Visual "Tricks"

OP Art

Op Art is short for Optical Art, art that "tricks" the eye.  This project is one that kids enjoy as they see the results of their line and pattern choices.  It has a great mathematical connection when revisiting concepts like even numbers, AB patterns, shapes, perspective, etc.

  This time we incorporated technology for those who wanted to try it.

 

 

 

Students were allowed to use a digital camera to photograph a pose that they thought would add to the visual interest of their work. 

 

 

 

Here's a tutorial on how to get started. 

 



Papier-mâché Sculptures

 

This is one of my students' favorite projects.

  I love their problem solving and creativity.  

 

Watercolor Pencils

Dragon's Eyes - UP CLOSE!

Students continued their exploration of watercolor media by using watercolor pencils to complete their close ups of a dragon's eye.  This project tied in with the legend of the Koi fish.

 

How to use watercolor pencils for this project.

 

 

 

 

Student Artwork

Visual Metaphor

The 5th graders are reading the book WONDER, by R. J. Palacio right now. One of the sections had a great metaphor.   It describes how the main character's sister sees her family structure.  I created a quick sketch to illustrate what was in my mind when I read the selection, then I shared it with their Language Arts teachers. 

Marine Life Art

Chalk Pastels

 

Students have been working diligently to complete their Marine Life Art with Chalk Pastels.  My first semester students learned about Wyland, his artwork, and mission to inspire others to help care for the environment.  Students were allowed to choose their marine life subject matter and create a composition using chalk pastels.  Students were also allowed to choose between 9x12" or 12x18" paper for their project. 

 



Student Gifts of Art

Here were a few art pieces that students made on their own time and gave as a gift to me this year.  They are so thoughtful. 

I love their creative thinking as well as use of pattern, design and color.  

 

Painting on Canvas

 

 

Painted Cardboard Relief Art

Cardboard Relief Sculptures

What do you do when you've collected a lot of extra cardboard and some students have finished early with their other projects?  We created cardboard relief sculptures!    The kids came up with some really cool ideas.  There were many different interpretations of animals, etc.  It was great!

What was even more impressive was how students were looking at scraps from other projects and finding ways to use them in their own art.  When you reach the point where they don't think they have to start with a new item for each thing they make...PROGRESS!

Hot Air Balloons

Paper Mache Hot Air Balloons

Oil Pastel Example

Waterfall in the Jungle

Oil Pastels

 

A couple of students asked me how they could create a waterfall while we were working on our Rousseau inspired jungle scenes.  Naturally, I went to work creating an example of how they might approach it.  A tutorial on how to begin is available here.  The finishing touches are up to the individual artist. 

 

 



 

Check out this great link for kids who want to create digital jungle art inspired by Rousseau.

Inspired by Henri Rousseau

Jungle Scenes in Oil Pastel

Inspired by Henri Rousseau

 

Students were learning about the works of Henri Rousseau and his famous jungle paintings.  To complete their artwork they had access to various color picture references as well as Crayola Oil Pastels. 

 

They began by drawing how they imagined the jungle to look like with an animal to become the focal point.  The video below is a quick progression of the example I created for class.

 

 

Students were very creative and did a wonderful job!  Check out some of their work below.