4th Grade Michigan Bird Paintings

These tempera paintings are of non-migrating Michigan birds. We started with a list and some research on those particular birds. I demonstrated drawing one of the birds and we created a sketch in our sketchbooks. Next we drew in pencil on our final paper, making sure to create an interesting background and our bird large enough so that it could be our focal point. Students learned some paintbrush techniques for creating texture and mixing colors and they turned out phenomenal!

Here are a few from Mrs. Essenmacher's class...

2nd Grade Winter Landscapes

Second grade created these winter landscape using tempera paints and oil pastel. I demonstrated mixing tints (adding a color plus white) and shades (adding a color plus black), to create many different hues for a snowy landscape. Students learned about shadows and the appropriate way to place those on their paper for a more "real" looking painting. Details were added with oil pastel after the paint dried, which allowed for a more textured look. Their unique takes on winter landscapes make me smile! :)

Kindergarten Winter Trees

These beautiful sparkly winter trees were created by our Kindergartners. First, we drew all sizes of triangles: large, medium, small, to create the trees. Then details were added and glitter lain on top of glue. Students used a sponge and white paint on top of a paper (their choice of color) to create a textured print for snow. Finally, we discussed how trees that look small are far away and larger trees are close, and students cut, arranged, and glued down their trees to their paper

5th Grade Birch Tree Paintings

Right now we are working on some watercolor birch tree paintings. This lesson really helps us understand depth and perspective, and how to create this illusion on a flat space. First we created trees out of masking tape to keep the paper underneath the tape white. After our tape was down, we drew a horizon line. Next we mixed different values of watercolors, many of us created very light values of blue or violet for snow. Then we painted the sky and discussed placement of shadows on the ground. Soon we are going to peel the tape off, add shading to the white trees (Ms. Hatch even has some birch tree bark to pass around - she grew up in the middle of the woods), and also add details. Watercolor also really helps us learn patience- you just can't rush watercolor! More photos coming...

3rd Grade Snowflake Collages

Winter is coming! Winter is coming! Where are those snowflakes? Well, if they don't come soon, it's okay because we are going to be creating them in the Art room. Third grade is learning how to identify all those color groups, like warm, cool, primary, secondary, and neutral. They are using liquid watercolors and a color group to create a painting and even adding salt to add "frost". The salt absorbs the liquid color and leaves frost-like shapes. Next, students will learn to fold and cut snowflakes, which helps us understand symmetry and radial design.The last step will be to arrange and glue the snowflakes, but we aren't quite that far yet!