Art Masterpiece How Artists' Tell Their Story

While I have many hobbies and interests, my passion is art and getting students to think about feelings and expressions in art, and how do we get students to look at art differently.

In Arizona most public schools offer the Art Masterpiece program, sponsored by the Phoenix Art Museum. It is designed to introduce significant works of art to children and build an appreciation for fine art.

Art Appreciation is important not only in art, but in the real world to understand that communication does not just occur via spoken or written language, but that people can understand each other using other things. It's the exposure to all kinds of art that encourages children to see that expressions are something that is carried throughout time and art forms.

The Rabbi and his Grandchild by Mark Gertler

Each works of art tells us a story -something about the people, their attitudes or the mood of the art. It will be important for students to understand that they need to make the bodies and gestures of their subjects match the tone and mood they are trying to create in their artwork.
 

Getting children excited about appreciating art can be very challenging. Far too often they're more excited about the project than learning about the artist or the artwork they produced. How do you get children to look at art differently? What would encourage children to look up, down, outside, inside, close up, and all around?

John Brown by John Stuart Curry

Depending on the age of students, ask questions that  help prompt the discussion about the artists' work:

 

• What draws your eye first? 
• Where does your eye go from there? 
• Is there a certain mood projected in the artwork? 
• Where has the artist placed you, the viewer, in relation to the subject? 
• Do you see clues that suggest time and place? 
• Is there a sense of motion? 
• What gives you that sense? 
• What indications, if any, are there of cultural and/or historical connections? 
• What questions do you have about the artwork?

Allow time for observation, let students get up close and walk around if necessary. Afterwards, students can write a story about the time they were sad, scared, happy, etc...They could practice different faces or postures that they associate with that feeling. It would be a fun activity to have them act these out as a class before they begin drawing. 

Another fun activity would be to have students work in groups of two, each one draws five faces and give every one a different expression. When they are finish they swap papers and try to guess what the expression means.

I would love to hear about your projects. Please share your comments below.

Art Masterpiece is Turning ONE!

Well friends, this first year has been a whirlwind! I can't believe just twelve short months ago I decided to take the BIG plunge into cyberspace. My goal is to share with you my love for art and where to see it all around you.  Thank you for reading Art Masterpiece Corner!

And to show my appreciation, I'm giving away a $25 Michaels Gift Card to one lucky winner!! To enter, follow the instructions in the box below. 

WIN a $25 Gift Card from Michaels! Arts, crafts, floral supplies, holiday supplies, magazines, and OF COURSE, party supplies… there is a LOT to choose from when shopping at Michaels GIVEAWAY – $25 Gift Card from Michaels. Use it for the classroom, girl scout projects or other non-profit work, or use it for your personal project.

Increase your chances of winning. Please leave us a comment ON THIS POST. Don't forget to Click “LIKE” on our  Art Masterpiece Corner Face Book page – HERE and Follow Art Masterpiece Corner on Google+ HERE.

The winner will be announced on December 15th, 2014.

Thank you and GOOD LUCk!

Congratulations to M Taylor for winning our first giveaway!

I received no compensation for hosting this giveaway however. All reviews and opinions are mine and are not influenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience. Giveaway will end at 12:00 pm EST on 12/13/14. Winners will be selected at random and notified by email.Winner will be notified on or around 12/15/2014.. You will have 72 hours to respond to the email to claim your prize.  No purchase necessary. Open Only to US Residents age 18 or Older. Void where prohibited & Not Valid in All States. This give away is in no way administered, sponsored or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CPR, Part 255 Guide Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Oh No! the Museum...What Will We Do?

In a world inundated with social media, television and the ever popular smart device, what we are missing is the three dimensional interaction with the world and the beauty that surrounds it. Making vsiting an art museum more important than ever.

However, do your kids cringe at the very thought of visiting an art museum? Going to an art museum may not sound like fun for most kids (even some adults). You'll have more fun and save yourself from frustration if you do a little prep work. 

Visit the museum website to check out current exhibits and make a list of "must see" pieces. If the museum is is vast focus on one wing of the museum. Mix things up by including paintings and three-dimensional artwork of different mediums and genres. Take special note of any exhibit closure. 



