Second and Third Graders Love to Paint!

The New Year brought new paint boxes full of colors for second and third graders to “play” with. They listed all of the things we would need in order to paint and found that there were at least six items that needed to be passed out and collected. Then they understood why some teachers thought that painting should be called pain-ting.

The Discovery second and third graders listened and watched as techniques for using the water colors were demonstrated and discussed. They learned about how to use and care for brushes, how to “load” the brush with color, how to keep colors from mixing and getting “dirty”. They learned to use blotting paper and practice paper to “test” their colors. After all that listening and watching they were ready to start their first painting experiment.

The goal was to practice making brush strokes and to experiment with colors. They made nice wide brush strokes across their paper. They made wavy brushstrokes, thick and thin brush strokes and overlapping brushstrokes. They used all fourteen colors in their paint boxes.

The room was quiet while they concentrated and then there were exciting sounds of discovery and sharing. They learned a lot. They made some very nice stripe paintings and because they listened and followed all the directions they set up and cleaned up painlessly!

There was no PAIN in our painting! I think we will do it again.

For Parents Only - An Invitation to the Art Room

My joy in teaching art comes from the look on a young persons face when they have been successful and are full of pride, when they try something and it works. I am privileged to see this everyday.

When a class is going really well I wish there was another adult to share the moment. If a class is not going as well as I hoped I wish there was another adult there to share the moment.

Parents see the finished work of art and they don’t get to share the process…the joy of the making of the art. So, I am inviting you to join us in the art room. This is an open invitation to stop by at anytime and observe our artists at work. You may stay as long as you like, just take a peek or enjoy the whole class period.

Come by anytime. If you want to see your students at work check the schedule below. Watch this space –For Parents Only – and I will try to let you know when we will be doing something special you won’t want to miss. But I think everyday is a special day when you get to go to ART!

Grade 2
Tuesday, Thursday 10:10-10:51

Grade 3
Tuesday, Thursday 1:17-2:07

Grade 4

Monday, Friday 8:53-9:43

Grade 5

Wednesday 8:53- 9:43

Friday 2:10-3:00

Grade 6A

Tuesday, Wednesday 8:53-9:43

Grade 8A

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:01-10:50

Grade 9

Monday through Friday 12:30-1:14

Grade 11

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:55-11:44

Grade Nine Sketchbook Arrive

Grade nine students have completed their introductory Visual Arts exercises and have been working on a tonal rendering of a still life made of pasta shapes. Their challenge is to enlarge the shapes and make them look three dimensional. This involves careful observations and good control of the pencil to layer graphite onto the paper and create the many “values” needed. They lifted out highlights and added accent lines to complete their compositions.

On Friday they had their first Sketchbook Day. Their hardbound artist’s books had arrived and they spent the period moving information and sketches from their temporary books to their hardbound book. They will use these books in both ninth and tenth grade art.

The purpose of the research workbook or sketchbook is to encourage your student’s personal research and discovery, which functions interactively with our work in the studio. The sketchbooks will include: analytical research, discovery, interpretation, media experiments.

The sketchbooks will contain visual and written information, including your student’s own original works such as sketches and diagrams, and should function as a working journal. The sketchbook reflects your student’s personal interests and may show a wide-range of personal investigation into many fields. There should be a balance between analytical research and open-ended inquiry, illustrating your student’s creative processes.

A sketchbook or workbook of this kind is a requirement for the Advanced Placement (AP) portfolio. Even if your student is not planning to submit an AP portfolio the sketchbook process is an important part of the Visual Arts program.

Thanks to parents for providing this quality tool for your student to use.

Discovery Project Runway 101

After School Class for Students Grades 7-12

Students in grades 7 – 12 who are interested in developing their foundation skills in clothing construction and design will have the opportunity to sign up for an after school class on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:00 – 4:00.

This class is part of the after school activities program and will be held in the Visual Arts room. Students will learn a variety of clothing construction skills by making clothing they can wear. Some of the skills they will learn are:
§ How to select and use a pattern.
§ Understanding textiles – what fabrics to use for what designs.
§ Clothing construction – seams, darts, pleats, gathers, facings, set-in sleeves.
§ Closures and fasteners – buttons, zippers and more.
§ Handwork – details that make a difference.

Students will provide their own supplies and equipment. A list of sewing kit supplies will be provided. It will be helpful but not required to have a sewing machine available at home. Class size is limited to ten students.

You can help!
Do you have a portable sewing machine gathering dust in the back of a closet? If you do and you can spare it for a few weeks please consider loaning it to the Project Runway 101 after school clothing class. We will take good care of it, especially if you can send along the instruction booklet and any attachments. We are hoping to find five machines that our students can share. We will also need an ironing board and a steam iron. If you have a machine to share or you have questions, please contact Mrs. Campbell in the art room.

