Who We Are Mixed Media Artworks

I love starting off the school year with this unit in art class. It is the perfect way to get to know a new group of students by focusing on identity and a variety of mark making techniques. 

The students start off by creating a mind map or brainstorm about themselves in their sketchbooks. They list all of their favorite things, personality, and anything that is important about who they are. 

The students then practice a variety of art techniques to create different patterns and textures. They keep track of the materials and tools they use in their sketchbooks and choose which ones they enjoy the most to add to their final piece. 

The students also learn about Romero Britto and his fun colorful artworks for some artist inspiration. After mind-mapping, material experiments and artist study, students then beginning designing and planning their final mixed media artwork. 

Once their plans are finished, the real magic begins! Here are a few examples of some Grade 5 student work. Aren't they amazing? 

Clay Self Portraits

Grade 4 students created clay self portraits this year while inquiring into the central idea of identity can be expressed in many ways. 

They investigated Guiseppe Arcimboldo's portraits as inspiration for a clay self portrait of their own. They started designing in their sketchbooks first, planning the back and front of their sculpture while combining different elements of who they are as an individual. 

The students used their design as a reference while creating with clay. 

 

The students then had fun adding layers of glaze as a final touch for these amazing self portraits! 

Special Object Paintings

Check out our Visual Arts UOI Board! This helps us to remember and refer back to our current unit of inquiry and what we are focusing on throughout our learning journey.

Grade 3 students just finished their first art unit of the year and here is an example of their section of the board:

Transdisciplinary Theme: Who We Are

Central Idea:  Developing painting skills and understanding color allows us to create 3D forms.

Lines of Inquiry: How composition can effect an art work. How to create tints, tones, and shades. How to use a paintbrush to develop different painting techniques. How to develop an artwork.

Key Concepts: Form, Connection

Focus Artists: Jessica Brilli & Wayne Thiebaud

During the first part of the unit, Grade 3 students discovered contemporary artists Jessica Brilli and Wayne Theibaud. They compared their use of color, shadow, and discussed the special objects they like to paint.

The students then brainstormed personal personal objects that are special to them and brought one item from their list to class during the next art lesson.

They then photographed their special object with their choice of background color while incorporating shadows.

Grade 3 students also did a practice still life drawing of their special object in their sketchbooks while they waited for their photos to be printed!

 

Once their photographs were ready, the students set off on a painting journey! They worked very hard drawing large, mixing colors in order to create value, and adding details to give their special object form. Grade 3 students were extra careful to use a variety of brush sizes while practicing different painting techniques along the way. The final results of their finished canvases are absolutely stunning.