2nd grade) Watercolor pencils

Katie (fourth grader)

This is my example for a marker project. The kids drew trees on
half a piece of paper then colored them with markers.
I sprayed it with water and folded it in half,
making the reflection. so cool.

Natalie (2nd grade) Crayon, colored pencil and oil pastels
on black construction paper. Inspired by Paul Klee.

Zoe (2nd grade) Rooster in a Boat

Keira (1st grade) Walter color pencils

Art Camp Friday

Silly me to think I'd have time to post projects each night. My late night prepping, mounting and project creating, left took me to the wee hours. 

We had a very busy week, as shows in the display panels for the art show. I totally enjoyed watching the kids glow as they told their parents how they created their projects. 

As promised to my students, I am posting one piece from each of them. Here are my six other masterpiece makers from the week.

Aliah (4th grade) Mixing Acrylics and Painting Flowers

Katie G. (4th Grade) Mixing Colors

Julia (3rd grader) Watercolor Pencils and Patterns

Julia (3rd grader) Kandinsky inspired oil pastel

Naomi (Kindergarten) Watercolor pencils

Nick (4th grade) Tissue paper and glue

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.