1st Grade Rockets in Space

1st grade just finished a project that took them to the final frontier.  After studying space and space travel, each student made a small rocket using construction paper and colored pencils.  They then made up their own planets and used black tempera paint to create the blackness of space.  The rockets were glued down and stars were added to finish the project.  This project is currently on display by the kindergarten classrooms!

2nd Grade Egyptian Cats

2nd grade just finished a project based on Egyptian culture and design.  Each student made an Egyptian cat with many patterns.  In addition to the cat, each student wrote their names in hieroglyphics.  These projects came out very well and are currently on display in the commons.  

5th Grade African Inspired Masks

5th graders just finished a project inspired by African masks.  Each student created a ceramic mask based on a combination of an African animal and a human face.  The results were quite stunning.  Thomas students love working with clay, and it certainly showed with this project.  After the masks were fired, students painted them with acrylic paints, then later used a thin layer of brown tempera over the top to give their masks an aged look.  

Going Green in the Art Room

A big point of emphasis this year in art is going green.  We are trying to be as environmentally responsible as possible.  Students are learning that there are many simple changes they can make to our daily routine that will make a big impact on the amount of waste we produce.  The year began by discussing what we could do in the art room to be more green.  Signs and reminders are posted around the room to help everyone remember to be as green as possible!  I have already noticed a huge reduction in the amount of trash from the art room.  Keep it up, everybody!

4th Grade Snowflake Mosaics

4th grade students recently finished a winter project.  We studied real snowflakes and the shapes they are made up of.  Each student used paper mosaic squares to create several snowflakes using cool colors.  The snowflakes that were made are as unique as real snowflakes.  Great job 4th grade!

3rd Grade Winter Landscapes

3rd Grade students just finished a winter themed project.  They learned about the fold artist, Grandma Moses.  Grandma Moses is famous for her landscape paintings that told a story through images.  Every student painted a winter landscape that told a story about what they like to do outside during the winter.  The project was finished by having students write a paragraph describing their work.  

2nd Grade Wild Things

2nd Grade students just finished an exciting printmaking project.  We started out by reading Maurice Sendak's classic book, "Where the Wild Things Are."  We discussed the features of the creatures in the book and each student designed their own unique wild thing.  The designs were then pressed into a foam printing plate and used to print multiple copies of the wild thing.  What you see above is the fantastic result of the project.  Way to go, 2nd Grade!

4th Grade Paper Pollock Weaving

4th grade students just finished an extremely fun project.  We started out by learning about the artwork of Jackson Pollock.  Pollock is famous for his "splatter" paintings in the abstract expressionist style.  Students got their turn to do two splatter paintings of their own.  These paintings were eventually cut up and woven together to achieve the end result you see here.  

2nd Grade Leaf Printmaking

2nd Grade students recently finished a project that introduced them to printmaking.  We used leaves from trees around the school to make a fall themed image.  Students painted colors associated with fall leaves onto the back of real leaves.  When pressed onto the paper, the leaves create a very realistic image.  Students made up a design to use with their leaf printmaking.

1st Grade Primary Mondrian

1st grade students recently learned about the artist Piet Mondrian.  They learned that Mondrian used geometric shapes and lines in his artwork and that he mainly used primary colors.  1st graders used Mondrian's work as inspiration in their own primary color paintings.