If you are on a budget visit the museum on free art days when they offer free general admission, but if you're more interested in painting and sculpture than shoulders, elbows and heads, you may want to avoid free art days.

Bring along an art journal and pencil so they can make notes and sketch what they see. The museum any even have a kids pack full of activity cards, puzzles and other creative challenges that you can borrow - usually at the admission desk. Consider renting and audio guide designed just for kids. 

Have a scavenger hunt to see who can figure out how many paintings have food , etc...most importantly travel light,and take your time there's no rush.

Take a break and enjoy a delicious snack in the museum cafe, or purchase good for take away and weather permitting you could have a picnic! 

So can you tell which museum is featured here? Take a guess below. I would also love to hear your tips for visiting museums.

Easy Watercolor Leaves

Fall has arrived! - at least up in the higher elevations of Arizona.

Here in the valley we usually don't experience fall until much later in the year, sometimes it does not arrive until well after Thanksgiving. Actually it's so short that we hardly notice that it's already winter. Okay, it's hardly winter either.

If you are longing for cooler temperatures and leaves changing colors, you can bring fall much earlier by painting watercolor leaf silhouettes, which in my opinion, is the next best thing. 
 

Supplies:

High quality watercolor paper
Watercolors (high quality will yield the best results)
Watercolor brushes
Pencil

To create, use a pencil to lightly trace a leaf onto watercolor paper. Then gently erase until you can barely see your pencil marks. 

Dip a paint brush into plain water and fill in your leaf shape, being careful to not extend past your outline.

Then dip the brush in to your watercolor paint and gently touch on to the shape (working quickly) in a few places, repeat as desired. Try not to be tempted to mix the watercolor or drag the brush across the paper like you would in normal painting, let the watercolor pigment do all the work. 

 

If you want the colors to blend, then do the procedures again and just barely touch the other color with water. Once the leaf is completely filled allow to dry. Display as is or add leaf veins or shading.

This project great for Art Masterpiece as you can achieve great results in a short amount of time. No watercolor experience required.

Pretty enough to display all year round, don't you think?

Upcycled Picasso Masks

Much to my husbands chagrin, I can't seem to trash the bits and pieces that are left over from other craft projects. Even the shortest length of ribbon makes it into a bin marked "save do not through out". Not only do I feel better for not throwing out perfectly "good stuff" into the garbage, it helps keep my art projects cost low.

A really great project for making use of all the bits and pieces is African masks. Not only can you teach students about recycling, it is a fun way to teach about the famous abstract artist, Pablo Picasso. They will also learn how to use recyclables to make simple lines to create faces and then rearrange them to appear like abstract faces in the style of Pablo Picasso.

It's a fun mixed media  project that involves several techniques and can be tied to literacy when you include West African Folklore.

It is also great for integrating math by discussing how geometric shapes are in elements of art.

Supplies:

Cardboard boxes
Hot Glue
Tacky Glue
Paint of your choice
Assorted Ribbons, Pipe Cleaners, Buttons and Jewelry Pieces, etc...

First, you will want to pre-cut the corners of a sturdy corrugated box and punch/drill out holes for hanging your finished mask.

Next, have students paint the cardboard masks and let dry.

Now for the fun part...using Tacky Glue have students embellish with buttons, ribbons, bits of jewelry, etc...There' no right or wrong, just let that imaginations take over. Have an adult use hot glue for heavier pieces.

TIP: For additional texture and dimension, prime your corrugated box corner with Plaster-of-Paris before painting. (Take plaster-of-Paris and add water until it looks like the consistency of glue.) 

We made the masks above as part of a school wide fundraiser two years ago. By incorporating recyclables into our projects it kept our supply cost at $300 for school of 550 students.

 How about you? Any upcycled projects to share?

Faith Ringgold Inspired Story Quilts

Hello there. It's been a while since my last post.

I had gotten ill. Tried to plow through it, but eventually developed bronchitis, so I made an effort a few weeks before and during spring break to get more rest. We had a couple of cooking club friends over for dinner and other than taking kids to practice, we had a restful, but fun week.

