Impressionism, Monet and Sunsets

Before students start their unique, final landscape paintings, they worked with the tempera paints and brushes to master their brush strokes. In a structured mini-lesson, students experimented with techniques used by the French Impressionists, which I demonstrated in class and they recreated a "Monet Sunset". This mini-lesson let students focus on technique, rather than the subject, which built up their confidence and reinforced the techniques demonstrated in class. We spent about 2-3 classes @ 45 minutes to complete this exercise. Students also learned about Pointillism and the dots used to create an image that is blended together by the viewers eye. 

Below are pictures of Grade 6 students at work and enjoying the process. Many students had never painted in this style before nor really had a full understanding of Impressionism and how to create depth in an artwork and go about their painting. Many lessons have been learned!

Linear Perpsective and American Painters

Grade 7 students studied Linear Perspective drawing techniques to further their knowledge and understanding on how to create depth in their artwork, especially with geometric forms found in a cityscape. We examined the artworks of American painters Edward Hopper, Childe Hassam and Georgia O'Keeffe (yes, she did paint some cityscapes) and compared and contrasted their different styles and themes in their paintings. Additionally, we studied important terms and concepts that are essential to drawing perspective.

Important Terms and Concepts

– Picture Plane

– Viewfinder

– Linear Perspective
  One, Two and Three-Point Perspective

– Depth

– Horizon Line

– Vanishing Point

– Construction Lines (aka Orthogonal Lines)

 

Save The Date! The 2013 Spring Middle School Art and Music Festival

Food Paintings by Grade 6 Artists

Grade 6 students completed their food paintings that utilized Tempera Paints on canvas panels. Students did an amazing job painting and arranging their compositions, which demonstrated their understanding of creating a 3-D form on a 2-D surface. Students learned technical painting skills and color mixing techniques to make tints and shades, as well as how to analyze a work of art and create the illusion of depth in their painting. Check out some of the stellar artwork coming out of grade 6 this year... warning, looking at these paintings may make you hungry!
Click on photos for gallery view. Enjoy!

Burritos by Jason M., Grade 6

Half-n-Apple by Michael P., Grade 6

Untitled by Victoria G., Grade 6

Meat by Horace F., Grade 6

The Fine Fruit by Mai-Linh T., Grade 6

A Picnic With Watermelon by Alexandre K. Grade 6

Milks Favorite Cookie by Christina D., Grade 6

The Popsicle by Casey G., Grade 6

Salmon Sushi by Eika O., Grade 6

Now Are You Hungry? by Ben S., Grade 6

A Good English Snack by Yoshiya O., Grade 6

Dipped by Lili B., Grade 6

3mix Cake by Ayane N., Grade 6

The Leaning Tower of Pancakes by Emily L., Grade 6

120 Calories Worth by Robert C., Grade 6

The Slice by Eloise E., Grade 6

Single Seed by Madison A., Grade 6

Seeds by Mayu E., Grade 6

Untitled by Calev B., Grade 6

Dinner Was Served by Matthew R., Grade 6

Cheeze by Neils V., Grade 6

Compressed Breakfast by William D., Grade 6

Pi Apple Pie by Saahir G., Grade 6

Fluff by Melanie W., Grade 6

Steak Medium-Rare by Julia Z., Grade 6

Midday Snack by Rosale M., Grade 6

Four Reddish Raspberries by Io P., Grade 6