Art Making from Kindergarten to Graduation
I teach color and color theory every year to all my classes. I am teaching middle school and wanted to find a new way to introduce the concept. Last year I had a 100 color painting that did not go so well. Students who had my class would discuss how hard the assignment was. So… Continue reading Color Mixing with Auguste Herbin’s Alphabet
Alma Thomas, The Eclipse, 1970 Alma Woodsey Thomas was a pioneering African American artist known for her vibrant use of color and abstract forms that celebrate nature. Her work often drew inspiration from her surroundings, particularly the gardens and landscapes she loved. When introducing color, I thought this artist would be a great way to teach my… Continue reading Creative Color Mixing Inspired by Alma Thomas
At the start of the year, I like to discuss the elements of art with my classes. Some students may be very knowledgeable about this already, especially if they have already had me a past year. I believe that a refresher is always valuable as well as solidifying the knowledge for when they go off… Continue reading Blind, Continuous Contour Drawings: Engaging Art Lessons for Middle School
This year I had the opportunity to teach special education students in my art class. At first, it was a struggle to find art lessons that were beneficial, substantial, or helped develop motor skills and creativity. Many of the resources I found focused more on the process, which being also valuable, I really wanted projects… Continue reading Abstract Art Lesson: Motor Skills Development
One of my favorite art styles to teach is surrealism because it pushes a lot of students out of their comfort zones. Surrealism, an art period in the early 20th century, focuses on combining art literature, dreams, and the unconscious in interesting ways. One of the most familiar surrealist artists and artwork is Salvador Dali and… Continue reading Surrealist Eyes Drawings
Pablo Picasso (photograph) by Beaton, Cecil is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 Picasso is a great artist to teach to young kids. I like introducing him to kindergarten students because he was a very skilled, technical artist, even considered a prodigy. He mastered realistic drawing early in his life and began exploring abstraction during a time… Continue reading Picasso-esque Self Portraits
In the Art Room with Mrs. D 