The following are examples of my lessons and students’ art from Summer Arts and year-round programming from 2022 to current day, at the Danforth Art School. To read my mission statement as an art educator click here. Fashion class photos are towards the bottom of the page.
Grades 2-3, Theme: Loud and Quiet
It was fun to introduce students to Chicago artist Nick Cave, and his incredible “Soundsuits”. Students learned a bit of the story of how they came to be and what they symbolize for the artist: protection from negativity, and joyful empowerment. Students were invited to imagine their own soundsuit: what would you like to project to the world? They designed their own, and then created figure armatures out of tin foil and fabric dipped in glue. Then they had fun embellishing their own imagined soundsuits. Following that are collages inspired by artist Romare Bearden, who often referred to jazz in his work. Then, students looked at the artwork “Broadway Boogie Woogie” by Piet Mondrian, and we talked about rythm in art, and how it is not unlike music. Students then created artworks using tape resist and acrylic, primary colors, and learned about horizontal and perpendicular lines, and how they can make a grid, just like a map of New York City.
Grades 2-3, Theme: “Night and Day”
In this full day class, students enjoyed creating scenes from night and day, and everything in between! They used such a wide range of materials and mediums.
Following are: watercolor techniques and torn paper seascapes, sleeping self-portrait relief sculptures, night sky reflection landscapes, mixed media collages based on the book “The Cat at Night” by Dahlov Ipcar, twilight forests with cast shadows and lightning bugs, Faith Ringgold’s “Tar Beach” inspired dreamscapes, sleeping pet clay sculptures, and Day vs Night monoprints.
Grades 2-3, Theme: “Natural vs Manmade
Students were invited to explore this theme by using using organic and manmade materials in interesting ways. Symmetrical, balanced pressed flower “insects”, organic “nature” lamp sculptures, patterns and textures inspired by magnified cellular structures, and weaving using recycled materials based on Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui. In relation, students also looked at artists inspired by the beauty of magnified biological matter, and biophilic design in architecture.
Grades K-1, Theme: “Natural vs Manmade”. Drawing from observation, organic abstract paintings, potato prints and sculptures inspired by Ruth Asawa.
This week’s theme was “The Tropics” for these students grades 4-5. Students learned about and sculpted lizards, collaged tropical birds, learned about the artist Georgia O’Keefe’s flower paintings, and the art of Hawaiian quilts.
High School- Fashion Illustration
February Vacation Week- Grades 2-3
The following projects were related to artworks on display at the Danforth Museum. The students particularly loved playing with the sculptural possibilities of textiles, as you will see by the whimsical fabric hats they each made for themselves and wore around the classroom. These were made with glue/water, silk fabrics and various trimmings.
Painting Experiments: K-4
In this fun afterschool workshop, students learned the fundamentals and techniques of watercolor and acrylic painting. They tried all kinds of experiments, fusing other various materials (tape resist, crayon resist etc) and made some beautiful abstract and realistic artworks.
