Nature Inspired Monoprints

K4 and K5 students created these beautiful gelatin prints inspired by nature. These prints are called monoprints because unlike most kinds of printmaking, it makes one unique print that can never be recreated. It is unique!

To learn how the students made these spectacular prints visit the links below! These are very fun and easy to make at home for art or homemade cards!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy4cTDcRHaA

Helpful tips:

3-4 packs of unflavored gelatin per cup of water

Divide the water in half. Half should be boiled before adding it to a mix of half cold water and gelatin.

K4 Dot Inspirations

Today K4 students read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. This book is about a girl named Vashti. She doesn’t think she is a good artist. However, she builds confidence after she paints many paintings of dots. K4 students created ‘dot’ paintings by practicing circles. First, students used crayons to draw circles of different sizes and color. Next, we used watered tempera cakes to paint on top of our dots. The wax in the crayons pushes the paint away exposing our circles.

 

Watch The Dot on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5mGeR4AQdM

The Best Artists in the Ocean!

K5 had a lot of fun reading The Best Artist in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry. This book is about a blue Giant Squid who thinks he is the best artist in the ocean. He uses line and shape to create beautiful drawings of sea creatures. We used paint, pencil and paper to make a picture of the Giant Squid in the story. This book is available through the Milwaukee Public Library system

 

7th Grade Architects

Recently, seventh grade students worked in groups of five to build the strongest structure out of newspaper and masking tape. We discussed how architects often use triangles in their designs because it can support the most weight.

 

First Grade Warm and Cool Color Patterns

First through third grade students have been learning a lot about the colors that surround us and compliment art. First grade students have been learning to identify warm and cool colors. 

The first week, students painted a large paper with warm and cool colors. Students had to use warm colors to paint one half of their paper and cool colors to paint the other half. The paintings had to dry for us to use the following week to make our finished art. 

 Before we began making art, we practiced patterns by looking at examples and talking about them. We know that out patterns not only have to include consistent shape rhythm, but also consistent color rhythms. 

After a quick review of patterns, students used their painted warm and cool color paper to create beautiful patterned borders on a black background. Triangles, circles, squares and rectangles were the most popular shapes. However, some students cut out shapes that resembled butterflies or squiggles. Students wrote their name in the center with white crayon. 

What is a Weaving?

Second grade students learned a new art form- weaving! Weaving is an art form where strips of material are interlaced to create a single form. Second graders used warm and cool colored paper! 

This project took two weeks for students to make. During the first week, students learned how to identify warm and cool colors. We separated warm and cool colored tissue paper and used liquid glue to collage them onto thick paper. Students were told that I would be cutting their warm and cool colored tissue paper collages for a new project. They were very excited for the surprise!

The next week, we reviewed warm and cool colors and learned about weaving. Students were very excited because they had never made a weaving before! We learned that objects we use regularly such as blankets, clothing and baskets are made by weaving. After a quick demonstration, students used their warm and cool color strips and a black construction paper loom to create their finished project. 

They turned out beautifully! Maybe making woven baskets will be in the future?

Beautiful Blooms

K4 and K5 students practiced their tracing, cutting, gluing, painting and drawing to create their beautiful flower art. We discussed that flowers have stems and leaves. 

Ms. Zeeman and Ms. Schultz classes also created beautiful bloom art. However, they painted their flowers too! One day one, they drew and painted their vases with watercolors. After that, they painted a piece of paper with red, orange and yellow paper. One day two, they constructed their background and made flowers from the painted papers and green construction paper. 

6th Grade Printmakers

To start the year, 6th grade students created small prints to teach me something about themselves. I asked students to create a print about one of their favorite things or something they liked to do in their spare time. Next up: painting and drawing! 

Students were given cardboard, fabric, string, artificial flowers, glue and scissors to create their printing plate. When completed, students used ink to cover their printing plate and print it onto an 8" x 8" sheet of paper. It was fun to see their creative ways to problem solve the project and to learn more about the students. 

2nd Grade Underwater Artists

Have you ever made art using your shoe? These talented second graders have! Second graders used a crayon to create a texture rubbing of the bottom of their shoe. After cutting out their shoe texture rubbing, they used crayons and paper to add details to their fish bodies, such as fins and gills as well as our underwater environment. 

Using paint and a small cup, we added bubbles coming out of our fish mouths! 

Some students (Emma and Logan) were particularly interested in the food cycle!

The Dot

Kindergarten and first grade students read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. In this story, Vashti, a frustrated students claims that she can not draw. Her art teacher encourages her to make a mark and see where it takes her. Vashti begins to create many dot paintings and turns into an amazing artist. 

After reading the story, I asked students to create their very own dot paintings! First we drew dots with crayons and then we painted over them. Each painting is beautiful and unique. 

How are the dot paintings similar? How are they different? 

4th Grade "Wild" Animal Collage

For their first project, fourth graders were able to let their funny side flow. Each student received a packet of xeroxed animal body parts. Students were asked to mix and match their animal parts to create the craziest animal they could think of. For an advanced challenge, students who finished early were asked to write a short paragraph explaining the origins of their animal. 

Currently, students are creating paintings inspired by Pablo Picasso's Cubist period. 

Welcome to the Walt Whitman Elementary Art Blog! 

I am Ms. Schmidt, the new art teacher at Walt Whitman Elementary School. We have many creative adventures ahead of us. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce students to new ways of making art and encourage them to try their best at all times. We will be learning about various art making techniques, art movements, and artists each week!

I love sharing my passion for learning and art with students. I am proud of their accomplishments and hope that they feel the same way!