Grade 4 studied the use of scale in art, first by viewing and discussing many works of interest in a slideshow: 

Giant Clothespin by Claes Oldenburg 

Their task was to draw an insect using observation skills from a photo, making it look as realistic as possible. Then draw the insect 2 more times so our eyes will pick up on the rhythm of a repeated image. The insect could go off the page partially for a more interesting composition. Finally, fill in some kind of background that reverses the scale of the insects, making them look large and the large elements of the picture appear small. The results were some very imaginative scenes, which they narrated to their classmates. 

Grade 5 learned about color theory and practiced painting and mixing technique by making their own color wheels, including tints and shades. The results were some lovely looking abstract paintings. 

First grade artists viewed and discussed the work of self-taught French artist Henri Rousseau (1844 - 1910). We focused on making a picture with many layers and tried to make it as full as a jungle in the Rousseau style of 'Magical Realism.'

Rousseau created his jungle paintings in France, using his imagination and studies gathered from books, as well as museum and conservatory visits.

Grade 3 Tree Houses!

Grade 1 studied artist Claude Monet, French Impressionist (1840 - 1926), then painted a study of his work, Poplars (1891). They mixed primary oil pastel colors to make the orange and green and were encouraged to try coloring using texture marks on the leaves and tree trunks. They watercolored the sky and river.