Edward Munch "The Scream" for Halloween

Leonardo da Vinci’s "Mona Lisa", Edvard Munch’s "The Scream" may be the most iconic human figure in the history of Western art. So it's no surprise to me that when Halloween approaches I get requests for Edvard Munch. "The Scream" project in particular, my of my favorite projects to lead.

 After a discussion about Edvard Munch and his painting "The Scream", students are given large watercolor paper ( at least 11x17) to sketch and paint the background. While students are painting, I photograph each student one by one, asking them to replicate a silent scream. Sometimes it takes four or five photos as they can't help smiling.

Allow the project to dry. In the meantime I print out the photo onto copy paper. Trim their photo by cutting out the background and glue onto their painting using a glue stick.

They love seeing themselves in a painting, especially when it is on display all month long. Thanks +Kathy Barbro  for the great idea!

 

The project is also great to show perspective. Depending on age you could have a group discussion of feelings and emotions.

Hint: Label their photo and  painting so you can match them up later.

How about you? What projects do you like to do for fall?
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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?

Art Inspired Costumes You Can Make

Looking for inspiration for a costume? Below are twelve (in no particular order) creative, art inspired costumes. Some are quick and easy to make with items you have laying around your house, or can purchase for cheap at your local thrift store.

You could actually pull these together at the last minute as there is little to no sewing involved. Being historically accurate is not as important as creativity. Just imagine all the oohs and aahs you'll get.

1. Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci 

2. Girl with the Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer

Image curtesy of costumesandcakes.blogspot.com

3. Pop Art by Roy Lichtenstein 

Image curtesy of capslovetwo.wordpress.com

4. "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt

Image Curtesy of  www.maibri.com

5. “Son of Man”  by Rene Magritte

Image curtesy of capslovetwo.wordpress.com

6. Infanta Margarita by Diego Velázquez

Image cortesy of arthistorymom.com

7. American Gothic by Grant Wood

Image curtesy of seakettle.com

8. Frida Kahlo

Image Curtesy of spanishmuse.com

9. Andy Warhol

10. Leonardo Davinci

Image Curtesy of karenscostumes.blogspot.com 

11. Vincent Van Gogh

Image curtesy of arthistorymom.com

12. Salvador Dali

Can you guess which costume I will be dawning this Halloween?

If you try any of these costumes, please share your photos on my Facebook page.

6 Inspirational and Creative Spaces

If you are an artist or crafter you need a great organized place where your creativity becomes artwork and  give you best results from your work.

Finding functional yet stylish solutions can be challenging. I have photo collection below of rooms that bring me inspiration, which I would like incorporate in a small office closet.

I love the Ikea file cabinets and the vintage laundry basket in this room.

 

There's a place for everything and everything in its place in this garage turned art studio.

Clever use of clothes drying rack.

I love the wall mounted cube shelving. This room is functional, yet has a bit of whimsy.

How about this re-purposed hutch?

This blueprint cabinet would be great for paper storage.

I am so enamored with these new and creative ideas for re- purposing furnishings.

Do you have a creative room or craft area?

AP Studio Art - Sample Art Works

My children attend an AP school, meaning they begin taking Advanced Placement courses as early as eighth grade and may take up to eight AP courses and six AP exams® by the end of their junior year. Yes, super intense and academically rigorous - and art is taken just as seriously!

This is the first year our school is offering AP studio art. (The school has only been opened for two years.) Below are samples of Ms. Delesandro's class for the current semester.

Taking AP classes offers opportunity to forgo introductory college courses, giving student the chance to take more in-depth classes sooner. 

 Sarah B. 11 Grade

AP studio art classes include drawing, two- and three-dimensional art, and design. AP studio art is  not available at every high school, even those that offer AP courses in more-accademic disciplines. Like the academic AP courses, Advanced Placement studio art classes are intended to offer a more intense collegiate learning experience.

Cathy L. 9thb Grade

Here in Arizona, highschool students are required to take at least one Fine Arts class before graduating. With more students overall in AP classes (in our school), applicants struggle to stand out. AP studio art seem to be the choice for some to achieve graduation and college breadth requirements.

 Sarah B. 11 Grade

Most of the students have not had extensive art experience and just dived in. I am totally in awe of the work they have produced so far.

How do you feel about art being offered as an AP course?

Van Gogh Inspired Sunflowers

This past weekend I helped my friend celebrate her daughter's 10th birthday with an art party.

The inspiration for the project was Van Gogh's Sun Flower and Starry Night, probably two of his most recognizable works or art.

She watched a tutorial on YouTube, purchased paints, brushes and 16x20 canvas for each party guest. With a few simple steps, you too can turn your living room into an artist's studio.

The kids painted and afterwards got to keep a beautiful piece of art as their party favor.

Give this project a try and let me know what 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?