It's hard to believe we're already into the second quarter of the 2008-09 school year.  Things are busy in the art room.

In light of the big election in November, each grade level has been learning about a different American artist.  Some of the American art is now on display outside the art room.  Hopefully you can get a chance to take a look at it during parent conferences.

For the 8th Grade, their American artist was Peter Max, a pop artist known for his colorful creations.  The students were to draw an American icon or symbol, such as Uncle Sam, the Liberty bell, etc., and then use line variations to create a pop art look.  Their pieces were colored in marker and look wonderful!  They are now working on an impressionistic painting on a shiny black plastic that will be framed with an embossed foil frame they will create themselves.

The 7th Grade learned about the Pop artist Andy Warhol, an American icon unto himself!  They drew an item from pop culture, such as Mickey Mouse, an Ipod, etc., and then created three more identical drawings to create a repetition piece.  Their work was finished in colored pencil and looks very Warholish!  They are now finishing up their painted rocks, and as usual, this class tapped into its wealth of creativity to come up with some great designs!  They will soon move onto pointillism with a study of Georges Seurat.

For their American artist, the 6th Grade studied the nature works of John James Audubon.  They drew birds, inspired by Audubon, and then used watercolors to create a soft background.  Their birds were then colored with colored pencil to create a look of realism, like Audubon.  The 6th Grade is now carefully working with sharp tools to create drawings of a Celtic-style cross.  They are diligently working on black scratch boards to reveal the gold underneath.  Their work is looking beautiful!

In the 5th Grade, the American artist was Grant Wood.  Their piece was based on his famous American Gothic painting of a farmer and his daughter outside their Gothic-style home in Iowa.  The students were to create their own pair of related people or things and place them in front of their home in the same style.  Their creativity in coming up with a pair was incredible, with everything from Harry Potter characters to our own St. Albert principals!  They are now working on jungle scenes inspired by Henri Rousseau.  They are working in oil pastels on transparency.  Their work looks great!

The 4th Grade studied Norman Rockwell and his Saturday Evening Post illustrations for their American artist.  They then pretended to be a magazine illustrator themselves and were assigned to draw a cover for the magazine that was about an American-themed story.  Many used the upcoming presidential election as their material.  Others chose the Olympics or American soldiers in service.  Again, it is wonderful to see the world from their eyes.  They are now working on paper masks.

The 3rd Grade American artist was Mary Cassatt and her heartwarming paintings of mothers and children.  They drew a portrait of their own mother holding them as a baby.  They are now working on coloring their drawings with pastels.  I think this piece will be one you may want to frame!

The 2nd Grade had a wild and wonderful time with their American artist, Jackson Pollock.  This was the guy known for his paintings of drips and splatters.  They then tried their hand at "action" painting with liquid tempera paint and a lot of unusual techniques.  They were to create their own abstract painting using the opposite ends of the paintbrush, using more than one brush at a time, and -- their favorite -- splattering the paint by holding it brush down and tapping the side of the brush.  Most of the paint ended up on their paper.  Some is still on my cupboard doors.  They are now moving onto a lesson on Vincent Van Gogh.

The 1st Grade is still working on their American art, inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe.  They first drew large flowers like her famous paintings, making sure the flower touched from edge to edge.  Their flowers were traced in glue.  Once the glue dried, they colored their flower with oil pastels.  They will soon be painting the background with tempera cake paints.  Once they are finished, the bright and beautiful flowers look spectacular!

And finally, the Kindergarten is continuing their work on their Kindergarten Art Book.  They just completed their secondary color blotter bugs and will be working on texture next.  These are the building blocks that will form a solid foundation to their art education.

I'm still waiting for word on the Creative Spirit Art Show that has been traditionally held at the University of Dayton in conjunction with the Cage Classic Basketball Tournament in late January.  I will pass along information as it becomes available.  Generally, each school has two tables to display work from their school.  This typically means there is room to show about 50-60 pieces.  Notes will be sent home to those whose artwork is selected for the show.

I hope you have had the opportunity to see the all-school display of fish in the school cafeteria.  Each student from K-8 designed their own fish that is displayed in an interlocking fashion.  The fish was chosen as a symbol of Christianity.  It is also symbolic in how each different fish -- representing each different student -- works together in the name of the Lord.  Be sure to look for your student's fish.

Here's to a beautiful year!

Mrs. Lisa Becker