Paper Mache

Paper Mache Masks
Grade 5

Student Mask # 1

Student Mask # 2

What stories or clues can masks tell?  Most nations all over the world have a cultural past which includes masks.  

Masks are used for several purposes....
1) Conceal one's identity
2) Functional or decorative enjoyment in holiday celebrations (Halloween, Mardi Gras, etc...)
3) Rituals or religious ceremonies
4) Hunting & War
5) Honor & Burial
5) Performances / Entertainment (acting, dancing, etc...)

Students viewed masks in many cultures through time.  Using a plastic mold and paper mache, students learned and applied the process of mask making.  



Students work in progress.....

 

 

 

Linoleum Prints

Linoleum Block Prints
Grade 4

We are going through the process of creating linoleum block prints.  This technique creates a relief printing plate.  After drawing or transferring an image on the surface of a rubber block, the artists uses tools to cut away the areas that will not print.

Common tools used in printmaking:


Print Blocks                                                                       Linoleum Cutters

Brayer with Ink

Students started sketching a design using their initials or name with pencil.  We did this on paper and then transferred it to the linoleum block.

Sketching on Paper

Retracing Pencil Transfer

Cutting Blocks with
Safety Lino Cutters

The Linoleum block is now ready to print

Inking the Printing Plate

Printing

Printing

Printed Work #1

Printed Work #2

After printing, students used oil pastels to color in the negative spaces, keeping the design symmetrical. What you see here is the final and finished product.

Weaving

Watercolor Weaving
Grade 3

 

Students practiced a few basic watercolor techniques on two pieces of paper.  The first paper was the wet-on-wet technique with the warm colors.  The second paper was straw blowing with the cool colors.  The final project required students to assemble a paper loom and weave cut up paper strips.  This introduction with paper gave us experience understanding how baskets and textiles are made.


                                                              Students Work In Progress

Coil Pots

Grade 2

Students built a clay pot using rolled coils.  This is a simple hand building technique that has been used thousands of years.   

Rolling the Clay

To add pieces students learned how to scratch & slip the clay.  This process helps our clay stick like glue, otherwise the pieces would fall off in the kiln.

Coil pots waiting to air dry before going in the kiln.                                    The Kiln

Students glazing coil pots.

                                                                Students final glazed pots.

  

Clowns

Clowning Around

Grade 1

Students studied the work of Georges Seurat called The Circus.  We compared the similarities and differences of how the circus performers were portrayed in the past to what we see today.

Georges Seurat
The Circus, 1891

Storybrook Circus at Magic Kingdom

In the students artwork, students focused on drawing the clowns facial expressions with geometric and organic shapes.  Careful thought and details were also put into what type of clothing or accessories the clowns were wearing.  Last a background portraying where the clown was at or what activities they may be doing were added.


Student work in progress