The Joys of Paper! Paper folding at a whole new level!

The Joys of Paper! Paper and Technology at a whole new level. Currently I am developing some lessons based on art and technology integration. Here is a fun new artist duo, whom of which sculpt beautiful sculptures out of paper and use photography to document their work and create a "narrative" through the photograph. I can't wait to start this lesson with my kiddos.

http://www.zimandzou.fr/

D.C. Artists

Here are some up-and-comming artists whom of which are D.C. natives doing some cool stuff! Check them out!
http://samuelschlenker.com/
D.C. Creepers
Tommy Corrigan and Eric Gordon
dccreepers.blogspot.com
Imani Shanklin Roberts
imanishanklinroberts.com
 

Snowflakes for Sandy Hook

I am deeply saddened to hear of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary. Being an educator and working in a school setting, we as educators are always looking to be supportive and help others especially through a time like this. A second grade teacher in my school sent out a mass email and informed us of a way to help Sandy Hook students out through the creation of making snowflakes to display in the school.  This seems like a wonderful way to get our students involved and show our support. Check out the link below!
http://www.ctpta.org/About-CT-PTA/SANDY-HOOK-FUND.html

Street Art--Legos?

Since a kid, lego's were always a good time. Today, still going strong, lego's are a craze kiddo's are still excited over. Being an avid pinner on Pinterest, I came across this artist last month who creates these small lego installations within cracks, minor breaks in walls and buildings, and goes around to different places uses lego's as a repairing mechanism. There is some cool info out there on him, and I am eager to bring an introduction of his work into the classroom! http://youtu.be/YFc7h5MTgDU

Another cool Lego Artist is Nathan Sawaya, here is a link to his website--http://brickartist.com/

Here is a link that has some cool street artists work from around the globe. Some might be inspirational in your own classrooms!
http://www.streetartutopia.com/?p=9454 

Lego Art Video-http://www.pbs.org/arts/gallery/off-book-|-season-two/offbook-s2e6-lego-art/
This is a fun way to keep your students entertained, when I was still getting my undergrad, my professor would give us each a bucket at our table to play with towards the end of class and she told us how it could be a great brain breaking tool and a good center or activity to give the kids when they are finished with their work. I will be on the look out to purchase some of these soon!

Eyvind Earle

I crossed this artist today through a google search, I really enjoy his watercolor pieces and landscape works. 
http://www.eyvindearle.com/Default.aspx

Nick Cave-Art In Motion!

A couple of months ago in my ARTNEWS Subscription the featured artist on the cover was Nick Cave. I have researched and read a lot about the artist and being overwhelmed with so many ideas, things going on in life, and trying to keep things organized, I thought it was time to re-look at developing a lesson on him.  I thought this would be a fun new contemporary artist to use as inspiration for a new lesson with my students. What better way to mix fashion with performance art. Check out his neat work and innovative method of thinking.

Glass Blowing-Dale Chihuly

http://www.childrensmuseum.org/themuseum/fireworks_ofglass/games_35.htm#
Check out this awesome site! It has a little cartoon character that explains the process of glass blowing and is interactive for students to use while it explains the process. I can't wait to give this a try to introduce the process to my 5th Grades students before we talk about Dale's amazing works!

SUMOPAINT

Don't have PhotoShop but LOVE the endless possibilites and countless options you have in the program?? Are you searching for a great program to use with you students but can't afford PhotoShop because of your schools budget? Well check out this fantastic program that allows you to edit photos, create beautiful digital works of art AND you don't have to download a THING!! It's called Sumopaint!! I have been using this program with my 5th grade students since last year and it is WONDERFUL! I am a bit sad because they took some options that were really cool away. There are still endless tools and coutless ways to create un-messy works of art!
Check out this article to read more--http://www.pcworld.com/article/226503/Web.html
http://www.sumopaint.com/www/

Paper CRITTERS! Arghhh

I am currently teaching an integrated arts and technology course to my 5th grade students. I have been exploring and discovering some AWESOME Web 2.0 Tools and great websites!!

We are currently working on the topic of Product Design. Here I found this site called Paper Critters!! It is fantastic, you can create a 3-D paper toy, use a TON of design tools and even preview your work in a 3-D view!! Students then printed these little guys out, put the together and talked about target groups!
http://www.papercritters.com/

Pick and Draw-Centers?

 I found this great new game that you can use in the art room as a center or even a fun activity at the start of school, it is called Pick & Draw! It is a fun game students use to draw cartoon characters. I just ran into the site and I am about to order some of these games for my students to use in centers I am creating! Looks like fun!! Check it out!

 http://pickanddraw.com/photos/

6th Grade Sketchbook Folders-Typography!!!

Every year I have 5th and 6th grade students create a sketchbook and sketchbook folder. These stay in the room and it is a place where they are able to keep worksheets, do sketches and develop ideas throughout the year. The sketchbook is a small notebook that only goes home when sketchbook homework is assigned. These are examples of sketchbooks my 6th grade students created my first year of teaching. I revisited this idea of Typography and had 6th grade students create covers again this year for their folders. Students use their personality and identity to create their works of art.

Abstract Art!!!

4th Grade students used oil pastels to create their own interpretation of abstract artwork. Students drew on recycled cardboard pieces. Various images and artworks were discussed such as Wassily Kandinsky, Henri Matisse, and Jackson Pollock. Students were given a piece of oak tag to cut out pattern shapes to use while create their compositions. These helped a lot throughout the process.

Artist Trading Cards

 6th Grade Students were given a recycled unwanted oil pastel box to up-cycle and create a storage piece for their cards. Students used found objects to create boxes that represented their identity.

 Students were taught a variety of techniques for each card. Each card was a mini lesson ranging from watercolor techniques to printmaking, collage, and color theory.

"The Scream" by Edvard Munch

4th Grade students explored the art style and artwork of Edvard Munch. Students are currently learning the different styles of art this year. Studying "The Scream" students used oil pastels and tempera paint to create their own version of the art work. Students were posed and black and white photographs were taken of students and printed. They reconfigured, adding color with oil pastel to put themselves in the image and the emotion and expression they portrayed in their work.