6th grade Metal Masks
6th graders started their semester with an ambitious project. We looked at masks from different cultures across the globe from thousands of years ago to modern times. Students created their own radially symmetrical mask designs on paper to start. Once they had their drawing complete, they transferred the mask design to a piece of heavy aluminum. Next, they worked into the design more deeply using different patterns in each section of the mask with metal tools to emboss the design. Once the metal work is completed, they will cut the mask out and add color with sharpies.
Atmospheric City Scene
Students created a city scene at night. First, students painted cool colors together to make their night sky. They splattered stars, painted a moon, and then added a little chalk for the moon's glow to complete the sky. Then students cut four papers to make their city buildings. Students mixing black and white in varying amounts to make different values, or a range of light to dark, of colors. Once dry, the students glued their city scene together making sure to put the lightest value towards the back. When looking at a landscape, or this case, a cityscape, objects farther back in the distance with appear to lose color. This is caused by the atmosphere in the air and is called atmospheric perspective. Students added some windows to their buildings using crayon to finish the picture.
More Pictures to come once we get finished!
Outer space Pastels
Students learned the messy fun of working with pastels to create their outer space pictures. We discussed how to create space and distance using cropping, scale and overlap. They worked on different techniques to created blended colors and textured details. My hands were too messy for live action shots!
Clay Bowls
6th grade created one of two types of clay bowls this year in art. Several of the classes tried their hand at mixing clay colors to create an interesting design in the bowls surface. Another class created their bowl form using coils of clay. All the classes learned how science and art collide- clay is a great example of physical vs. chemical change. Sorry! No pictures during class...my hands were covered in clay!
Symmetry in Art
For the last day of art, some of the older students were given the opportunity to make a symmetrical design using, of all things, a napkin. Students created their own designs onto the front of the napkin. Then they flipped it to check that it came through to the back. Once the design was complete, they would open it once to do any touching up in the middle. After the center was finished, they opened the napkin entirely to reveal the finished design.