Fancy Sun Art

This one I found on Crystal Production's website......did you know they have free "Downloadable Lesson Plans" ?-- right here on their home page. I just love this lesson; it's one of those that doesn't take much skill, but turns out wonderful. We had to finish ours in one sitting, so I modified the lesson a bit, but you can use these steps if you have more time.

We used black or blue construction paper.

Step 1: Using a White Oil Pastel, make 4 large & simple lines that do not touch.

Step 2: Using same white pastel connect the 4 lines to each other, and connect them to sides of the page---this creates large shapes.

Step 3: Make each white line on the paper 1 inch wide with the white pastel.

Step 4: Use soft pastels or chalk to color interior border lines inside each shape.

Step 5: One a separate piece of paper, same color as your background (blue or black) draw and color a sun with soft pastel or chalk.

Step 6: Cut and attach sun to background with thick double-sided tape, this makes it pop off the page - which makes the kids smile. (If the tape doesn't stick to the chalk, put dots of glue on the back of the tape too.)
Thanks Paige!!

Thanks Hobie!!

Thanks Molly!!

Thanks Michelle!!

Thanks Johnathon!!

Thanks Isaac!!

Thanks Hannah!!

4th of July Printmaking

Everybody now! "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandeeeee, a Yaaaaankee Dooodle Do or Die. A real live nephew of my Unnncle Sam, born on the 4th of July...."
Here's a fun printmaking craft for the holiday.
Thanks bunches to Teach Kids Art for sharing this idea for monoprints!
Thanks bunches to my real live neighbor, really named "Sam" who created this awesome "Flag" monoprint below:) Tempera paint on foil. The paint doesn' t have to be too thick.

Draw "backwards" flag with a Q-tip.

After drawing is complete, cover gently with paper. (We used cardstock)

Roll a brayer lightly over the paper, careful not to move the paper around.

Lift paper carefully from both sides at a time.

And KABOOM! Light the fireworks and celebrate 'cause this is one awesome flag!!!

Summer Lovin'

Summer art classes have begun.........Thanks to all fellow bloggers who've shared their art lesson ideas!! I'll be linking back to you soon with my own added musings regarding these lessons. Meanwhile - here are just pics:)

Biggest Thanks to my Art with Mrs. Smith summer students - I enjoy your art, your stories, your jokes, and your smiles soooooooo much:)

Cowboy Stamps Winner!

Image via Wikipedia

My first blog giveaway, very exciting for me.....I just put all the names in a bowl and let my son draw the winner:) The winner is: Fairyluver!!! - Jennifer, email me your address and I'll send you your new stamps right away.
Meanwhile, I thoroughly enjoyed learning so much about fellow art education bloggers. I especially loved reading about our various memories about art education when we were children.
Thanks for playing along!

LoVe HeR bLoG ToO!

Image via Wikipedia

I was going to leave my "First Giveaway" post up for a whole week, but I can't resist sharing some wonderful news......Mini Matisse (Mrs. Hahn/Elementary Art Teacher) was named TEACHER OF THE YEAR in her school district!!!!! How awesome is this?!
CONGRATULATIONS MRS. HAHN!
And if you haven't seen her blog, you're going to hit yourself in the forehead when you do. That's what I did; huh, I've been missing out on all these great lessons and tips all year - Dang!
(Now, please scroll down and leave a comment on my post from yesterday....I'd love to learn more about you and the arts education standing in your area.)

"First Giveaway"!!

Image by Nationaal Archief via Flickr

Part 1:
I've been wondering lately how many of you are elementary art teachers with a classroom of Your Very Own, or like me, a.k.a. a bag lady bouncing around from classroom to classroom/ school to school, teaching art lessons? Or are you a homeschool parent, where the whole world is your classroom? Or are you D) None of the above...and you look at my blog because???

Part 2:
I'm also curious about YOUR elementary art education? (I went to a public elementary school in Northern Calif. in the '60's and we didn't have an art teacher, or an artist-in-residence like myself. All our art lessons, which were rare, were taught by the regular classroom teacher.)


Part 3:
Why am I asking these things? I'm just curious. I've been blogging for almost a year now and would love to know a little more about who my audience is.....

So, if you're game......In a comment, let me know what your current situation, teaching or non-teaching, is (public, private, home, etc.??), what art education you grew up with, and what area you live in. And don't forget to leave your email contact if you want to win the giveaway.

AND to make it fun, on Thursday, June 17th, I will put all the names of people who commented in a basket and draw a winner. The winner will receive 8 of these super cool ".44 cent U.S. Postage Stamps". They're from the series "Cowboys of the Silver Screen" and I bought them a few weeks ago at the post office. I think they're super fun.

Magazine Cats

Here are some more magazine animals. We started with pattern of cat parts, then glued magazine pages to the parts. Then cut them out and glued onto background paper, and lastly outlined with marker. For more info. on this type of lesson, see Magazine Elephants here.

Love this little scrappy cat (above), I really don't think he could have more personality!!!

Big Thanks to Winefred Pifer Elementary 5th graders!!!