Chuck Close Self-Portraits

Recently, my 4th grade students finished their self-portraits inspired by Chuck Close.  They began the project by drawing their portrait free hand.  After they were pleased with the basic outline of their self-portrait, students saw a brief
demonstration on how to create appealing, small spaces that exhibit settle differences in design.  When the demonstration was finished, they began applying marker to their face and neck using Crayola's Multicultural Markers.  When students completed their skin, they added color to their hair.  They had the choice of adding any color scheme to their background and shoulders, and finished their project by using Crayola Thin Tip Markers for their facial features.  They turned out amazing!




-GRich

Ceramic Pendants

Kindergarten students just finished their own ceramic pendants necklaces. 

Each student created a spiral pendant with clay. 

After their pendants were fired in the kiln, students used turquoise, light green, and brown glaze to paint their pendants. 

When the glaze fire was finished, students added yarn and beads to finish their necklaces. 

BEAUTIFUL!

-GRich

Burrrr... Ice Castles

Burr......




Its so cold.....



When will this snow stop?


2nd grade students created Ice Castles to accompany the extra snow West Michigan saw this season.  Students drew the castles free hand and once they were pleased with their outline they traced their drawing with a black thin tip marker.

To make sure viewers knew their castles were made of ice, students thought to place snowflakes at the tops of their towers instead of the traditional flags; additionally, students created unique snowflakes falling from the sky for extra details.

With Crayola Colored Pencils, students used the cool colors to apply color and to give their castles more dimension students focused on adding shadows to the sides and bricks of their tower walls.  These castles are as cool as ice!!

-GRich

Colorful Masks

 

Young 5 students just finished their colorful masks featuring yarn for hair.  To begin this project, students drew their own mask, outlined their pencil with a black thin tip marker, added color with crayons, and then used scissors to cut the edge of their mask.  After cutting their mask out, students were instructed to glue their mask to the center of a large piece of colored construction paper.  When the glue was dry, students cut out their mask a second time.  With the construction paper around the edge of their mask, and the help of a hole puncher, students finished their mask by adding yarn.  Students struggled with the fringe technique at first, but once they mastered the skill they were unstoppable.

-GRich

Kindergarten Self-Portraits

Kindergarten students love creating their self-portrait paintings with snowflakes in the background!

Students drew their self-portraits free hand and then added color with crayons.  After finishing with crayons students loved seeing their snowflakes brightly appear even after they washed black watercolor paint ontop of their background.



-GRich

 

Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant

 5th grade students entered artwork into a contest for the Grand Rapids Symphony in January.  The artwork they created was inspired by the poetry book Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant written by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Carin Berger.  Students drew their artwork free hand and finished them with Crayola Markers.  Selected pieces of art were displayed on a large screen during a performance by the Grand Rapids Symphony for West Michigan's youth. 

The musical performance and projection of student artwork was an experience to be remembered. 

Congratulation to those students selected!


-GRich

Eagle in a Birch Tree

1st grade students created beautiful eagles within the last month.  They drew the head and neck of their eagles free hand.  After they had the outline of their eagles finished they traced their projects with a black thin felt tip marker.  Using the Crayola Color Sticks students added color with gradation to show the appearance of shadows; they were especially careful in handling the color of the eagle's white feathers and the birch tree's trunk and branches.  They did an incredible job!

-GRich