Art

8th grade artists have been learning two point perspective skills while designing their “dream houses with a surreal twist.”  The idea is to take a project with a lot of “rules” and have the viewer question, “Why is there a plate of pancakes on the roof?” or “Why is there a clock melting on the front porch?”  We will be finishing this project the first week of February and then beginning a pottery unit.

7th grade artists have been working on drawing with a grid and breaking each square down into values ranging from light to dark.  Grid drawings help artists accurately place details that are sometimes missed.  The next unit for 7th graders is pottery.  They will have a choice in constructing a  box or a gargoyle using the slab technique.

6th grade artists are currently world travelers…..while in China, we learned how to grind our own ink and about using the concept of “qi” in our artwork.  The Chinese brush paintings turned out well and learning the process was a good experience for everyone!!  Next stop…..Australia for Aboriginal masks!  G’day mate!  Check out the “6th Grade Art Gallery” to see photos of artwork created on our ‘travels!’ (coming soon!)

We will be having our end of 2011 holiday party for Art Club on Thursday, December 15th……traditionally, students have brought treats to share while enjoying the company of their friends in art club.  Students will also be taking home projects they have made out of clay and will be free to make some last minute holiday decorations or gifts.

Art club will start up again in 2012 on the 12th of January.

Eighth grade students are beginning an intense color theory project which will lead up to each 8th grader painting on canvas board….their clay bowls are in the process of being glazed and fired and should be finished and ready to take home by Thanksgiving break.

7th grade students have finished their soap carving and perspective name drawing projects and will be starting a plaster project where they will be casting their arm or their leg and painting it (the plaster part) using the principle of design “variety.”

6th grade students are working on their pottery projects and will be glazing them in the upcoming weeks.  A one point perspective project will be introduced and students will be designing their “dream city.”

I hope you are excited for this coming year in art….I am working on adding some new projects this year that will help us to SOAR…..at CBMS and beyond.  Our 8th grade and Art Club T-Birds will be showing “Service” by creating extra clay bowls for the Empty Bowls project in Loveland.  All of our T-Birds will demonstrate “Ownership” in the art room by taking creative risks and being on task.  “Achieving” is something that comes naturally for T-Birds and we will show this in the art room by being prepared and  creating high quality work.  Finally, all T-Birds will show “Respect” in the art room as we look at a variety of art styles and cultures and come to appreciate the beauty and richness that diversity brings to our school and our world.

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