Today was my first day back to a normal routine and first opportunity to look at new artwork out on display at our school. It was really great to see all the creativity hung up on the wall and our Art Masterpiece program thriving.

Check out how our art docent, Angela, in Mrs. Hoffman's first grade incorporated Common Core Standards and Faith Ringold's Story Quilts.

Students were asked to create an image depicting a special memory from their childhood onto canvas fabric squares, next they added water color, then oil pastels, followed by embellishments of glitter and sequins. To incorporate Common Core Standards they were asked to communicate in writing what their image was about.

As you can see there were many fun and interesting stories.

Me and mom were waking in the park and we saw flower and we saw ants ho ants I love ants.

Faith Ringgold is an African-American painter, writer, speaker, mixed media sculptor and performance artist, and is best known for er painted story quilt.

What have you been doing these past few weeks? I'd love to hear your what you have been up to.

ou know there is a meaningful movement afoot to create Common Core State Standards for the Arts; - See more at: http://blog.artsusa.org/2010/05/28/an-open-letter-to-pre-service-arts-educators/#more-5305

Common Core Arts Standards will provide a guideline for embedding consistent through lines in arts education, nationwide. - See more at: http://www.azarts.gov/news-resources/news/what-are-the-common-core-arts-standards/#sthash.PRctaut7.dpuf

Common Core Arts Standards will provide a guideline for embedding consistent through lines in arts education, nationwide. - See more at: http://www.azarts.gov/news-resources/news/what-are-the-common-core-arts-standards/#sthash.PRctaut7.dpuf

The Common Core Arts Standards will provide a guideline for embedding consistent through lines in arts education, nationwide - See more at: http://www.azarts.gov/news-resources/news/what-are-the-common-core-arts-standards/#sthash.PRctaut7.dpuf

Incorporating Science and Art with John James Audubon

As an Art Masterpiece volunteer I often coordinate with teachers - projects that can integrate Common Core standards. This past month, students in Miss Rivas' 4th grade completed their animal research in science. 

Having featured John James Audubon before; I knew it would compliment what they had learned in class. Audubon traveled the thirteen colonies and beyond and set out to paint birds and animals in their natural environment.

I am amazed with how some kids totally get the essence of an artist's work.

Raven by J. Castro

Using images download from the Internet. Students sketched and then used oil pastels to create their artwork.

Cheetah by A. Vecscy

Lemon Shark by Elijiah

Giraffe by E. Boddack

The students' artwork was the final element in their science report. I hope they got an A! 

John James Audubon was a self-taught American ornithologist, naturalist, hunter, and painter. He painted, cataloged, and described the birds and mammals of North America. His work helped discover several new species of birds, six of them are now extinct.

Painting Tips for Pre-K and Kindergarten

Teaching 3, 4, and 5 year old children to paint can challenging. However, when you see their eyes light up with discovery it is wonderful and can be fun for both of you.

Start off by using a good brush. One that has a wider handle with smooth bristles. Cheap, stiff brushes are not nearly as good for spreading paint.

Demonstrate how to use big, sweeping arm movements for broad paint strokes (petting a cat is a good analogy) and then small movements for small strokes. Let the children experiment with both.

For little kids, try not to use small watercolor pan paints that come in the trays. Watercolor sets with larger color wells are best at this age.

Tempera cakes provide brilliant color in a convenient package.

Try not fuss about paint colors mixing together in the palettes. It's okay if it gets a bit messy.  By the end of kindergarten and first grade you  will be able to tell them about paint manners.

Teach them about primary and secondary colors by mixing your own paint.

• 1 cup of water
• 1 cup of flour (for gluten free version use Cup4Cup)
• 1 cup of salt
• food coloring

Give Pre-K students lots of opportunity to free-paint. Keep instruction and direction to a minimum. Always react to paintings in neutral and enthusiastic manner :-).

With a few cheap and simple materials, students can begin to express themselves in color!

What tips and tricks do you have for working with Pre-K and kindergartners?