Optical art as inspired by M.C. Escher

In continuation of the studies that our whole school enjoyed during our Master Artist Exhibit focusing on M.C. Escher, students in fifth and second grade have undertaken optical art projects that link artistic quality with mathematical skill and understanding.

These works are made using math tools and reasoning to approach precision while offering a trick to the eye that entrances students. Art concepts of contrast in composition and complimentary and triadic color sets are encountered as the pieces are created. These works are both satisfying to complete and a great link between curricular areas as we work towards STEAM+ modeling in instruction.

Great job young artists!

International Music

1) Gajah Mina from Tyler Yamin on Vimeo.


I'm not sure if you've heard, but our World Music Program has been stellar this trimester, with Brazilian rhythm, dance, and song teacher Stefanie Schmitz and Balinese Gamelan musician Tyler Yamin welcoming our young musicians to encounter unique instruments and traditions.

Our PTA, through the Center for World Music, has arranged for a complete Gamelan orchestra to be hosted on our campus for our students' use. As students enter they remove their shoes and take their positions. Within minutes they are creating fascinating, mesmerizing music. Examples of two Gamelan pieces are found above.



 

Celebrating Art Together

Student-designed art show programs (I have one or two left if you'd like a copy)

Thank you for attending our annual Del Mar Heights Art Show! The media and innovations center was transformed with vibrant, thoughtful work representing every child in the school on exhibit. Thank you for supporting the creative work of our students and taking your time to enjoy the evening with me.

Fall has Flown Away

There are a huge range of fall-themed art projects involving trees and leaves floating around elementary schools. This one is a real winner.

Second graders used wet-on-wet watercolor technique, printed color mixing, simplified drawing, alternative drawing techniques (air-blown ink), and layered pastel three-zone shading to craft remarkably successful pieces.

It seems so simple to draw a tree. But it takes the understanding of basic proportion and essential-shape drawing skills to create an image that reads accurately as "tree". The second graders took to the task with joy. Their joy translated into exuberant printing and on-paper mixing of fall leaves. Most impressively, these very young students were able to conceive of and execute three-zones of shading: normal, highlight, and shadow.

These works are currently hanging in front of the school. Go check them out!

Symbols of Power on the African Savannah

Symbols of Power on the African Savanna

Second Grade

Our second-grade students spend time studying Africa and African animals in particular. Many of our art lessons this year will surround these themes as it is so rich and inspiring to the students. As a point of both artistic and intellectual concept-building I will be weaving a common thread of understanding of what makes symbols potent visually and culturally throughout many projects.

This project is a large-scale, multi-media project. Students use texts and video to understand the power of the African Lion and understand the concept of "apex predator". Then we determine to use the lion's proud powerful head, with its strong line and contour, to create a visual image that will show the power and struggle of predator/prey relationships on the savanna.

First a background of prey-species patterns are created. Think of zebra stripes and giraffe spots. Then a board is covered with gesso to give a rough and wild texture to the lion face. Next students practice and draw a powerful line drawing of a lion head. At this point we discuss the difference between realistic drawing and stylized work. After the line drawing is complete we use oil pastel and an overlay of watercolor to create a textured color profile for the lion face. Finally a mane of straw is added and the lion's head is placed on the prey-species pattern background.

Ceramic Turtles

Ceramic Turtles

Second Grade

   Each grade level here at Del Mar Heights encounters a ceramics project which correlates to their classroom instruction as it also engages the standards of art practice as set forth by the state.

    In this project, second grade students were asked to reference their animal classification unit of study as they designed a tortoise or turtle. Students learned how to use a basic pinch pot and score-and-slip techniques to hand form their turtle. They used ceramic tools to etch designs and considered ways to use high-contrast while still staying realistic in coloration. Students were privy to information about the ceramic process in firing and glazing as well.

    In the end, we see some whimsical and wonderful creations that represent the vision and learning of our students. Great job second graders!

Magical Moments with a Teacher: Negative Space Sea scene

For this year’s Magical Moments with a Teacher afternoon I welcomed some eager artists into the art studio. We first sipped on self-created smoothies while setting our cerulean backgrounds to canvas. Next, we created negative-space stencils to guide our compositions. Finally we used on-the-brush paint mixing techniques to create surrounding colors that highlight the shapes of our stencils. They are wonderfully cheery little creations of which our little artists can be proud.

Shooting for the Stars: Self-Portraits

Shooting for the Stars: Self-Portraits

Second Grade

Each grade level at Del Mar Heights creates a self-portrait as a way of developing technical skill, abstract thinking in self-representation, and as a way of creating a memory for the snapshot in time in each grade.

In second grade, students learn about facial proportions, three-toned shading, and detailed observation as they create surprisingly successful portraits. This work is coupled with oil-pastel space scenes as a background, since all of the second grade students are stars in my book. We used analogous, or close, color choice and worked on highlighting and adding depth to spheres. Finally, students created a cloud of words that are relevant to their interests in the present, capturing a snapshot of their young minds.

Delightful self-portraits without a doubt!