Term II Update

Hello 5-8 Art families!

The start of Term II brings great things for all artists, especially the beginning of new projects.

5th grade artists are working on a cuneiform mini-project before heading into Ancient Greece, where artists will focus on learning about Greek gods and goddesses with an emphasis on face proportions and figure drawing.
6th grade artists are finishing up a project titled Islamic Tiles, where they created a mixed media project to simulate radially balanced Islamic artwork. Once this project is complete, students will start looking at textiles and the the influence that trading goods had on the art world. Artists will work on a dynamic weaving project for the remainder of Term II.
7th/8th grade artists just began looking at Lorenzo Ghiberti’s famous artwork Gates of Paradise and are using it as inspiration to create a metal embossed artwork of their choosing that demonstrates the use of space: foreground, middle ground, and background.

 A few reminders for the Art Room: 

• I want to bring to your attention that as every project comes to an end, I upload pictures to the Virtual Art Shows that are located on my website. These slideshows are comprised of exemplary artwork that meets all of the objectives of the project. It is a great tool for students to share their artwork with their family and friends at home since all artwork remains at school until the end of the school year. 
•  There is also a contest page on my website that students can reference to find out information about art contests around the community. We do not always have time in class to create artwork for these contests, which is why I encourage you to work with your child(ren) to make art at home to submit to these contests. They are great opportunities to get artwork shown in the community, and students could also win prizes for their school and/or themselves! I am available to assist with ideas for entries, so if your child is interested, please do not hesitate to send me an email. 
• A sketchbook is a required material for Art! It must come to class with students every time they attend Art. It may be left in the classroom, but must go home on days students have sketchbook homework. Failure to bring their sketchbook to class is failed classroom preparedness, which will result in disciplinary actions for repeat offenders. 
•  I update my Twitter and Instagram more frequently of happenings in the Art Room, including in-progress student artwork, finished artwork, and resources for students. Both you and your child(ren) can follow my accounts to get a digital look into the Art Room. 
• Toward the end of Term I I sent an email home as well as a handout about each Remind class. Please be sure to download the app and enter the class to receive reminder messages about homework - This is a great resource for those students who often forget Art homework assignments, so students are welcomed to join the class as well. 

I look forward to working with your child(ren) throughout Term II on the great art projects ahead of us!

Ms. Strasser