Printmaking like Posada

La Catrina, by Jose Posada

After learning about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera this week, the third graders looked at prints made by Diego's teacher and mentor, Jose Posada.  He was a cartoonist and artist who was famous for his etchings of calacas and calaveras, most often in political cartoons.  The students got to try out printmaking for the very first time, and I think they are hooked.  They seemed to have a great time rolling the ink and trying to see how to get the best print.  They used styrofoam and scratched their drawings with dull pencils.  They used colorful paper and ink to capture the bright colors of sugar skulls, a common treat for el Dia de los Muertos. 

 

Mondrian Madness

Piet Mondrian's abstract paintings make a wonderful example for the use of lines, shapes and colors.  The kindergarten classes are learning about primary colors, types of lines, and basic shapes in art.  They looked at his paintings, and then used vertical and horizontal lines to create rectangles and squares on a large piece of drawing paper.  They painted a few of the shapes with primary colors.  We used washable finger paint since I am just beginning to introduce these younger artists to the art room routines.  When I asked them what the paintings remind them of, they said cities, buildings, video games, quilts, maps and playgrounds!

Oliver, Kindergarten

Dania, Kindergarten

Lexie is gluing the lines onto her painting.

Kyle is almost finished!

Great job, Greta!

Funny Little Fridas (and a few Diegos...)

The second and third graders are learning about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. 

For third grade, this ties in with their Art of Chicago course as they learn about The National Museum of Mexican Art (located here in Chicago).  This wonderful museum is free every day, and it hosts many family and children's art programs.  Right now, they have an exhibit for the Day of the Dead that includes ofrendas made by various artists from Chicago and Mexico.  I hope some students go to the musuem to see the exhibit.  I really want to go to the workshop that teaches how to decorate sugar skulls! 

As for the second graders, their year will be focused on famous artists, so we started with Frida and Diego!  Both sets of mini ofrendas are nearly finished, and I will display some at Prescott.  Go to the museum for the exhibit if you can!

Alexis, Grade 2

Ermuun, Grade 3

Creative Color Wheels

Aubrey, Grade 2

 The second graders are off to a great start this year.  We began the year reviewing color theory.  Students went over what they have already learned about primary and secondary colors, and they learned what intermediate colors are.  They used the primary colors to mix every color on the color wheel, and they painted rectangles with each color they created.  They were very excited to see what colors they could "invent".  After filling a page with 16 colors, they cut out a repeated shape.  They arranged the shapes in order of the spectrum to create their own version of a color wheel.  I love how they are all different, and the kids really had to think about into what order to put the various shades of colors.  Here are some artists at work and some sample projects!

How many colors can you make? 



Jair filling in her squares...

The Blue Table worked hard!

Some students traced shapes, others drew their own.

They arranged the shapes in order of the spectrum.

Jamie tracing and Alyssa gluing...

Arranging Rainbow "Donuts"

Jefrey, Grade 2

Darius, Grade 2

Jair, Grade 2

Alyssa, Grade 2