K/1s and 2/3s Look Closely at Owls

Two borrowed rather realistic looking stuffed owls have taken up temporary residence in the art room tying in nicely to the K/1 owl study unit. The 2/3s are taking advantage of the owls to also get a close look and try their hand at drawing them with charcoal and pastel. Basic shapes and textures have been noted and the sides and ends of the chalks have been used to get the fluffy feeling of these birds feathers as well as their sharp beaks and claws.

The great horned owl's horns

Feather texture

Gaining control of the charcoal

Forming a beak

Pastels on black paper

Blending colors

Noticing lots of details on the feathered chest

One section of the finished owl wall

K/1 and 2/3 Observe, Draw and Collage Sunflowers

Vases of beautiful, bright sunflowers provided inspiration for some observational drawing in art class. Looking carefully at the shapes and colors of the flowers and in some cases the stems in water in the vases, the students filled their papers with large sunflowers, colored them with oil pastels and painted backgrounds with tempera paint. The resulting discovery of oil resisting water added to their enthusiasm. When done with these pictures the students looked at the very tall sunflowers growing outside the Pre-K 4 classroom. They worked with green and yellow paper to make their own tall versions that will be part of a group collage greeting all who enter the front lobby.

Observing and drawing

Adding paint over oil pastels

Careful coloring of the dark center

Petals cut and glued

Overlapping petals around the dark center

Gluing flower petals

A finished picture

More finished pictures

One group of sunflowers

A large wooly bear

Beginning a monarch caterpillar

Painting with liquid watercolors

Careful application with a very small brush

2/3s Draw Bug Jars

The 2/3s closely observed plastic insect models to prepare to draw large bug jars filled with plants and bugs. The practice of close observation helps with focus and concentration leading to the ability to draw what one really sees, rather than drawing a preconceived idea of what an object looks like.

Checking out the shapes

Drawing a second bug

Designing the contents of the jar

Drawing a spider from observation

A spider gets Sharpied!

Bugs coming to life

Painting the jar

Adding paint to the inside of the jar

A Finished Work

This one has a spectator!

2/3 Hudson River Mural

Finished Mural

The finished Hudson River Mural was presented to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services where it will adorn their office wall for all to view.