For Project Runway Class Participants

If you have enrolled in the after school activity, Discovery Project Runway 101, I will see you Monday January 25. Here is a list of items you will want to have for your sewing kit. Recycle and reuse - Look around the house and ask your mom before you buy new things you may already have at home.

Multi-purpose scissors – Price Club has a good set of scissors that include two shears, one embroidery scissor, one sharpener and cutting tool. A good investment if you are sure you want to do a lot of sewing. If you are not sure, you can use one of my shears or bring one from home.

White and black multi-purpose thread – you will pick out thread to match your fabrics later.

Assorted needles for hand sewing.

Ball headed pins or straight pins.

Small pin cushion.

Thimble that fits the middle finger of the hand you hold a needle with.

Ripping tool, just in case.

Six inch ruler or a “sewing and knitting gauge”.

Tape measure.

White dress makers pencil – water soluble

Box or bag to keep everything in.

This will get us started. Our first project will be a tote bag to carry our projects back and forth to school in.

I am looking forward to working with you.

Elizabeth Campbell

Grade Four - Parrots In Progress

Fourth Grade students looked at a Power Point presentation of Birds of the Amazon Rainforest. They studied their shapes and colors and made drawings in their sketchbooks. They used permanent marker to draw the outlines of their birds. Next they used the oil pastels to outline the shapes with colors.

Then it was time to learn about how to set up their “painting studios”.
All of the procedures we use to set up the paint station, how to
care for and use the brush, blotting paper and test papers.

Finally, they used our new water color boxes – 16 colors – to fill the spaces with bright colors. The oil pastel outlines helped keep the water colors where they wanted them. The students gave their full attention to their work. Here are some pictures of their works in progress.

Grade Five - "Swimming" with Turtles

Discovery fifth grade students studied and sketched our resident turtles. They used their imaginations and drew the turtles in an open composition. Then they experimented with our new oil pastels and our new watercolors. By adding drops of rubbing alcohol and sprinkling table salt on the wet paint they achieved the textures in these underwater scenes.

Grade 8-9 Students Start Project by Taking Measure

Eighth Grade Art Students take the first step in drawing their ideas for using the storage containers to represent traditional Honduran huts.

They used their art class period Friday morning, January 22, to gather all the information they will need to draw a plan for the containers and the area around the containers. They will use this information to draw their ideas in two point perspective.

Their goal is to design an environment where students can learn about the customs and culture of Honduran rural life.

Jorge is our official project photographer.

Hounduran Heritage Village Project

When is a storage container not just a storage container?
When it is transformed to represent a traditional Honduran village home.

Our Discovery maintenance staff are prepping and priming the two metal containers at the end of the multi-purpose area. Soon you will see our ninth grade students transform them by using faux finish techniques that resemble the natural materials used in village homes.

We will finish the project by working with a local craftsman to construct thatched roofs over the “buildings”. Our students will learn about this traditional style of architecture and methods of building and by doing so will honor these Honduran traditions.

Second and Third Grade - Animal Portraits

Paul Klee and Fritzi the Cat

Artist Paul Klee (December 1879 – June 1940) had a cat named Fritzi. Fritzi was an adventurous cat who liked to hunt birds and mice. He liked to visit Klee’s studio and was always allowed to prowl about the paint cans and brushes. Klee must have liked Fritzi a lot because even when he spilled paints and knocked over paintings he was still allowed to watch Klee paint.

Paul Klee liked Fritzi so much he painted a portrait of him. Our second and third grade students learned about Paul Klee and Fritzi and made their own animal portraits of a cat they knew. They enjoyed using our new dry pastel colors. Can you see what our cats are thinking about? How do we know that Paul Klee loved Fritzi?

Welcome to the Visual Arts at Discovery School

“Two men walked into the rain forest. Moments before, the forest had been alive with the sounds of squawking birds and howling monkeys. Now all was quiet as the creatures watched the two men and wondered why they had come. The larger man stopped and pointed to a great Kapok tree. Then he left.”
Lynne Cherry from the Great Kapok Tree

I first heard of The Great Kapok Tree from the librarian at Lincoln Community School in Accra Ghana. I was excited when I learned that Honduras was home to many kapok trees of the genus Ceiba and that the city of La Ceiba was named after the giant trees that grew by the old docks. I was so sad to learn that I missed the opportunity to see them by just a few years as they finally fell into the sea in 2007.

This semester elementary student’s grade 2 through 5 and middle and secondary art students will be taking a close look at our home country of Honduras. We will be looking through our “art eyes” and finding ways to honor its rich cultures and traditions as we develop our art making skills.

At this site students will find information about their assignments and be able to share some of their achievements with family and friends. You will be able to share your thoughts and questions as well.

Follow along with us as we read The Great Kapok Tree and other books about the Amazon Rain Forest that stretches into Honduras. We will use these stories and illustrations to learn about and create our own art about our home country.

I look forward to finding ways to use this communication tool to make your child’s experience in the visual arts at Discovery School rich and rewarding. Welcome to the Visual Arts at Discovery School!