Before we start talking about art ideas, we welcome new students and introduce them to the groups. There are always volunteer students that do an induction and help new students to find their way in the studio and to hand out name clips. Everybody wears a name clip in the first week so that new students get to know everybody’s names. We review the rules of the art room, our art practice and our discipline and protocols. I believe that every teacher has different art practices in their art rooms, so I would prefer to describe some of the popular activities we start with.
Some ideas to start the year
There are several ways to start the new school year, but we like to start with clay. Clay is the art technique that everybody loves and can be done with different age groups. This clay modelling project will take between two or three weeks, but it is worth it, as students have the opportunity to create a character based on concepts like exaggeration and facial expression in 2 dimensions and 3 dimensions.
We combine clay with drawing, that is, when the clay models are finished, students will set them up in groups on their tables to draw from them. This project can be adjusted to different age groups and abilities.
Samples of ‘Cartoons in 3D’
Students are encouraged to make preliminary drawings of cartoons on small pieces of paper using black pens before they start the clay work.
Preliminary drawings of cartoons
Mixed media, oil crayons and ink: drawings of the 3D cartoons figures, students added the bodies on their drawings
Textiles
Small friendship hearts and cushions or
whatever you would like to make.
Another idea is to start with something that is very small but also fun and different. Textiles, are popular, students can make small things like friendship hearts, friendship cushions and bags. It depends on the age group of the students. The friendship hearts are a good thing to give to each other and “to break the ice”.
They are easy to make and it will take only one session, first day. Materials for these textile ideas are cheap and easy to find from scraps around home, the classroom and op shops/charity shops.
Find more textiles projects at:whatever they imagine!!!
Painting on calico bags is also a popular activity, it takes only one session.Collage
Matisse’s paper cutouts is another popular project to start the year, especially with older students. Students learn to mix colours by painting their own papers, to draw and cut shapes and to create a composition. Students will also learn about the different ways Matisse was inspired to do his paper cuts, sometimes he was inspired by Nature, some other times by people and movement.
Paper collage by primary/elementary students
Matisse’s paper cuts
Samples of simple paper cuts compositions
Note: the samples show paper cutouts done with pre-painted papers by the students, but commercial coloured papers can also be used.
Matisse’s paper cuts
Number 1: preparation
Number 2: the actual collage
This post is a part of The Art Ed Blogger’s Network: Monthly Tips and Inspiration from Art Teacher Blogs. On the first Tuesday each month, each of these art teacher blogs will post their best ideas on the same topic.
Participating Art Teacher Blogs:
- Art Class Curator
- Art Ed Guru
- Art is Basic
- Art Room Blog
- Art Teacher Tales
- Art with Mr. E
- Arte a Scuola
- Brava Art Press
- Artful Artsy Amy
- Capitol of Creativity
- Create Art with ME
- MiniMatisse
- Mona Lisa Lives Here
- Mr. Calvert’s Art Room Happenings
- Mrs. Boudreaux’s Amazing Art Room
- Mrs. T’s Art Room
- Ms. Nasser’s Art Studio
- Party in the Art Room
- shine brite zamorano
- Tales from the Traveling Art Teacher
- There’s a Dragon in my Art Room
- 2 Art Rooms
