Change

Day and Night- Light and Dark
Kindergarten

In what ways do we experience change?  Do we see change? Can we feel change?    How can an artist show change? These questions were considered for this art experience.  By comparing artwork of day scenes and night scenes, we understand how the element of color comes into play.

My Movie 4 from Gabriela Elizalde on Vimeo.

Process

My Movie 1 from Gabriela Elizalde on Vimeo.

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Kindergarten  looked at paintings by Kandinsky as a starting point for this experience. Kandinsky loved music and it is thought his artwork was greatly influenced by that love.
Questions to consider:
Can a painting look or feel like music? What parts seem louder or stronger?  What colors stand out most?   What would this area sound like if we could hear it?  How did he make the picture look like it's moving?  Do some parts seem to be moving slower, faster?

It's interesting, most kids used the fibers as a thought, movement or sound rather than organizing them into a representational image. They were not told they couldn't do either or,  they were simply prompted to explore the materials.  On another note,  the kids amazed me with the titles they gave their work...so thoughtful.

I'm Going Home by Julisa

Having A Birthday Radio, by Aditya

Untitled,  by Hadi

I Wish I Could Be A Puppy, by Xareenah

Untitled, Mason 

Even Dogs Can Dream, by Abduhl

detail of Going Home

My Falcon, by Christopher

Gesso was poured onto a rectangular sheet of styrofoam. A wooden dowel was used to spread it around (exploring textures) and all of the extra fibers left over from weaving were used to create the design and movement.   Watercolor paint was added the following week along with the option of cutting out an image from a  magazine and gluing to a larger paper.

Mixing

Kindergarten experimented with the primary colors last week along with reviewing the parts of a brush, cleaning the brush and controlling the brush.  Towards the end of class I suggested they write down what colors were mixed to create the new color.  I think that exercise took it to another level for them.  If they doubled up on a particular color they wrote that letter twice (R+R+Y)...awesome!  Of course not everyone was there yet but were they all successful, YES! ...  each one creating their composition intuitively.

Weaving

Brilliant- both pieces are incredibly thoughtful.  I love the way the one on the left forces me to look at the overall shape in its entirety, it almost looks like it's flying or floating.  The one on the right helps me appreciate the dedication and patience the artist has.  Both students were completely happy with their pieces... and I love that.  

My Movie from Gabriela Elizalde on Vimeo.

Abstract Ideas

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(First Grade Experience)

The 3 pieces of artwork above were used to discuss how an artist can represent an abstract idea through the use of the art elements (the words on the artwork were covered up during the discussion).

Questions:

Which artwork could be about Starting-over?  Which artwork could be about Freedom?  Which artwork could be about Sharing?  

Responses:

 - The one with the feet could be about sharing because it looks like they’re outside enjoying the beautiful day together

- the one with the sun, it looks like a family, one is big, one is medium and one is small, like a baby

-the yellow one is like praying because it looks like they are together praying looking up at the sky

- the one in the middle could be about starting-over because it doesn't have to be an egg, it could be a chicken and when it grows up it’s going to have an egg and it will start all over again, like a cycle

- the blue one is about sharing because she has too many blueberries for her to eat so it looks like she is sharing, it reminds me of Blueberries For Sal

- the one with the egg in the nest could be about starting over because it's new

Prompt- Use the art elements of line, color and shape to create an artwork about Freedom, Starting-Over or Sharing

1st Grade Artwork