Watercolor Landscpapes, 5th grade, Grand Avenue

We took advantage of the beautiful fall landscapes in the area and used it as an opportunity to create a regional landscape, in the style of Grant Wood and Vincent van Gogh. The artists carefully looked at the photograph to determine the horizon line, the line between the ground and the sky, and started drawing that line.  They worked their way through the picture, carefully noting lines that show change in vegetation, colors or textures. 

Once the picture was laid out, they thought about patterns in nature.  By adding patterns in a few different areas, they help to draw the viewer’s attention as well as add details and interest to the drawings.  The important things to remember when adding patterns in nature, is that they do not create perfect patterns. To help show space, things that are closer to you are larger with more detail, things that are further away are smaller with less detail. 

Once these pen and ink drawings were complete, color was added using watercolors.  They incorporated both wash and dry brush techniques into their paintings.

Students working on adding watercolor washed to their landscapes.  Color was added in layers using mostly washes, with drybrush in some areas.

                                  

The completed watercolors are hanging in the 5th grade halls at Grand Avenue.  Please check them out next time you are visiting school! 

Leaf Bowls

First graders at Spruce Street Elementary created fall leaf bowls out of clay.  They began by cutting a leaf shape out of clay using a pattern.  Once the shape was cut out, they arranged real leaves onto the clay leaf and rolled over them using a rolling pin.  This transferred the texture from the leaf onto the clay.  These were then draped over a bowl to allow the clay to dry in a bowl shape.  After they were bisque fired, the children painted them using warm fall colors.  A protective coat was put on the finished bowls to protect the color and make them shiny.  We hope these are enjoyed for years to come!

13 Moon Calendar Necklace

Fourth grade students learn about how the Native Americans use the lunar cycle as a calendar.  There are 13 moons in a calendar year, hence the name of the necklace.  Each necklace represents one year.  There are 13 moon beads with 28 seed beads in between each moon, representing the 28 days in each lunar cycle.  The children created patterns between each moon.  Some even used ideas from what is happening in nature at the time of the moon to decide on their pattern.  This shows a great connection to the Native Americans.  They named their moons based on what was happening in nature.  For example, there is the Strawberry Moon and the Maple Sugar Moon.  Can you figure out what time of year those moons happen?

Completed necklaces.

 

Working on a necklace.