The week of Thanksgiving, we took a little break from our Africa unit and talked about the American artist Chuck Close. Students learned several shading techniques and put their knowledge to the test by recreating a piece of a face. Each face was divided into tiny squares, so students have yet to learn whose face they were recreating. I have received almost all of the pieces and will be able to assemble the portraits over break. I know students are anxiously awaiting to see how their collaborative art project turns out.
Students put together incredible African Musical Performance! I am so proud of each student for breaking out of their comfort zone to dance or drum in front of their classmates. I have to load pictures of the drums to the Virtual Art Show, and hopefully I will have some groups who would be willing to allow me to post a video of their routine.
Last week classes started their introduction on watercolor. This is one of my absolute favorite projects because students are given choice in so many ways and it always yields beautiful results. Students choose between creating a landscape, an animal, or a dragon and build a composition of their choosing. I had students create a thumbnail sketch of each so they could give each other feedback and make suggestions as to which subject they should move forward with. It has been an exciting time in the art room the last couple of days because students have been coming up with such beautiful compositions! Only a few students have started painting, and I've reminded them that there is no rush to complete their artwork before break, so I won't be posting finished products until we return in January.
I hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing winter break! I look forward to spending the final five weeks together with my students before the end of the semester.
