Put A Sock in It!

My fifth graders explored the creation of the Sock Monkey.  I have a great friend Kristin Scott, who has a sock monkey business.  She inspired me to try these with my students and as they look nothing as spectacular as hers....they are pretty great.  We used gloves and socks and let the kids imaginations go wild.  LOOK WHAT THEY ALL CAME UP WITH!!

Natasha Wescoat Trees---3rd grade

I love the work of young and modern painter Nastasha Wescoat.  Whimsical trees that make me think they should be in the land of Dr. Seuss.  I had to incorporate them into a lesson.  I had the Third Graders choose a season, Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall.  I then gave them colors of paint and had them paint swirls of color for a background.  We looked at Natasha Wescoat's whimsical trees and painted our trees with her style in mind.  Lastly, we added sequins to make the background shine. 

Cereal Box Monsters---1st grade!

Look what kind of crazy creature you can make with a cereal box!  I had all the students bring in a cereal box from home.  I then primed all of them....yes 100 of them.  And cut them in the back and folded them in half.  The kids then all chose paint to create their monster.  We let them dry and then went crazy gluing on bottle caps, pom poms, pipe cleaners, wooden sticks and more. 

WHOOOOOOOOOOOO LOVES ART? Owl tell you....2nd grade

Check out these fun owls made by Mulberry Second Graders!

Giraffes CAN dance!

My third graders just finished their first project for the 2011-12 school year.  After reading the book Giraffes Can't Dance, the students explored ways to draw these massive animals.  After a few sketches of drawing BIG and making sure the necks were long enough and legs strong enough they all had to find a fresh dance move for Gerald to break.  We used Sharpies and markers and on the background construction paper crayons.  Each Giraffe was cute, funny, and perhaps could be inspiration for "So You Think You Can Dance.".

Welcome Back

It was a great summer.  Time off is refreshing and I got to visit New Mexico and learn even more than I knew about Georgia O'Keefe.  My home computer was on a long hiatus so this is my first post in quite a long time.  The school year is off to a great start and I will start posting projects and pictures as soon as these masterpieces get finished!

Art in Peru

 

As an artist an art teacher I find it important to travel in the United States as well as the rest of the World.  Curtis and I make an effort to visit a place in the US and out of the US every year.  This year for spring break we had the amazing opportunity to go to Peru.  We went with the idea that Machu Picchu would me amazing but it was so much more than that.  Truly a unique, beautiful, and magical place an the ART was amazing.  Everywhere you turned was out of this world textiles, crafts, and fine works of art.  What and inpiration I will incorporate in my teaching, own artwork and day to day life.  Look at some of the pictures, and go to PERU!!