8th Grade: From Representational to Abstract to Non-Objective

Bull V, Roy Lichtenstein, 1973

The Cow: 4 Stages of Abstraction, Theo van Doesberg, 1917

I am beyond excited to be starting this next unit with the 8th graders!  Students are learning about the differences between representational, abstract, and non-objective art works and styles of art that are umbrellaed under those types of art, including minimalism and cubism (both abstract styles of art).

When students first came into the classroom, they were instructed to draw a realistic animal of their choice.  The animal had to be drawn full-body from the side view and realistically with shading details.  The animal had to have distinguishing characteristics.

When students were done with their realistic drawings, we watched two Powerpoint presentations and we discussed the differences between representational, abstract, and non-objective art works and discussed artworks by Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso, and Theo Van Doesberg.  

Students were then instructed to draw a second picture of their same animal but to draw it with one goal:  to use as few shapes and lines as possible with the animal still being obvious to the viewer.

After some time was spent on this, they were then instructed to deconstruct their animal into shapes and colors and to create a more abstracted version of their animal so that it would not be obvious to the viewer what their animal was.

Next art class, we will be spending more time finishing up these three drawings and adding a 4th and final picture to their series.  Here are some sneak peeks of works in-progress:

Spreading the Love

During prayer day two weeks ago, 4th graders spent time working on a project from the Creative Compassion Corner, specifically making cards for our community heroes, firemen and police officers.  The cards for firemen were given to Mr. Livingston to take to the local fire station and handed out to the firemen there.  

Some of the cards the students made for police officers are kept in my car in case I see an officer at the local coffee shop or at the grocery store.  Today, I ran into two officers at the grocery store enjoying a cup of coffee on their break, so I ran out to my car and brought them cards the students had made.  They were delighted!  They told me to tell the students thank you and that they appreciated their thoughtfulness!  

1st Grade Dia de Los Muertos Skeletons

I FINALLY had time today to take some pictures of the first grade classes working on their Dia De Los Muertos skeleton projects.  Today we had fun using shapes to create our skeleton faces!  Flowers for eyes, hearts for noses, and ovals for teeth.  

The first graders learned all about Dia De Los Muertos and it's connection to All Soul's Day.  


Questions to ask your 1st grader: 

-What country celebrates Dia de Los Muertos?
-What Catholic holy day celebrates those that have passed away?
-How do people celebrate Dia de Los Muertos?

This Weeks Completed Projects (4th grade and 7th grade)

As promised, here are photos of some of the completed 4th grade bleeding tissue paper flower vases.  I can see these framed and hanging in a home for years to come.  Just beautiful!!!

 More 7th grade completed torn paper projects:  

 

It's Getting Spooky Up in Here...

Here are some sneak peeks at projects in-progress for the 2nd and 3rd graders. 

It's getting spooky around these parts this time of year!  

3rd Grade Dia De Los Muertos Cats (in-progress)

2nd Grade colorful spiderwebs (in-progress)

How a Joke Turned into a Compassion Revolution

Of course, I forgot to take pictures of the 4th graders completed bleeding tissue paper flower projects (I'll do that and post them tomorrow) but for the students who completed their projects early, they were able to spend their extra time today working on creating a joke book page with illustrations that will be photocopied into a book of jokes and then distributed to children at Lucille Packard Children's hospital.  

The concept of the joke book came when my dad was hospitalized and in a rehabilitation facility for 17 weeks for an infection about a year ago.  I asked the students in my classes to write a joke on an index card and I placed each one into an envelope.  I told my dad he could open up one joke a day.  
That one joke a day became a hit.  He would tell the nurses the joke, his roommate in the hospital the joke, and my brother, sister, mom and I would call or visit every day to hear what the joke of the day was.  It was amazing that something so small was bringing all of us so much joy.  When you are in the hospital for that long, having something small to look forward to (like opening up a joke) is just enough to get you through the day.   

When my dad got out of the hospital, it was then that I decided that we should have something like the Creative Compassion Corner in the art room.  It would give students an opportunity to do good deeds with their art and the first item that was in the book of projects was a joke book.  This whole idea truly started with the concept of the "joke a day".  I know that the children in Lucille Packard Children's hospital will enjoy reading their "joke a day" and get as much joy out of it as we did.  

The highlight of my day today was hearing all of the funny jokes and seeing the kids faces light up when they got to their punch line.  It was a joyful class time and I really enjoyed seeing the students work hard to do good for sick children in their community.  Most did not finish their jokes today and they were stored away to be worked on when they finish class projects early in-class.  But here are a few of the adorable joke pages that were completed today:  

7th Grade Torn Paper Project Completion

The majority of the Tuesday classes of 7th grade Art just finished up their torn paper projects based on Mexican folk art, including Amate paintings.  

Process:

1. Design drawn on paper.
2.  Metallic papers torn and glued to design.
3.  Black paint painted over entire artwork and dried.
4.  Wet sponges and paper towels used to blot off the black paint.  
Voila!!!  

The best part was seeing the students who didn't think their torn paper projects look that great but then after painting them and washing off the paint, seeing their shock when they came out looking stunning!!!  

The majority of Thursday's 7th grade art classes will finish up this week as well!  

Creative Compassion Enrichment Update

Worry dolls are completed!  90% of the students were able to finish their worry dolls today and I think that the children and the parents of the children at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital will treasure these dolls and the sentiment behind them.  In total we have about 50 of these dolls completed.  The students should be proud of what they are doing for the community with their art!  I know how proud I am of them!!!