5th Grade Gelatin Printing

Gelatin printing is a form of monoprinting in which a gelatin slab is used as a printing 'plate' in along with  standard water soluble printing inks to create images. We used tempra paint to create our prints. When textures and stencils are applied to the plate it leaves marks on the inked plate. Overlapping multiple colors and textures allow for the prints to become more and more interesting.

TRY THIS AT HOME 

You can use any shallow container.  

We used these 25oz. containers from Stop and Shop.

You want your gelatin plate to be about 1/4 thick, so for these containers we used the following recipe:

• 1/2 cup glycerine (you can find a small bottle at CVS or a large one online)

• 2 tbsp unflavored gelatin

• mix the gelatin and glycerine together, then add

• 1/2 cup boiling water

Stir gently to avoid making bubbles. Let your gelatin harden overnight, or speed up the process in the refrigerator. If your plate breaks while you are using it, simply wash off any extra paint and pop the jello in your microwave for about one minute.  Allow it to harden before you use it again.  Because of the glycerine, these plates will last for months without refrigeration. 

Kindergarten- Clay Owls

Kindergarten students learned a few basic techniques during the creation of clay owls. First students rolled the clay onto a ball.  Then students pounded the clay, and flattened it into a pancake using the palm of their hand and a piece of fabric to add texture. We discussed how the palm of your hand has more strength and allows for the pancake to be smoother. Then students folded the clay to  form the wings and head of an owl.  Students then used a variety of tools to add texture to their feathery friends before painting them with tempra paint dipping them in modge podge for a shiny finish.

5th Grade-Fall Leaves

Fall Leaves

In these Works of art students in the 5th grade classes focused on one of the Principles of Art -emphasis. Emphasis is defined as the focus point in an artwork. An artist can create emphasis through cropping, color choice, and direction of line to name a few.

In this art project students chose an image of fall leaves. They were asked to crop the image using a viewfinder to create a point of emphasis. A viewfinder is a tool used by an artist to look through to help focus on the object they are drawing.  After the sketching, students used marker and oil pastel to enhance their artwork allowing the point of emphasis to clearly stand out.

5th Grade Perspective Drawing

Perspective Drawing

In this project 5th grade students learn about one-point perspective.

Students gained inspiration for their cities from the contemporary artist Stephen Wiltshire. Mr. Wiltshire is an artist with autism who has the amazing ability to draw landscapes from memory. Using the rules of perspective drawing, Mr. Wiltshire creates large-scale realistic drawings of cities.

Using the same rules of perspective, the fifth grade-students created their cities. First students created a vanishing point in the center of their page. Students learned that in a one point perspective drawing, the sides of the buildings should be drawn as through they are converging together towards the vanishing point. Students also noticed, as objects went back in space, or closer to the vanishing point, they appeared smaller.

1st Grade- Color Science Experiment

Building upon the previous project, first grade students are again thinking about color. In this project, students predicted the results of a color experiment. Together we added vinegar to baking soda and watercolor to create fuzzy experiments. Once we observed what secondary colors appeared, students drew beakers and filled them with primary colored watercolors. Students learned a technique of watercolor that allowed for the colors to mix on the page resulting in a secondary color. Students collaged these beakers onto a background of bubbles. The students colored the bubbles primary colors. Where the bubbles bumped, the students colored in the secondary colors.

2nd Grade - The Colors of Us

In class students read the book The Colors of Us by Karen Katz. The students discussed with one another how each of our skin tones are different, just like the young artist discovered in the book. In class we experimented mixing the colors  white, yellow, red, and brown to create a variety of skin tones. After students mixed and painted their own skin tones, they added facial features through the use of collage. The hair and t- shirts were then added to complete these amazing self- portraits.

4th Grade- Alebrijes

Over the past several weeks, fourth grade students have been working very hard to create alebrije inspired sculptures. Alebrijes are brightly colored folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures. Alebrijes are a traditional from of art found in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Using the Oaxacan tradition as inspiration 4th grade students...

1.Used foil and tape to create the form of animal. This is called the armature, or skeleton of a sculpture.

2.Students then used plaster to create a smooth and strong surface.

3. Students painted the skin one tertiary color. Tertiary colors are a primary color plus a secondary color.

4.Lastly, using lines, shapes, and colors, students painted the fine details.