3rd grade Giraffes

Okay.. So I have done this project before, last year. This year I changed it up a little to make it less timely and to give the students more time to paint.

I have seen a lot of "animal portraits" on art education blogs, even some giraffe portraits. I will link up my last year post, because I believe it has some more details.

This year I had the students use oil pastels for the spots and background objects and then used watercolor techniques for the giraffe skin, sky, and grass!

Don't you just love that tongue and character of this giraffe

Oh that nose! such character and creativity

1st Grade "If the Dinosaurs came Back" Dinosaur Drawings

DID YOU EVER READ THIS STORY??? It's a must.. and I love the simple Illustrations.

This book is absolutely wonderful! The author puts the Dino's in really cute and clever atmospheres! So the lesson was to draw a dinosaur (I handed out a handout that I found with all different dinosaurs on it) 

The students were to try their best to create a "realistic" dinosaur and put it in an unrealistic setting. 

They drew the dinos, background and outlined in Sharpie markers, and colored in with Markers and Crayons.

4th Grade "American Gothic" Inspired Pairs

These are fantastic! WOW.. the students gobbled up this project. It did take about 3 weeks, Especially because we had PSSA's  this month. March seemed to drag by but this project helped out.

First start off  with a 11" x 17" white construction paper. We used rulers (math) to frame out an 1" border. We discussed Grant Wood, where he is from, what he created, and his painting "American Gothic".
We then discussed facial and body proportion. They were to draw themselves and someone they know and admire. They could draw an animal instead of a person, if an animal was their best friend. They needed to add a background that was significant to them.

Here are some wonderful examples:

At a football game

In their backyard

At the aquarium

Hanging near the hammock with friends

"Dreaming of cheese"

Inside with his birds and mom

At the beach

Bringing his fish outside for some sunlight

Spending time with her Gerbal

Movie Time!

Out taking a walk with her cat.

Winslow Homer Sailboat Landscapes

I initially found a idea for this project from this website: Incredible Art Department.

I love starting the spring with this project. Winslow Homer created so many wonderful seascapes. The way to help the students really I would say " the Wind is so SLOW i am going HOME" Because if you are in a sail boat and there is no wind, then you would probably want to go home. :)

We studied Winslow Homer's work and brief bio. We used 11" x 17" white construction paper, drew a basic sail boat, discussed foreground, middle ground, and background. The students had free choice in what they added to their background and what they named their boat.
They outlined with medium Sharpie Marker, colored in all the objects with crayola crayons, and last but not least added our sky colors and sea colors.

They turned out EXCELLENT, and very inspired by Winslow Homer!