Welcome to "Creative Expressions"!
"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way-things I had no words for."-
Georgia O'Keefe, artist
(1887-1986)
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to the 2012/2013 school year ! We begin our year with a blank canvas, and end the year with exciting creations of art!
Throughout the school year, all classes learn and review the Elements of Art (line, shape, color, value, form, texture and space) as well as the Principles of Design (balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm and unity). We use a wide variety of art materials and techniques. Many of our projects enhance classroom curriculum, and we learn about many artists and their different styles of painting. The children discover that art is all around us, and that we can learn about other cultures through art.
As always, we started the new school year with the PTA annual KidsArt Fundraiser; this year's theme is "family". Using crayon and a crayon resist technique with a green and blue watercolor wash, first and second graders are creating pictures of their families, resulting in artwork that can be treasured forever.
Pre-K classes learned about the stages of how a butterfly is formed; after reading a story about butterflies, pre-schoolers decorated their own butterfly. We are currently creating a sensational sun using tempera paint and shapes in the warm colors. Kindergarten classes have been learning about directional lines (vertical, horizontal, diagonal) and also the many different kinds of lines used to create art. Lines are all around us, and students are using their words to describle the different kinds of lines. Next, Kindergarteners will be learning about the color wheel, mixing primary colors to make secondary colors, and the warm and cool colors found in nature. First graders will review lines and the directional lines, along with learning about parallel lines, angles, and perpendicular lines. First grade classes will review the color wheel, and then create an autumn picture in warm colrs, using a printmaking technique. Second graders will review lines and color, and learn about complementary and analogous color in our next project. All classes will experience art and learn about the world through the creative process!
Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at devans@mtsd.us .
