Virtual Classroom

Monday, January 30, 2017

Animals

Drawing Animals from Observation

People have been making art about animals for a very long time. 
This painting of animals was found in a cave in Lascaux, France. It is thousands of years old.


Why do you think people painted these images on cave walls?


Today, animals are still a favorite subject of artists. 

Alejandro Raineri 

Can you tell what animal this is? What are some of the clues?






The SHAPE APPROACH to drawing animals:
1. Close your eyes, feel the shape of your animal.
2. Draw the basic shapes you feel.
3. Begin with an oval for the body.
4. Next add the head, neck, tail, face and details

The OUTLINE or CONTOUR APPROACH to drawing animals:
1. Look closely at your animal
2. Begin at the top of your animal's head.
3. Keep your eyes on the animal, and let your pencil move as your eyes move along with the edge of the shape of the animal. Sometimes it helps to keep your place on your animal with your finger as you look and draw.

The DETAIL AND TEXTURE APPROACH:
1. Begin by drawing only the details of the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, --anything on the head and face.
2. Next draw textures--lines and shapes
3. Work your way down to the feet and tail. This works best with animals that have patterned markings or long fur such as a cheetah or bears.

Encourage early finishers to draw a front, top, side, or back view of his or her animal while waiting.

Reflection/Share Time:
What approach was your favorite? (Thumbs up thumbs down)
Did you combine approaches?
Do you have your own approach to drawing animals?


Monday, January 16, 2017

Pinch Pots


These are Kindergarten pinch pots! 


You can make a pinch pot with clay by making a ball, pressing your thumb into the clay and squeezing it between your finger and your thumb. Many sizes of bowls and vessels can be made by the handbuilding method of pinching clay.  

Play video until 1min 45sec



Steps to making a pinch pot



For Clay Review-End of Class




Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Exploring Clay

Artists have made art out of clay for a very long time, and have made many different kinds of objects using their hands to pinch, pull, poke and smooth the clay.



How can you use your hands to change the shape of clay?



  1. Distribute Clay 
  2. Students explore squeezing, poking, and pinching and pulling the clay.
  3. Questions/Observations:
    How is clay similar/different than play-doh?
    Compare how it looks, feels, and smells.

Part II. Making and Joining forms


  1. Demonstrate how to make a few simple forms
  2. Show students how to temporarily join the forms by pressing the clay together.
  3. Have students make an object.