Advice from 6th Grade Artists

In 6th grade art, we are working on our "Where the Wild Things Are"-inspired textural monsters.  We just began working with pen and ink on our final pencil sketches Wednesday.  I asked 6th grade art students to make a list of tips for creating a good drawing.  Here's what we came up with:

• Show textures and patterns.  In this project, we're specifically studying the use of cross-hatching and stippling to show value and 3-dimensional forms.
• Weird is good.  It's important to be creative and to try to come up with ideas unlike other classmates.
• The monster is the main thing.  So it should be large, filling up the space.  This applies to any "main thing" in your artwork.
• Include lots of background stuff, like the climate or habitat.  Drawings are always better when you include an interesting background.
• Draw neatly.  Use your best effort when you draw.
• Be patient.  This is kind of like "draw neatly," because rushing your work will usually cause it to be sloppy.  Good artwork often takes time!

Hope you enjoy our works-in-progress!  Keep in mind our helpful tips when you're making your own art!

Google Art Project

For many "art" people, this is already old news, but for Sandburg Art students, this is a truly awesome new art website to check out!

Have you checked out the Google Art Project yet?  You can tour art galleries at museums around the globe using Google's street-view technology to virtually walk around the room.  You can also choose specific artworks (such as Van Gogh's Starry Night) to zoom in and out of, catching every little detail!  I was shocked at how much you can actually see - right down to the cracks in the paint!

I've also started a "collection" in Google Art Project.  You can visit my collection, simply entitled "Stuff I Like."  As I grow more comfortable with the site, I can begin to build collections tied to projects we complete in class, but for now, it's fun to save things that look interesting to come back and look at later.

For more info on Google Art Project, check out the visitor's guide, with a neat behind-the-scenes video!

Pottery Class!

Elmhurst, IL is a pretty cool town because they support the arts, and offer a lot of art classes that you can take outside of school.  I have a list of lots of different places that you can go to take classes or buy art supplies on my LINKS page here.

One set of classes that's pretty awesome is Teri Litavsky's pottery classes.  They're at 101 N. Addison on the second floor (Suite 205) in Elmhurst.  She's getting geared up for Spring classes right now, actually.  In this class, you will learn hand-building techniques to make some unique pieces that will be glazed after firing.  They're on Friday evenings from 4:00 to 5:30.  The cost is $90 for the class, but includes all tools, clay, glaze, and firings.  You can even sign up for private group lessons if you have a group of 3 or more!

If you're interested, I have some sign up forms here at school.  Otherwise, you can download and print out your own form here.  Alternatively, you can email Teri Litavsky herself for more info.

We love to read!

8th Grade students recently completed a sketchbook assignment where they had to draw a scene from a favorite book.  This, of course, assumes that you love to read - and we do!

I wanted to share with you some (but just some) of my favorite drawings:

This drawing is by Rey.  It's a drawing entitled "Wang Lung's farm" from a book called "Good Earth."

 

This drawing is by  Lauren.  I believe it's a character from "The Clique" book series.

This drawing is by Jisha. Unfortunately, she didn't write the book title.  It makes me want to read whatever book it is, though!

The above drawing is by Kierstin.  She said this is a scene form the book, "I am Number Four" by Pitticus Lore.

This drawing is by Abbey.  Again, she didn't write down what the book was, but it looks cool - like a "Lord of the Rings" type of tale?

Scene from "The Hunger Games" drawn by Annie.

My drawing (not pictured) was of "The Hobbit."  What's your favorite book?

Doodle 4 Google Contest!

Sandburg Middle School is registered to participate in this year's "Doodle 4 Google" contest!  Students in art classes will be asked to re-design the Google logo according to this year's theme, "What I'd like to do someday..."

In order to have entries submitted, students must have a parent fill out the entry/permission form that accompanies the entry.  You can obtain one of these forms from Mrs. Leban in class, and return it to me here at school.  I will submit all eligible entries via mail at one time.

The National Winner will be awarded a $15,000 college scholarship to be used at the school of his or her choice, a trip to the Google New York office for an event on May 19, 2011, a laptop computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, and a t-shirt printed with his or her doodle on it.  The winner's school or will also receive a $25,000 technology grant towards the establishment or improvement of a computer lab or technology programming. The National Winner will also have his or her doodle featured on the U.S. Google.com homepage!

But that's not all!  There will also be three national finalists,  forty regional finalists, and four hundred state finalists!

Not in art class right now?  Absent the day we complete this activity?  Want to participate anyway?  Here's a link to the entry form and permission slip (sorry, this form is specific to Sandburg Middle School only) - I've already filled out as much as I can, so return all pages to me when you're finished and I'll include your entry with the rest!

For complete details and rules of the contest, visit the Doodle 4 Google website here.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!