March Update

 Hello! Every semester I post that I want to update my blog biweekly and every semester I post this same message saying that I keep forgetting to make posts! I'm changing things up and I'm writing this post on a Tuesday so that I don't forget to add one on Friday.

We have been BUSY in creative arts and I&I this semester! Hybrid is in full-swing and students are doing an outstanding job navigating the virtual and in-person classroom. Due to some snow days at the beginning of the term, Red & Blue classes are a week behind Orange & Purple classes, but it hasn't stopped us from making some awesome art! I'll post some examples below, but I'm also working on putting together the start to our spring Virtual Art Show. 

So far this term, students have shared a bit about themselves by creating Personality Maps. 

 Then we discussed "culture" and how a culture is established when a group of people share common interests/beliefs. Each creative arts class has their very own culture, so after a great discussion of what students value most, classes created and voted on a class flag. Here are the winning flags:

In a mini-project, students were introduced to one of my favorite artists, Kehinde Wiley, and practiced portrait drawing with decorative backgrounds, like his artwork. This assignment introduced many students to digital art, and I am beyond impressed with these drawings! 

Most recently, students have been learning about the Elements of Art. Students completed a PlayPosit to learn the definitions, a scavenger hunt to find examples, and finally created an artwork that demonstrated their understanding of all 7 elements. I love this project because it is completely open-ended and students are able to draw whatever they are interested in. Two classes have finished this project entirely, and two others are finishing it up this week.

To start off each class, students work on Doodle Calendars. Some days we don't have any drawing on our agenda, so I want to be able to offer this creative outlet as the start to every class. So far the prompts have been fun holidays in February and March, and the doodles students have been coming up with are extremely creative! Many students are working digitally on Kami (or their own digital program), while others are drawing their doodle calendars on paper.

I hope to start regularly updating my blog, but for more frequent updates, follow me on Twitter and Instagram! Since March is Youth Art Month, I've been posting artwork from both first semester and current students on Twitter to celebrate all my talented students. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend perusing the galleries on the Delaplaine website - the Youth Art Month exhibitions are top notch!

Class Flags & First Week Activities

I am thoroughly impressed by all the creativity my new students have been expressing! Last week students were given their first Draw Something activity, where they have to create a drawing using provided lines and shapes. Honestly, this was the first group of students where I received COMPLETELY different drawings and I was in awe! Below are a few of the fantastic artworks I received. I cannot wait to pass out the next one!

For most of the week, classes had been working on their class flag. First, we voted for an overall shape for the flag and the winning silhouettes were Kobe Bryant, rectangle, Baby Yoda, Squidward, and the Vineyard Vines Whale. Next, students brainstormed and shared what was most important to them, realizing that so many students had similar interests and values. We compiled a class list and then selected a topic for each table for students to create an icon for and add to the flag. Each artwork is unique, creating a flag that shows off the class' shared valuables and their artistic talent! Below are works-in-progress. We will finish up the flags next week (a few more students need to complete their contribution) and I will be able to proudly display the flags.

This week I also introduced the Doodle Calendars. Each month students will have a calendar to complete. They have prompts for each day, and students have the option of completing one square each day or as they choose throughout the month. These calendars vary by month as to what the topics are. Usually they will consist of content-related prompts where students are practicing skills, but this month students are drawing pictures of their favorite things so I can get to know them better. Below are a few works-in-progress.

Kaleidoscope Name Designs

The last two weeks have been quite eventful! Students learned about Islamic art through digital resources and put their knowledge to the test by creating an Islamic-inspired radially balanced kaleidoscope! The best part of the kaleidoscope is that it is created with students' names. This project took a lot of patience and problem solving, but the outcomes are gorgeous! This truthfully is one of my favorite projects because each design turns out gorgeous and is totally unique from the rest. Once the designs were completed, students chose a harmonious color scheme (a group of colors that are pleasing to the eye) to carefully color the artwork.

I've unfortunately been slacking and have not added photos of the balance drawing to the Virtual Art Show, but this weekend I will absolutely take the time to add photos from both projects to show off the beauty this group of talented students have created! In the meantime, here are some snapshots from what students have been working on:

Students have Doodle Calendars to complete each month. The September doodles were so fun -- I got to learn a little bit more about each student through their "my favorite..." drawings. Each month generally has a theme; some of them are goofy exercises just to get them drawing and some will have content-specific prompts to get students practicing techniques. The October Doodle Calendar has fun autumn-related prompts and so far students have been coming up with such creative ideas!

October DC

October DC

October DC

September DC

September DC

November Doodle Calendars

I did not send students home with a December Doodle Calendar for homework this month, so I am sharing a few examples of the 8th grade November Doodle Calendars. My 8th grade artists work hard every day in and out of the art room to practice skills and improve their talent, so I was so happy to receive 22 fantastic calendars. Here are a few in which the artists filled the space and came up with such creative ideas:

In case you didn't already know, you can click on each picture to enlarge it. Happy Wednesday!