Happy Friday!

Looking back on this last week of September it was quite exciting to see all of the different media our students were working in and the knowledge they gained through various processes.  Here are a few highlights of their current work.  Click on each to tab to read further about their lessons.

Check out what's new in Art Explorations

You can read more about our recent realistic animal study in our Art Explorations class under that specific tab but here are just a few.  Soon they will be displayed all throughout our building.  I love when art is everywhere!

What's Happening in our Halls!

Perry Panthers unite!  It is very exciting to be apart of such a spirited school system and community.  Students in our Art Explorations classes recently worked collaboratively to create this large positive and negative painting.  Working in the style of the artist Chuck Close each student was responsible for creating one individual block working solely on the enlarging and representing the lines, shapes and text of their square.

       This is very much like the style of portrait artist Chuck Close who creates his paintings using a part-to-whole approach.  This lesson lent itself to math integration (using a grid and measurement) and also allowed for retrospective self-assessment on each student’s part to see how their piece became such an important part of the puzzle.   Students were quickly able to assess their individual strengths and weaknesses as well what was successful as a whole.

This was also challenging because students had no idea what they were painting as they were working on each individual square.  Keeping their piece the right direction when painting it, addressing placement, proportion and size all were very vital to the painting also.  In the end we feel the panther recreation turned out quite well and the process that took place was valuable for the art students involved. 

Getting Started....

I must admit it could not be more strange to me right now to call Perry Local Schools my new home after working seven years in another district.  I used to blog all of my classroom adventures at www.facaartroom.blogspot.com, my previous classroom where I taught.  So I am not new to blogging or to teaching but simply to my surroundings and my students.  Four weeks into this school year I am loving it and so eager to see what I can do in my new position at Edison Middle School where I teach an Art Explorations class to seventh and eighth graders and Pfeiffer Intermediate where I teach fifth and sixth grade.

The students, staff and community here are energetic and have so much to give and share!  We have started off strong with paint and ink and marker and mess!  Just the way I like it!:)  Please feel free to follow our blog this school year where I will also add what is happening in Mrs. Self's classroom at Edison (a space she is so kind to share with me).  I can't wait to see what new things my students and I will explore....