Edible Art

Thanks to my friend, 1st grade teacher extraordinaire, Ms. Gang, I'm sharing some art just for fun today. Sorry, no step by step instructions for these.....my pumpkins always have triangle eyes, triangle nose, and a choppy toothed mouth. So, you can imagine what I'd do with a watermelon.

I think Van Gogh would be pleased, no?

Artist Quote, Edward Hopper

Image via Wikipedia

"If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint."
Edward Hopper, American, 1882 – 1967

The Great Wave

Image via Wikipedia

This was one of those lessons that turned out better than I could have imagined. The kids were so excited about the subject matter. The giant wave, with the clawlike hands reaching toward the brave fishermen. Mt. Fuji in the background, with the Mt. Fuji wavelet mimicking Japan's most revered mountain. And of course the Yin/Yang symbolism and shape of the wave and the sky. (The 4th grade students doing this lesson knew all about Yin/Yang and were enthused to share with me their knowledge. Needless to say, the skateboard and surfing culture has given kids insight that I wouldn't have expected.)

Since this lesson was so well received, I decided to add it to my collection of PDF lessons available here. The lesson also includes a wonderful story about a time that Hokusai enlisted the help of "chickens" to create some art that earned him an honor among the Shogun military regime in Japan. Big thanks to San Gabriel 4th graders for their art enthusiasm!

Artist Quote

Image by wallyg via Flickr

"I tell you, the more I think, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people. "
Vincent Van Gogh, Netherlands 1853-1890

Warm and Cool Flowers

Image by Martin_Heigan via Flickr

For this lesson, we first talk about "warm" and "cool" colors and how they can change the mood of a painting. We also talk about Georgia O'Keeffe and the way she painted flowers. Then students are given the opportunity to paint their own warm, or cool flowers.

Thanks Kermit King Elementary students.

Enchanted Castles!

Image by Akbar Simonse via Flickr

Bright, springtime, castles............ Draw.
Paint.


Sponge paint the sky.Embellish with colored glue.

More colored glue.

And....yet, more colored glue.

Ta-Dah!

Monkey Fun

Image by ibison4 via Flickr

I don't think these monkeys even need a barrel to have a "barrel of fun"!
Thanks to summer artists: Vincent, Clio, Riley, Michelle, Paige, and Livia

Friends for the SeaHorses

Image via Wikipedia

Some Fishy's to go with your SeaHorses!