Local Art Classes

Every school year I am asked by a lot of students and some parents as well if there are options in this area for extra art classes and if so what those options are. I have a piece of paper with a list on it I usually give students but this format allows for me to link to the classes' website. If you check out one of these places and they don't have the type of class you're looking for, the classes seem to change pretty frequently so checking back often is a good idea. Finally, if you know of any art centers or other classes that I don't have listed here that offer good classes for kids, please leave a comment of what I missed. Thank you. :)

1. Norwin Art League
2. Masterpiece Center for the Arts in North Versailles
3. Westmoreland Museum of Art'
4. Greensburg Art Center

 And if you are able to drive to Pittsburgh…..

     5. Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

6th Grade Mandalas

Objective(s)—SWBAT…

• Differentiate between organic and geometric shapes.
• Identify the Principles of Design- Emphasis, Pattern, Balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial ) in their own work.
• Read about the history of Mandalas while also viewing examples of them.
• Create at least 3 sketches in ¼ pie pieces to be duplicated in their Mandala  using both geometric and organic shapes.
• Transfer/trace 1-2 selected designs onto good paper 2-4 times for a whole Mandala design.
• Select a color scheme and neatly color the Mandala design.
• Shade at least 3 shapes in each pie piece correctly.

Here are a few examples of Mandalas in various cultures through history:

 Celtic Mandala

 Christian Mandala (stained glass)

Navajo Mandala

5th Grade 'Tags'- Street Art/ Graffiti Art Name Project

Objective(s)—SWBAT (Students will be able to)…

• Identify the difference between graffiti and murals.
• Explain why/where graffiti is legal and where it is not.
• Locate analogous colors on the color wheel.
• Recognize which elements of art will be used in the tag design.
• Design at least 3 different tag designs using fonts.
• Color the name design neatly using one direction of coloring marks.
• Blend analogous colors on tag design with colored pencils.
• Differentiate between primary, secondary, and intermediate colors.

Fifth graders are wrapping up a project where they created 'tags'. They learned about graffiti as an art form (and had an extensive discussion about how it is typically illegal except for in certain cities walls are designated as legal graffiti walls). We looked at legal graffiti or street art and learned that tags are how artists sign their names in a very artistic way. Students drew sketches in various styles of fonts to see which they liked best or which they felt represented them. They chose one style and drew it larger on good drawing paper.

Next, students learned about analogous colors, chose an analogous color scheme that they liked, learned to blend colors of colored pencils, talked about coloring neatly in one direction, and finally outlined their names with sharpie. Their projects look fantastic. :O

'Tag' example

Library Mural Progress

The mural in the library is going amazingly well! We have 32 students helping to paint it. Half of these students stay one night a week and the other half the other night. We've been working on it for about three weeks now and you can see for yourself we are making great progress!

Also, thank you to everyone that sent in plastic container donations! I really appreciate it! They will all come in handy.

Week 1-3 Pics:

Week 1

Week 1

Week 1

Week 1

Week 2

Week 2

Week 2

Week 2

Week 2

Week 2

Week 3

Week 3

Week 3

Week 3

    

Mural Tryouts- Round 2 & Plastic Container Donations

The second round of mural tryouts have been completed and the students that moved on have already started painting the mural. The second round of tryouts consisted of students painting a section on a wave draw on paper hung in my classroom. For this round the type of paint students used wall paint used in the interior of houses. This is the same paint they'd be using for the actual mural, and it's definitely a bit different to work with. The competition was stiff and partnered with a writing piece where students had to write about why they thought they should be a part of the mural team. We narrowed it down to 32 students for our final team. Here's a picture of the second round tryout wave, it has crazy colors but I kind of love it.

Painting began this week and so far the students are doing a tremendous job! However, we are in great need of plastic containers with lids to store our paint. If anyone has any of these, even one or two, or if you'd be willing to collect some and send them in, we would greatly appreciate it. We are always in need of them in the art room, not just for the mural but other projects as well. I will accept these donations year round! Thanks in advance. Mural painting pictures will follow soon.