Betsy and Kim  Autumn and Gretchen Beth and Katie Katrina

Linda     Emilie & Seminar

Betsy and Kim

Both classes began the year creating self-portraits using a choice of tempera or watercolor pencils. These were displayed in a quilt format of all the Community students' portraits. Everyone had fun pointing out his or her face among the others. The next project was a mixed media piece of the three English ships that came to Jamestown. Students were given background on what the ships looked like before they began. The children painted watercolor washes on paper and then sprinkled them with salt before they dried. This created beautiful starburst effects across the paper. Then each child tore the paper into strips, careful to include a white edge, and glued them down to create waves with whitecaps. Ships were constructed from paper and tissue, and then collaged onto the strips. Finally a background sky was drawn in. The pieces turned out well. The students learned a new approach to watercolor and had practice in a multi-step project.
The third project the classes worked on was a craypa and chalk drawing reflecting an honored ancestor. Tony de Carlo, an American artist known for his folk-like style and his series of "Day of the Dead" paintings, provided the inspiration. The students were provided with background on the artist and examples of his works. Then each student chose an ancestor to depict as a skeleton in an everyday activity. After doing an observational drawing from a skeleton model, the students simplified the skeleton more in de Carlo's manner to create their pieces. These are now on display in the hall of the main building.
Now both classes are working on pieces for the Thanksgiving show. Betsy's class is making a Pilgrim quilt using traditional square & triangle shapes. Kim's class is designing and painting personal shields in the manner of the Plains Indians.
 

Autumn and Gretchen

Both classes began the year creating self-portraits using a choice of tempera or watercolor pencils. These were displayed in a quilt format of all the Community students' portraits. The children enjoyed locating their work among all the faces. Their second project reflected their in-class study of the Mississippi River. The students were given background on the times and ways of life during the height of the Mississippi River boats. They also looked at a number of Currier and Ives illustrations of the riverboats, and did a lesson on two-point perspective as preparation for this piece. Then they did a colored pencil and crayon drawing of the Mississippi River with a riverboat. They were asked to establish a foreground, middle, and background, and use three perspective devices to achieve depth in their work (overlapping, color, position on the picture plane, size, and correct angles). These drawings were very sophisticated when finished and I was very pleased. Next, in conjunction with their class study of the Nile River, we looked at ancient Egyptian boats. The children studied pictures of small boat models that have been found in pyramids and learned a little about the ancient Egyptians' beliefs on death. Then they created their own models out of clay, paper, and wood, and painted them using Egyptian symbols. Everyone enjoyed this project.
Now both classes are working on pieces for the Thanksgiving show at Hollins. Gretchen's class is making paper molas and Autumn's class is creating paintings inspired by Gee's Bend Quilts.
 

Beth and Katie

Both classes began the year creating self-portraits out of construction paper. These portraits became part of a quilt display featuring all the Community students' faces. The children really enjoyed finding their work among all the others. Next, the children made train cars based on the American flag for their class name skit. While the classes were focusing on insects, the students made Monarch butterflies that could balance on their fingers. Both of these projects emphasized observation skills, practice tracing patterns, and cutting with precision.
Next, both classes made spooky tree paintings and decorated them with cut paper ghosts, pumpkins, bats, etc. This project helped the children see how shapes, movement, and color can create a mood in a painting and how mixed media can sometimes add extra interest to the work.
Both classes are working on pieces for the Thanksgiving art show. Every year all of the student's have a large art exhibit on display at Hollins for the parents to see during the Wednesday Thanksgiving lunch. This year all of the classes' work will be displayed in a quilt-like format to go along with our theme. Beth's class is working on pastel drawings of eleven state flowers in the manner of Georgia Okeeffe. Katie's class, using the same eleven states, is collaging the state bird.
I am very pleased with the progress both classes have made, particularly in listening and following multiple-step directions.
 

