Kindergarten is Sweet!

 Cakes,Wayne Thiebaud 1963, Oil on Canvas.

 Four Cupcakes, Wayne Thiebaud 1971, Oil on Canvas.

To wet our pallets,  students examined the painting of American artist Wayne Thiebaud who often painted desserts using thick bright colored layers of paint combined with exaggerated shadows.  We discussed how there was a “shady” side and a “sunny side” and located where those parts where Thiebaud’s paintings.  Next, we discussed how drawing from observation is different then drawing from imagination, because you are drawing what you see, versus drawing what is in your head. 

Students had several images of cupcakes while they worked to help create their own cupcake while combining observational and imaginative drawing.  We used our newly developed skills of blending and layering the oil pastels and even added in our own shadows and horizon line.  After this lesson we used model magic to create a variety of food and looked at artist Claus Oldenburg’s enlarged food sculptures for some fun inspiration.  

Student Examples

Animal Effigy Pinch Pots

Our second grade artists learned how an effigy pot is a type of jar, bottle, or bowl typically made in the shape of a human head, animal, or mythological creature.  We discussed how these sculptures were usually found underground, since they were used for burial/ceremonial purposes.  Students got to see effigy pots from places around the world like Costa Rica and areas in the United states, such as Mississippi and Missouri.  We noticed how all of the pots had a hole in the center and we guessed what that could have been used for.  We came to the conclusion that these sculptures were made to serve a function, unlike pottery that is simply decorative. 

The first step of starting our own pots was to make a pinch pots.  Next, students added on different animal parts by scoring and slipping their clay.  Finally, we got to paint our animals and put them in the kiln to dry!

Examples of Traditional Effigy Pots

Carved Wooden Bowl Shaped Like a Beaver,  Pre 1797

Deer Vessel, 300BC-350 AD, Costa Rica

Student Examples

Louise Nevelson Assemblages

For this unit we examined the work from Russian born sculptor Louise Nevelson. We learned how Nevelson grew up in Maine playing with the scraps on her father's lumber yard.  These early experiences helped form the new style of art she became renowned for creating, called ASSEMBLAGE (assembling found objects to create new forms)  that were wooden wall like reliefs. 

Students quickly noticed that each sculpture Nevelson made was always painted in ONE COLOR.  It was revealed that Nevelson wanted to transform the collected and assembled found objects into one unifying new form. 

Our kindergartners started this project  by emptying out their junk draws from home and bringing

in everything from Legos, key chains, door hinges, combs and many more!  Each student got their own unique cigar box where they were able to arrange and glue their found objects to.  Just like Louise Nevelson,   the last step was to UNIFY  their sculpture by covering every inch with one color.  

Louise Nevelson

                                              

 Louise Nevelson,  Royal Tide IV, 1966 painted wood construction.

                                                                 

                                                            

Student Assemblages

                                               

   

Entire Class Assemblage