Nature Windows with Pre-K

The first unit we started in Pre-K  is inspired by nature and after doing some rubbings of patterns and natural objects we did a nature walk.  Each student were provided with some contact paper  and searched the playground for different natural objects such as leaves, grass, and flowers to attach to create their nature windows.  The students and teachers enjoyed being outside and the results were beautiful.  I came across this idea from Collage Workshop: Rip, Cut, and Create with Inspiration from the Eric Carle Museum.

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

Pre-K Loves Donuts!

Joel Penkman

Our student teacher lead my pre-k artists in an Joel Penkman inspired printing project.  Students used a brayer to roll paint on a donut shapes sponge, which they picked up the sponge and pressed it onto the page. This created the base of the doughnut. Next class, students used pink, white and brown paint to put icing onto the doughnuts using the same technique of rolling a brayer in paint and rolling the paint onto the sponge. Lastly, we added sprinkles and other toppings by using Q- Tips and a fork. They dipped their object in the paint and dotted it onto the doughnut in different colors to resemble Joel Penkman doughnut box paintings.  We ended the class having fun reading the book Please Mr. Panda.  

Student Artwork

Falling Into Art

Pre-K has been busy rubbing and rubbing and RUBBING in the art studio! The first day each artist was given a blue textured plate, which they quickly learned was very different from the type they eat off of or see at the dinner table.  Each plate had a different texture/pattern.   Some of the designs reminded students of spider webs,  blocks, and raindrops.

We learned that in order to make a print we needed to pinch our crayons and lay them down as if they were going to sleep.  Then we use our muscles to RUB RUB and RUB.  After we had some practice with this,  for the second day students were able to use real leaves to make their prints.

Student Artwork

Watercolor Collagraphs

Pre school began their collagraphs by arranging and gluing different textured paper to their cardboard printing plate.  We first printed with bright neon tempera and then used black acrylic for our second prints.  The next class we added watercolor to all of our white spots to create these mixed media masterpieces.  

Student Artwork

Congratulations Anthony for winning Artsonia Artist of the Week!

Anthony is a pre school student who created a collagraph print that was selected as a finalist on Artsonia and then won Artist of the Week for the entire Pre-K through Third Grade age group, with over 5K votes. 

Click Here for Artsonia Artist of The Week Competition

Carnival of Venice Texture Masks

For the past four cycles, Pre-k has been exploring the art of collage and how artists can arrange and glue shapes of different colors, patterns, and textures to make a picture or design.   First, we examined traditional masks made and worn during the Carnival of  Venice, as well as a different approach by artist  Spanish artist Neusa Lopez.  We asked ourselves why artists would want to make and wear masks, and decided to possibly transform into someone else or disguise themselves. 

Spanish Artist Nuesa Lopez and her Carnivale Masks

Traditional Carnival of Venice Mask

 

We started our mask making by  gluing different types of textured and patterned paper to our paper plate.  We revived how TEXTURE IS HOW SOMETHING FEELS and practiced describing the different types of textures we were choosing such as bumpy, fluffy, smooth, rough, crinkly, etc.  Next, we explored using oil pastels by coloring and blending on our cardboard shapes.  We finished our masks off with some googley eyes and feathers.   Just as soon as the last bit of glued was applied, our young artists grabbed their masks and could fit right in with the Venetians  at the Piazza San Marco in Venice Italy!

Student Artwork