Friday, March 25th, 2011

Spring break has finally arrived! Unfortunately, it does not promise any spring weather for those of us staying home for the week. Happy travels to those of you who are escaping to warmer climates and sunshine! When we return from break on April 4th, we will continue with our Perspective Unit. Sixth grade students will complete their one or two-point perspective cityscapes in pencil, then add thin black marker, and colored pencils. I can't wait to share the results of this amazing project!

Below is a famous example of two-point perspective. It is part of the collection at the Art Institute in Chicago...why not view it during spring break?

Gustave Caillebotte. Paris Street; Rainy Day. 1877

March 21st-March 25th

Animal Eye Project

Sixth grade students have done a phenomenal job completing their "Animal Eye" projects. They are ready to be neatly matted and displayed. All "Animal Eye" projects will be hung and ready to be viewed in the halls of Lakeview after spring break. Our next unit of study will explore "One-Point Perspective." We will begin practicing our technique in our sketchbooks before we create a formal project by the end of the week.

One Point Perspective

March 14th--March 18th

Oriental Poppies, 1928
Sixth grade students have been learning about a celebrated American artist: Georgia O'Keefe. In class, we analyzed several of O'Keefe's floral paintings. We discussed her use of value, line, space, texture, shape, and color. We talked about how she enlarged her subjects to fill in an entire canvas. Some of her paintings were enlarged to the point that they became abstract. We are using these works by O'Keefe as an inspiration for our "Animal Eye" project. Each student will draw an elarged eye of an animal based on a photo. We will use oil pastels to add color and texture to the eye and the surrounded fur, feathers, or skin.


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March 7th-March 11th

The Color Wheel

This week, sixth grade students will continue working on their Color Wheel painting project. This project requires all students to identify the primary, secondary, and intermediate colors on the color wheel. They will reinfore this knowlege by mixing paints to create the secondary and intermediate colors on their own "wheel." In addition, they will create a tint and a shade for all of their "pure" colors. A tint is created when white is added to a color. A shade is created when you add black. The sixth graders are encouraged to paint neatly and accurately within the color wheel boundries. So far, the results have been wonderful!