PreK Pop Art Leaf Prints

Andy Warhol Flowers, 1964

Pre- K classes engaged in a  tactile art project centered around printmaking. They printed, stamped and rolled brayers to create multiple prints. They built up motor skills by rolling the paint onto the rubber leaf, and pressing down on the paper to reveal a leaf print! They used bright colored paper and printed the same image multiple times to evoke the same feeling of Andy Warhol's pop-art prints. They then experimented with different modes of paint application to create stamps. They used, brayers, blocks, board game pieces, and cups to develop a finished stamped background.  This project engaged all students and created room for the them to practice basic printmaking techniques in the classroom.

                                                 

Student Artwork

First Grade Symmetrical Insects

Students started this project by looking at images that all displayed symmetry.  We discussed how symmetry in art helps create BALANCE and is when the same shapes and colors are on both sides.  Students used their skill of mixing the primary colors to create secondary colors on one side of their paper and rubbed and opened up their paper to reveal the same shape on the other side.  The next class we took our monoprints and turned them in different directions until we saw an insect.  Then we looked at images at our table of insects and used paper to glue different symmetrical shapes on top.  We examined artist Christopher Marley who used insects in his art to give us ideas on how to create their beautiful patterns.

Fourth Grade Illuminates!

We learned how artists can communicate a message through letters which we call typography.  Students went back in time to study the history of illuminated manuscripts dating back to ancient Egypt.  We discussed the three people that went into illuminating manuscripts such as the Scribe, Parchmenter and Illuminati.  We played the part of the Illuminati and thought about how we could FILL WITH LIGHT our first or last initial by designing it to represent something about us.  After we came up with the design, we carved them into tooling foil in the style of ancient repousse artists, which we learned meant pushed up in french.  The last step was adding color.  Other artists we discussed were Robert Indiana and his use of letters in the iconic LOVE prints and sculpture as well as Barcelona graphic designer Alex Trochut.

Student Artwork