Beth and Katie

The class began the year creating a self-portrait using watercolor pencils. Some of the students had never experienced this medium and really enjoyed it. I displayed their portraits with portraits done by all of the CS students in a quilt-like format. The kids had fun picking out their faces from all of the rest. The second project that we did was a collage done in a very stylized manner of the three faces representing Bean, Corn, and Squash known as the "Three Sisters" in Native American agrarian cultures. Restrictions of color and seeds and cornhusks helped to stylize the work.
The third project was a tempera painting of an honored ancestor. Tony de Carlo, an American artist known for his folk-like style and his series of "Day of the Dead" paintings provided the inspiration. As preparation, each student did an observational drawing from a skeleton model and researched background information on his or her ancestor. The students were then asked to do a painting in de Carlo's style using bright colors, simplified skeletons engaged in everyday activities, and a flat manner to their compositions. Most of the students took this project very seriously and did a wonderful job.
Now the class is working on pieces for the Thanksgiving show. Each student is creating a square made up of two different origami folds (Thanks to Michi's expertise). These will be displayed as one large origami quilt.
 

Katrina

The class began the year creating a self-portrait using watercolor pencils. Some of the students had never experienced this medium and really enjoyed it. I displayed their portraits with portraits done by all of the CS students in a quilt-like format. The kids had fun picking out their faces from all of the rest. The second project that we did was a collage done in a very stylized manner of the three faces representing Bean, Corn, and Squash known as the "Three Sisters" in Native American agrarian cultures. Restrictions of color and seeds and cornhusks helped to stylize the work.
The third project was a tempera painting of an honored ancestor. Tony de Carlo, an American artist known for his folk-like style and his series of "Day of the Dead" paintings provided the inspiration. As preparation, each student did an observational drawing from a skeleton model and researched background information on his or her ancestor. The students were then asked to do a painting in de Carlo's style using bright colors, simplified skeletons engaged in everyday activities, and a flat manner to their compositions. Most of the students took this project very seriously and did a wonderful job.
Now the class is working on pieces for the Thanksgiving show. Each student is creating a square made up of two different origami folds (Thanks to Michi's expertise). These will be displayed as one large origami quilt.
 

Linda

This class began the year creating self-portraits using watercolor pencils. Some of the students had never experienced this medium and really enjoyed it. I displayed their portraits with portraits done by all of the CS students in a quilt-like format. The kids had fun picking out their faces from all of the rest. Next the class studied the American artist Jasper John and his use of familiar symbols presented in new ways. The class was then given an outline of the United States shape as a background for a painting. John often used the U. S. map to paint images across it. The students were asked to use a familiar symbol that they felt represented America over their map and paint with colors and shapes of the American flag to provide unity to the painting. This was a very challenging piece and everyone did a great job.
Now the class is working on cut paper quilt designs in the style of Hawaiian quilts. These intricate and delicate designs demand precision and skill in cutting. The students are being very careful with the ex-acto knives and are doing very well. These pieces will be displayed for the Thanksgiving show.
 

Emilie and Seminar

Both classes began the year creating self-portraits using watercolor pencils. Some of the students had never experienced this medium and really enjoyed it. I displayed their portraits with portraits done by all of the CS students in a quilt-like format. It was fun to see the variety and different levels, and the kids enjoyed finding their piece among all of the others. I presented the American artist Jasper John to the classes for their next project. The kids looked at several prints of his American flag paintings, noting the variety and creativity that he achieved using this very familiar symbol. Then I gave them each a board and asked them to redesign the American flag in a painting, but to use the same shapes and colors. Each student came up with a very original design. Now the boards are permanently on display outside on the back of the Community bulletin board. They are formatted as a quilt to go along with this year's theme.
The next project that both classes did were Fall and Halloween paper cuts. These were done with a familiar snowflake fold and cut with ex-acto knives. Most of the designs were quite intricate and many students did several for layered effects. They are very striking and are displayed in the classrooms.
Now the classes are working on pieces for the Thanksgiving luncheon. Emilie's class is doing tempera paintings to the lyrics of "America the Beautiful". The Seminar students are each working on a rendition of a masterpiece from a famous American artist, but with a twist to it. Both class projects will be presented in a quilt format for the exhibit.