Art + Kids = Fun: April 2013

What is art?

Art is a language that artists use to express ideas and feelings that everyday words cannot express.
Throughout time, the arts have been essential to human existence. When people create in images, they discover ways to shape and share their thoughts and feelings with others. The arts enrich quality of life. All students deserve access to the arts through creation, performance and study. The fine arts are fundamental ways of knowing and thinking. In addition to their intrinsic value, the arts contribute to children's development.
Works of art are some of the highest achievements of civilization. In school, students learn the language of the arts and how to interpret visual images. Because the arts are both universal and culturally specific, they are a powerful means of increasing international and intercultural awareness. Through the arts, students gain a greater understanding of their own cultural heritage, as well as a sense of the larger world community.
Source: isbe.net

Friday, April 12, 2013

Classic Self-Portraits

These are so adorable! This week, we did a one-day project introducing the children to a classic self-portrait. The project involved using a variety of media and techniques, including collage, drawing with markers, and painting with tempera cakes. We discussed the parts of a human face and the proportions of a face. Then the students got to work. They chose a piece of construction paper that they thought matched their skin tone, and some yarn that matched their hair color (although, as you will see below, some children chose colors they liked instead of realistic colors, and that was okay!). After drawing in facial details with marker, the clothing and backgrounds were painted in. I think they did a great job - so full of personality!

Sunday, April 7, 2013

African Stamp-making and Paper Weaving

This latest project was a very challenging one for the children but they rose to the challenge and did a fantastic job. The lesson was inspired by Adinkra cloth created by the Ashanti people of Ghana. We began by reading the book, "The Talking Cloth" by Rhonda Mitchell, which tells the story of a little girl who learns about Adinkra from her grandmother. We then looked at examples of Adinkra symbols, which have a variety of meanings, like pride, loyalty, family and love. I brought in two Adinkra stamps (carved from dried gourds) to show the children. Then we began our paper weaving, focusing on going over/under/over/under, and using color to create patterns.

After the weaving was complete, the children practiced drawing Adinkra symbols in their sketchbooks. They chose a couple of symbols they liked, or created their own new ones, and using a pencil, "carved" the symbols onto pieces of styrofoam. The final step was to use their styrofoam stamps and some tempera paint to stamp onto their paper weavings. Beautiful examples below:

Martin