Clay Explore Time

Clay explore time is an important part of art class for all of the elementary grades.
Every year each grade level learns a new skill in constructing and creating clay art.  Clay can be tricky. If the artist doesn't understand or have enough experience with how clay works, the art work might not survive the drying and firing process.

So in addition to making projects where they learn new clay skills, they also get time to just explore and make whatever they want.  But the drawback is that they don't get to keep their art work.  I explain that this is a time to just practice and not worry about rules or having to get it right.  Artists need time to play and learn new things without worrying about the final product.  

During clay explore time many of the students work collaboratively with their classmates. It becomes a fun time with their friends while they are learning in art class.  Often they create scenes with interesting stories and characters.  

The students aren't just working on fine motor skills, they are also learning to work as a community sharing the space, the materials, and creating together.  

4th Graders donate their artwork to the GEMS senior luncheon.

The Georgia 4th graders made ornaments to donate as presents to the seniors at the GEMS Holiday Senior luncheon last December.

 


The students learned about radial design and looked at Wilson Bentley's photographs of snowflakes to inspire their ornaments.  They had fun using metallic and glitter paints to finish them.

Kindergarten Made Paper Pulp Bowls
The kindergarten used only shredded office paper to make their own bowls.

First, they blended the shredded paper.

Second, they pressed the water out of the pulp using a screen and a large bin.

Third, they pressed the pulp into plastic bowls.

After the bowls dried, we painted white school glue onto the bowls to seal them and make them stronger.

Finally, the kindergartners painted their bowls bright colors and beautiful patterns!

                                 

                                 

                                 

GEMS Art Night 2015!

On April 11th, the Georgia Elementary and Middle school celebrated the accomplishments our students have made in art class this year.  The school wide art show featured art work from all students in kindergarten through 6th grade and students from the 7th and 8th grade choice art classes.  The entire middle school gym was filled with inspiring and creative work. 

The art show ended with a community art night where students and community members shared and created art together.  We are very fortunate to have such talented artists and craftspeople in our local community!

Wood Working

Watercolor Painting

IPad Art

Screen Printing

Marbling

Bubble Art

Rangoli Designs

Book Making

Beading

Needle Felting

Clay Play

Tissue Paper Flowers

Origami, Digital Art, Drawing, and Phantom of the Opera!

We give a big thanks to all our parent volunteers!  We could not have such a vibrant arts community without our volunteers!

Learning About Camouflage and the Art of Liu Bolin

The first grade classes studied animals in winter in their classrooms. They learned that animals can survive in the wild by camouflaging with their environments
We looked at artwork by Chinese artist Liu Bolin where he blends in with his surroundings.
We talked about how color, pattern, and texture all work together to help animals, or artists, blend in.

Can you find Liu Bolin in these photographs?

Beijing Magazine Rack  Liu Bolin 

Hiding in the City- Sunflower Liu Bolin

Fork Lifts  Liu Bolin 

The First graders camouflaged themselves into their own paintings.

1 Matas

1 Nye

1 MacKenzie

1 Dattilio