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Art Start students welcomed spring by painting these cheerful sun faces. We looked at Mexican art which often uses the
symbol of a smiling sun face. Students practiced drawing different styles of facial features and sun rays before settling on their
favorites. Then they drew their sun faces on larger, final paper and painted them with tempera paint.
symbol of a smiling sun face. Students practiced drawing different styles of facial features and sun rays before settling on their
favorites. Then they drew their sun faces on larger, final paper and painted them with tempera paint.
Eric, age 7
Lauren, age 8
Greg, age 6
| cut-out of a blue bird by Ashley, age 9 |
cut-out of a toucan
by Matthew, age 9
by Matthew, age 9
Noah, age 5
Michael, age 7
John James Audubon was an artist who loved to paint birds. In fact, it was his obsession! He painted every type of bird that existed in
the United States in the 1800's. Audubon tried to draw birds as realistically as possible in exciting, dramatic poses. Art Start students
learned about Audubon and made their own bird drawings. First they practiced sketching birds. Some students colored their practice
birds with markers and cut them out. Then they made larger, finished drawings and colored them with colored pencils. They added the
bird's habitat for a background.
the United States in the 1800's. Audubon tried to draw birds as realistically as possible in exciting, dramatic poses. Art Start students
learned about Audubon and made their own bird drawings. First they practiced sketching birds. Some students colored their practice
birds with markers and cut them out. Then they made larger, finished drawings and colored them with colored pencils. They added the
bird's habitat for a background.
practice sketch by James, age 7
| "Birds Catching Bees Under the Sunset" by Hannah, age 5 |
| "Sandhill Crane" by James, age 7 |
For the next project, students worked with two different kinds of clay, oil-based and water-based. They learned that oil-based clay
starts out a little stiff, but warms up from our hands and gets soft. Oil-based clay never dries out, so it can be played with again and
again. Water-based clay can dry out, but when fired in a kiln it turns hard, and it will stay like glass forever! The type of water-based
clay we used was self-hardening and does not require a kiln. We made pinch pots by poking our thumbs into a ball of water-based clay
and turning and pinching the ball until it became a little bowl. Then we added lids with handles. After the clay dried out, we painted the
pinch pots. We also made clay beads to string necklaces. Beautiful!
starts out a little stiff, but warms up from our hands and gets soft. Oil-based clay never dries out, so it can be played with again and
again. Water-based clay can dry out, but when fired in a kiln it turns hard, and it will stay like glass forever! The type of water-based
clay we used was self-hardening and does not require a kiln. We made pinch pots by poking our thumbs into a ball of water-based clay
and turning and pinching the ball until it became a little bowl. Then we added lids with handles. After the clay dried out, we painted the
pinch pots. We also made clay beads to string necklaces. Beautiful!
pinch pots with lids
hand-made beaded necklace
Noah, age 5
Hannah, age 5
James, age 7
Greg, age 6
For the final project, students learned about Georgia O'Keeffe, a famous artist who loved to
paint flowers. We read a book about the artist, talked about her paintings, and examined flowers
closely like she did. We also practiced mixing colors by painting our own color wheels. Then
the children painted large scale flowers in tempera paint. Check out Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings
at the Art Institute next time you go!
paint flowers. We read a book about the artist, talked about her paintings, and examined flowers
closely like she did. We also practiced mixing colors by painting our own color wheels. Then
the children painted large scale flowers in tempera paint. Check out Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings
at the Art Institute next time you go!
color wheel
| "Tiger Lily" by Hannah, age 5 |
"Modern Daisy"
by Noah, age 5
by Noah, age 5
| a copy of Georgia O'Keeffe's "Poppies" by Greg, age 6 |
"Daisy" by
James, age 7
James, age 7
| home |
| Art Start Gallery |
| April-June 2005 |
