We had a very interesting time talking about Oskar Schlemmer and the basic forms. Children were busy drawing the forms, some also used rulers, then there was lots of cutting. And after – the pleasure of painting!
Archives for March 2018
Mixed animal collages
My children assembled these pretty mixed animal collages that are now shining in our school’s hallway. Each creature is made out of two or three animals. Pretty cool they are!
Louise Bourgeois with kids
This time we worked on madame Bourgeois. We browsed through a really nice book, Lied für Louise , and we talked about her life quite a bit. You can’t avoid it when discussing such a prominent lady.
The children did the spiders (one made an octopus) out of wire that they’ve taped over to reach some more volume and then they wrapped the base in plaster bandages (fun!!). They painted them black with Ecolite during our second class but I forgot to take photos 
The spiders were a bit scary looking but we all knew the story behind so they were just pretty to us.
Studying Jean Dubuffet
This time we had a little lesson on Jean Dubuffet and then we did a lot of work. Children had such a good time. There was nothing to think about, nothing to be careful about, they could even walk and lay down anywhere on the piece they were creating. Really cool!! And now look at this fabulous playground they’ve made!
Studying Marc Chagall
Beautiful aquarel paintings by my 5 and 6 year olds. We spoke about Marc Chagall, we looked at some of his work and the children talked abaut what they’ve noticed. I drew their observations on the black board because they don’t read yet: Eiffel tower, a goat, a violin, a rooster, houses, flying people…
The art making part required some listening. The students first drew gently with pencils using Chagall’s elements. They were asked to occasionally reorienting their paper while drawing turning it in all directions. That way the direction of drawing was changed. When the drawing part was done they traced the pencil with black marker and then the painting part began. Watercolours.
Beautiful works they did!
Ice cream sundaes
Tempting ice cream sundaes made today. Again inspiration by an art workshop blogger artbar that I greatly admire for her creativity. She published a book Art Workshop for children I like to open often.
My girls could spek only about biting in their papier-mâché scoops and I do understand. I bet they also did it when I wasn’t watching. They did leak the flour water mix a lot, I know that much!
Found objects assemblage
The amazing assemblages with found objects. One could do them all the time. They are so special and unique.
Children brought in their own items. That way they really connect to their piece and are involved from the beginning. Finding items, keeping and bringing them, showing them to the others. This all gives so much to a process already.
Apart from that they all got a shoe box and it was all as simple as making a colourful frame out of paper for the box and then using glue to assemble the items the way etch child felt like. I was there more or less only to glue some of the objects with hot glue. A lovely project!
Circus tents
I am happy to show off this lovely circus tents, inspired by artbar. I have to say it was A LOT to prepare but seeing children’s faces when they finished payed it all off! They really looked forward to finish this project making it as pretty as possible. I had no time to take photos during the process though. That happens a lot.
There was many little steps, but they were all pretty easy and relaxing. The whole project was more about assembling and aesthetics.
The girls went home with big smiles on their faces and pretty circuses in their hands.
Giacometti was here!
20 small fingers and 10 clever heads were working hard to make these beautiful statues.
We talked about Giacometti and we tried various techniques for this project. Also clay, if only to learn we don’t come third as high as Giacometti’s figures are.
This surfers are made out of wire which children taped to get a bit of a volume. Next step is wrapping plaster bandages around the wire bodies. This part was fun and messy. We then fixed them on a wooden surfaces and they painted them with black ink. The colour on still wet base becomes nicely rustic. Children also made silhuets of their sculptures out of black paper.
See the beautiful connections between the 3D objects and the silhuetes.
I find them so sooo nice I just have to upload all of the photos! Happy surfing guys!
Sticks and imagination
Each child got one stick that I picked in the forest. The instructions were to observe the stick and decide which animal to make out of it. It had to be part of the animal.
When they decided on an animal they made little sketches first and then started working on cardboard.
They were then asked to make more layers of cardboard for the body so the animals would become a bit 3D. I was surprised how good they were in making same shapes smaller and smaller.
As for colouring they were told only to decorate and leave all the facial details out which was a little hard for some children.
Beautiful collaged assemblaged animals and other creatures are now let free to admire.
Thinking, observing, drawing, comparing, constructing, cutting, gluing, decorating. Art is good!
