Young artists were offered the challenge of designing and creating a color wheel that was anything but a wheel. View a few of the selected images below or click here to learn more about the process behind their unique creations. Before embarking on our primary, secondary and tertiary journey, we gathered together to arrange color swatches in the formation of…
Author: mjallegra
Maker. Art Educator. Curiosity Junkie.
What’s in a Name?
In the beginning of the school year, students have to create portfolios to act as folders for their art and as placeholders for their seat during class. Of course, our portfolio must have our name, in large bold letters, written across the front. Natural materials work well for older students who have a stronger ability…
Hues, Tints and James Turrell
To jump start a painting unit, I had students explore hue and tints via concentric circle paintings. I wanted them to understand the difference between a hue and a tint, so we first mixed a hue using primary colors, then added the color to a pile of white a little at a time. Each…
Understanding Symmetry with Rangoli
Happy Diwali Everyone! Nature can inspire assemblages that teach symmetry, design and promote cultural awareness. Rangoli is made during Diwali, the festival of lights, with colored sands and glitter. In the art studio recently, we used nature. The leaf colors this time of year are divine! A strong art historical connection can be found in…
Materials for creating self-portraits
An integration with mathematics, students measure the parts of their party, divide by 2 and use collected data to create a miniature version of themselves in a self-portrait. First collage, then drawing… Students first create collages of humans using simple geometric shapes. They then draw their collage and use details to enhance their art. …
Art/Science: Fossil Study
It is important for students to understand how artists and scientists share many work habits, one of which is utilizing the page as a “study” for multiple observational sketches. While learning about fossil formation in Science, students study ammonites and trilobites in the art studio and record their lines, shapes and pattern using brown and…
Romare Bearden Inspired Collage
“Take Harlems heartbeat, make a drumbeat. Put it on a record, let it whirl!” -Langston Hughes Visit an informative and fun interactive site at MetMedia. Listen to the sounds that inspired Romare, discover the hip artists he grew up around. We were first introduced to Romare Bearden through a picture book inspired by his life…
Mindfulness
Because New Beginnings always have Great Potential. You make your life with each choice and every breath. Simple reminders help others know they are in charge of their bodies and minds too.
Art of Africa
Works of art can tell us a lot about the values of a culture, their beliefs and customs. observational ink drawings of African masks We can undertand a whole lot more about an object when we are given the opportunity to look at it closely. Observational drawing is always a successful activity in achieving this…
Winter Landscapes
Have you ever noticed the night sky during a winter’s snowfall? It is a stunning mixture of purple, magenta and blue. First grade artists created winter landscapes using these colors to illustrate the beauty of the winter sky. We learned about the art of Barron Krody, a local Long Island landscape painter who paints on an…
People in Collage
It is beneficial to allow students to explore an art medium before giving them a thematic goal or asking them to work with a specific content. After a collage exploration (which can last for one class or more) and a lesson focused on creating a shape collage, students will be ready to connect shapes to…
Mondrian Inspired Assemblage
Piet Mondrian was inspired by music. He loved Jazz, Boogie Woogie, and dancing, and was motivated to express his love through art with color and shape, movement and rhythm. Inspired by Broadway Boogie Woogie, this art experience offers students the opportunity to listen to the music that inspired Piet and, by tapping into a kinesthic…
Fuel the Maker in YOU 