Fifth Grade: Native American Art

In Fifth Grade we are learning about Pueblo Indians and the homes that they live in. The Adobe houses  are built out of clay that is made from earth and straw and baked in the sun until it hardens (just like cement). We discussed different shapes and colors that are found in the Adobe Architecture and how the colors and shapes reflect the area that the Pueblos live in. The Adobe houses supply a great shelter from both the rain and the hot desert sun. The homes are constructed with wood frames first.

In our drawings, our main objective is to utilize and understand perspective. We drew one home coming towards us and one house going away from us. We then had to add at least one door, a ladder, support beams (circles at the top of the house) and windows.

Once the drawings are completed and incorporate all the necessary components, the students then began to trace over the lines with black glue (a mixture of Elmers School Glue and Black Tempera paint). The black glue acts as a resist to give raised texture to the drawing as well as retain the oil pastels. The finished look is glossy black lines that are raised on the surface of the paper.

After the glue dries the students may then start applying oil pastels to the drawings. We discussed color choice options and how they relate to the Adobe houses and what materials the Pueblo Indians use to construct their houses. Since the houses are constructed of logs to give support, the logs are colored in brown. The houses are made out of clay and straw mixture so the students chose to color them in yellow and brown. They even chose to make the building coming toward the viewer lighter than the building that is going away from the viewer to add more dimensions to this two dimensional work. We chose red roofing to add a splash of color and discussed how Pueblo Indians used this on some of their housing but not all, but as Artists we are choosing to exaggerate this detail in our own artwork. The doors are teal and blue because the Pueblo Indians painted the doors teal and Blue.

First Grade: Architecture

In First Grade we are learning about Geometric Shapes and how they are found in Architecture. We looked at different types of buildings like the Rock and Roll hall of Fame, Epcot (Disney) and the Hogwarts Castle in Orlando studios. We compared the shapes found in the real Architecture to the work of Paul Klee.

We put on our Architect hats and began building our own cities by using recycled materials (cardboard, cups, bowls, marker lids and fruit baskets). Dipping the recycled materials in Tempera Paint, then printing them onto our papers. We discussed different shapes we can make with these simple objects to transform our buildings in to unique architecture treasures!!

Second Grade: Amate Paintings

Amate Bark Painting

In second grade we are learning about Amate Bark Paintings. As we travel the world with our passports we stop at Mexico to check out some Amate Bark Paintings. We learned that this was one of the first types of material that human beings used to create drawings and paintings. Prior to this, human beings used to draw and paint on stones.

We looked at Amate Trees and learned how the paper is made from the trees bark which doesn't kill the tree. Then we talked about what colors the Amate Paintings had in them. We also learned that the plants and animals in the Amate Paintings are not Realistic but they are Stylized.

First we drew a border around our painting in chalk. We discussed why a border is important, as it frames the artwork and redirects the eye to view the painting. We learned about different types of borders and how effective simple shapes can be, especially when they are painted in. We drew in our outline for the border then filled in the border with Patterns.

Then we started to organize our characters in the painting, being careful to think of how we were arranging the plants and animals. After thinking about which plants and animals to place inside the border of the drawing, we started to draw our stylized plants and animals in the same style as Amate Paintings. Once we drew the plants and animals we had a mini Constructive Critique to discuss how we can help our peers with their drawings.
After the mini critique the students continued working on their Amate Drawings. Once the drawings demonstrated a thorough understanding of stylized drawings, we started painting with flourescent paints. After the paints are completely dried, we then outline in black marker.

Third Grade: Egyptian Portraits

In third grade we are time traveling to Ancient Egypt!! We learned that the Ancient Egptians stored treasures in the Great pyramids and the Valley of the Kings to take with them in the afterlife. Then we learned about the Ancient Egyptian letters called Hieroglyphics and how the Pharoahs names were written in a Cartouche.

For the first part of this project, we drew two or three hieroglyphics on a 3"x5" piece of paper. Then we used golf tees to push the image through on to foam core. This will be our Stamp for the background.

We also learned about Hokusai and his painting called "The Great Wave off of Kanagawa". How Hokusai used a printmaking process called Wood Block Printing to make his prints. We will use the same techniques as Hokusai, just with different materials.

Seth drawn Lightly
on Watercolour Paper

On our printing day we utilized the same techniques as Hokusai and used the foam core plates to print with India Ink. To extend the drying time of the India Ink we used Glycerin (found in the pharmacy next to hand cream- non-toxic). We focused on the placement of our cartouches on the background. 3 across and 3 down to fill the entire paper.

Once the backgrounds were completed, we began learning about the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. The students were fully engaged and really enjoyed learning about the different characters of Ancient Egypt. We began drawing on Watercolour paper lightly in pencil. We learned about proportions and how to draw using the cross hair technique (drawing a + on the image and drawing a + on the watercolour paper to assist in gaging proportions and sizes).

First Grade: The Dot

Once first grade finished their projects and behaved in class, I rewarded them by reading them a book called The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds.

First Grade: Line Projects

First Grade at Indian Lane Elementary School is learning about Lines (an Element of Design). They are learning that a Line begins with a Dot. In this project the students are learning the difference between Vertical and Horizontal Lines.

The first part of this project the students draw a Horizontal line, and give the line LIFE. Because as Artists, the students have the ability to give the lines life and ENERGY!!!


After the students draw the lines, they then add 5 different colors that run parallel with their horizontal line. This is called a PATTERN. The students learn that a PATTERN is any repeating LINE, SHAPE or COLOR.

Once the students complete all 5 lines, they will then add GEOMETRIC shapes in the BACKGROUND of their drawings. The students learn that geometric shapes are SQUARES, CIRCLES, TRIANGLES, RECTANGLES, etc.

YAW Class: Painting Portraits with Warm and Cool Colors

Sophia working with a Cool Pallet

The students were given the choice to either work on Warm Colors: Red, Yellow, Orange or Cool Colors: Blue, Green and Purple to create their portraits. The goal was to try and get the proportions correct with minimal to no use of black, and toning and tinting the colors to achieve shadows and lighter portions on their paintings.

Laura's self Portrait with Cool Colors

The students worked the entire class session on their portraits and we also allowed the students to take some creative liberties by adding in personal objects, or characteristics if they wanted.

For some students the real challenge was looking past the limited pallet and working with the colors provided to create different areas of the face.

Courtney working with a Warm Pallet