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posting pause

I apologize for the lack of posting on my part for the past few weeks! I really thought I would use the summer time to catch up on my blog, to dream up new lesson plans, to inspire myself for the year ahead.

In reality, I've been focusing on this little babe, my newest arrival, Chase born on June 22nd. He's my newest treasure, and my photographic muse this summer. Hoping to get back in action soon!

DAD photo collage

This is a really different type of post for me, but it's what I absolutely love doing in my "free time". I'd love to call myself an "amateur photographer"...or maybe it's just called a "mommy photographer"...either way, I love taking pictures of my kid(s) **(My son is 2 and I have another little boy due ANY day)**.

Usually to process photos I like, or for clients, using Lightroom. I've also used Picnik for other things, but I just realized you can make photo collages using Picnik! I love this feature, especially for blogging purposes! Hoping to enhance my blog for next year, you'll definitely be seeing more collages on here!

This is also a super-cute idea for Father's Day...which I'm taking to have processed today so I can have it ready for Sunday (can you say LAST MINUTE LARRY?!)

Happy digital collage-ing!

7 supplies I love...

Katie over at Adventures of an Art Teacher blogged today about 8 things she was glad she ordered this year. I LOVE this idea! I could only come up with 7, but the gist of the post is the same. I also love getting ideas and recommendations from other people about what works in THEIR classroom(s)! At the FAEA supplier convention I am often overwhelmed with products they are throwing at you and never really get a chance to test anything out...these are my favorites, tested and APPROVED!

#1. This book, "Art" by Patrick McDonnell is a wonderfully inspiring book about what exactly "art" is. I like to read this book at the beginning of the year to inspire kids and make them think about what they will learn in Art class. I'm always on the lookout for new books to read to my Kindergartners, especially, and this one does not disappoint.

#2. Crayola Multicultural crayons and markers. They're a little pricey, but will get you through the "my skin is tan, mine is brown, mine is white" awkward moments. The markers are great, too, and I keep them hidden until we actually do a project that requires them. Like I said, a little pricey, but worth every penny!

#3. Large Crayola oil pastels. I used to use smaller oil pastels, but they would disappear literally in front of my kids' eyes. These are also ribbed on the sides, to prevent rolling off the tables and being crushed and ground into the floor (can you say MESS of EPIC proportions?!) I also like how they (start off) with a pointed tip.

#4. Sax Liquid Concentrated Watercolor paints. Oh liquid watercolors, where have you been all my life?! In the past, doing a crayon resist project has been a nightmareishly loooooong process. With these, I put a bit of the concentrate in a shallow dish, add some water, and there you have it. No more refilling the watercolor pallette over and over and over. They do seem to stain the tables a bit, but nothing some 409 won't get off!

#5. Miracle Sponges Compressed Sponges. Oh Nelly. Be still my beating heart. These start out about the thickness of cardboard when dry. You can cut out your sponge-stamping shape, put them under some running water, and then they puff up into a regular sponge. Yes, they're just like those things that magically grew out of capsules when you were a kid....I love these and used them a few times to make different shaped stamps for (especially) my Kindergartners.

#6. Scrapbook paper pads. On clearance. I scope out the local craft shops for holiday versions of these paper blocks, or use coupons from Michael's to buy them. They're great for cutting up to use for collaged borders or backgrounds, etc.

#7. Amaco Velvet Underglaze in Bright Red. I have searched and searched for an underglaze that a) covered in minimal coats and b) had a nice, true red color. This is the one that has worked best for us! I also like to use underglazes and then a clear glaze on top of all our projects. So far, so good with this 2-step process and my kiddos.

There are other things that I couldn't live without...but these are things that I've found this year to be extremely useful, things that I will continue to order for years to come! What are some of your favorite finds this year (or things you cannot live without?)

we ain't gonna paint no more! (splatter painting)

This book, called "Ain't Gonna Paint No More" by Karen Beaumont (illustrated by David Catrow) is an Art Teacher's delight. It's a sing-songey book about a mischevious little boy who sneaks into his paint stash and gleefully paints himself silly. I am in love with the illustrations in the book, and my kindergartners like to "guess" what body part he's painting next using rhymes.

It's a fitting book to read at the end of the year, too. Guess what? We Ain't Gonna Paint for another 2 months! We might as well enjoy our last couple of days here. *Really you can do this lesson anytime, I just like having projects that really hook the kids in at the end of the school year for my own sanity!

After reading the book, we talk about illustration and self-portraiture. Do we think the boy in the book was a portrait of the illustrator, David Catrow, as a child? Students then draw (in crayon) a self-portrait on 12x18" paper. This is the "clean"version of themselves, the angelic child their parents think they are! On day 2 we put our papers in our splatter box (a big paper towel box---which looks SO lovely on day 7 of this project!) I thin down some red, yellow and blue paints (in case they mix on the paper we still have nice colors and not muddy colors) and show the kids how to shake and splatter.

Needless to say they LOVE it!

The end results make me laugh after a long day of "sit, stop, come here, go there, tie your shoes, put your shoes on, yes you may go to the bathroom, time to clean up, push that chair in".

Happy splatters!

name aliens

I love doing this project with my second and third graders. It's a great way to teach organic shape and symmetry...creativity and imagination are of upmost importance as well! This is also a great project to do at the end of the year when you feel like you're "losing" the kids--they always perk up when I tell them we're making monsters or aliens.

Start with a folded sheet of paper. To make sure the pieces come out symmetrical and not in two pieces, I tell them to point the FOLD toward their BODY. They then write their names on the paper (if they have a shorter name with extra space, have them use their last initial too).

I then have them draw a contour line around the top of their name. They cut on that contour line.

When they open up their "name", they have a unique organic shape that resembles an alien or monster body. I have them draw details in pencil, trace in black sharpie, then color in marker.

I have students say they make entire "families" of aliens at home (using Mom's name, Dad's name, their dog's name, their brother's name, etc.) This is also great for a "rainy day" project at home or at school.

I know this isn't a new concept or anything, but sometimes it's nice to be reminded of simple lessons that can be pulled out of the "vault" in a pinch for a lesson. It's also a great way to teach symmetry, organic shape, contour line, geometric shape, etc. A win/win if you ask me!

graphite animal drawings

It's the end of the year. My fifth graders are fried and so am I. We've run the gammit of projects this year and I needed something for them to do to reinforce drawing skills.

It is very possible that if you asked my students right now what they thought about this project, they'd say they hated it, that it was "boring", and that it was too hard for them.

Obviously their results prove otherwise! I think they're just used to doing "exciting", colorful projects and the grays and whites of a graphite drawing doesn't appeal to them. Fair 'nuff.

I love their drawings, and they are a beautiful visual reminder of just how far they've come this year. Had they done this on day one, they'd be a visual mess of thick contour lines and scribbly fur.

You've come a long way, my dear fifth graders...