5th Grade Chalk Pastel Portraits of Classmates

5th Graders have been working on a drawing unit. They began the unit by exploring chalk pastel (see previous post!), then spent two classes figure drawing with charcoal sticks. In figure drawing, artists draw from a live model and focus on capturing the gesture (pose) of the figure, as well as the model's proportions. Students created multiple drawings in each session, drawing each pose the model (Ms. Westerberg!) did for only about 3-5 minutes per pose.

Joaquin, 5-308

Matthew, HC-316

Amanda, HC-316

Liana, HC-316

After considering the whole figure, students turned their attention to portraits. Students looked at portraits by Kathe Kollwitz, Edgar Degas and Vincent Van Gogh. Students made various observations about the work (how they thought the subject was feeling, what the artist was thinking about, what they liked/disliked, how the art made them feel, etc.). They learned that portraits generally just show the head (sometimes the neck and shoulders) of a subject and when drawing portraits, the artist tries to capture the expression and likeness of the model. Students were then matched in pairs and spent the next two classes taking turns drawing each other posing. Students concentrated on portraying and capturing various emotions (happy, sad, excited, tired, etc.). Students began these portrait drawings with graphite sticks. The following weeks, students added color and value in chalk pastel. They finished their drawings by adding details and definition with black conté crayon. Please enjoy 5th grade's portraits!

Alysha, HC-316, "Happy XinChen"

Dafne, HC-316, "Joselyn Happy"

Hailey, HC-316, "Ms. Westerberg is Dreamy" 

Liana, HC-316, "Shayla is Glad"

Andy, HC-316, "Jordan Surprised"

Shayla, HC-316, "The Happy Liana"

Michael, HC-316, "Zhiwei the Sleepy One"

1st Grade Monsters!

1st Graders have been working on a collage unit. Collage is art that is made with paper and glue. Students began the unit with two weeks of exploration. They learned they could change paper in a variety of ways with their hands (ripping, tearing, folding, etc.), as well as with scissors by cutting various shapes and edges (small, big, curvy, zig zag, etc.). They learned, through the consideration of placement (layering, overlapping, etc.), that they could glue these pieces down to a background piece of paper to create a picture.

After making their collage explorations, students read the book "I'm Looking for a Monster" by Timothy Young. They also looked at illustrations of monsters by Tim Burton, William Steig and Maurice Sendak to gain inspiration.

Illustration from "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak

Illustration by Tim Burton from his exhibit at MoMA

Illustration from "Shrek" by William Stieg

This led to students imagining what their own monster would look like if they were to come across one. Students made a list together of personalities monsters might have (scary, silly, spooky, etc.), then sketched their idea.

Students began creating their monsters the next week by cutting large parts (body, legs, arms, head, etc.) out of colored construction paper. The following class, students used worksheets to help them identify large parts they had made, as well as ones they still needed to make. They repeated this process for making small parts (hair, nose, mouth, ears, tail, etc.). After big and small parts had been made with plain colored construction paper, students were introduced to texture (the way something feels or looks like it might feel) and added details (teeth, scales, spikes, etc.) to their monsters with the textured paper.

1-105

1-105

1-105

After their monster was finished, students cut their monster out and glued it to a black piece of paper. Students then considered their monster's habitat (or where the monster lives) and added this habitat with oil pastels. The final week, students shared their monsters and discussed the process by which they had made them. They then created information cards about their monster (with the monster's name, habitat, and favorite thing to do). Please enjoy First Grade's MONSTERS!

Creator: Angela, Class 1-105
Monster: "Callie"
Habitat: The Forest
Favorite Thing To Do: Dress Up

Creator: Joshua, Class 1-105

Creator: Lizmary, Class 1-105
Monster: "Cofe"
Habitat: Moon
Favorite Thing To Do: Be Funny

Creator: Yamilka, Class 1-105
Monster: "Jessy"
Habitat: A Garden
Favorite Thing To Do: Dress Up

Creator: Jaydiluz Class 1-105
Monster: "Chloe"
Habitat: The Moon
Favorite Thing To Do: Dress Up

Creator: Yu Wei Class 1-105
Monster: "Robot"
Habitat: North Pole
Favorite Thing To Do: Fight

Creator: Jamyang, Class 1-105
Monster: "Ice"
Habitat: The Street
Favorite Thing To Do: Fight

Creator: Calandra, Class 1-105
Monster: "Joktbpciksamnz"
Habitat: North Pole
Favorite Thing To Do: Play 

Creator: Illiany, Class 1-105
Monster: "Gabriella"
Habitat: North Pole
Favorite Thing To Do: Play Dress Up