doodles&noodles: 2014

COMING SOON...

Towards the end of last year, my family received some wonderful news. We are now going to be a family of four .... and a half if you count our ever humorous duchshund.

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Testing-Testing, 1.2.3

6th grader's, let's get ready to flubaroo.

How much do you understand about SPACE?

https://docs.google.com/a/ammslions.org/forms/d/16z_awUM-KZw3BrwEbjxc0luu8Of0VsYPaDGmBMSl8tM/viewform?usp=send_form

We have entered the 4th and final quarter of the school year. After I lay down the "ground rules" and set up our sketchbooks (this takes the first couple days of class), we begin our first mini lab. A mini lab is not quite a project; instead it is an exercise that prepares us for an upcoming project. What better way to begin our art adventure than to delve deep into the Elements and Principles of Art.

Please take a moment to see what previous classes have drawn to illustrate understanding of the Elements and Principles of Art.

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Sketchbooks and stuff

In Middle School art, everyone keeps a sketchbook. We use them practically everyday. In them, we do daily warm ups, sketches (pointing out the obvious, here), and what I like to call mini labs.

This is how we set up our sketchbooks. I require everyone to do 5 "Sketchbook Ideas" from the chart I provide. It is a HUGE plus, if someone uses that sketchbook beyond what I require. I love it and it makes me smile beyond belief.

Below are some examples of what some have drawn in their sketchbook

Below are examples of our first mini lab - illustrating the elements and principles of art.

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Kandinsky Color Scheme Compositions

The artist Kandinsky was born in Moscow, Russia in 1886. This date is surprising to most 7th graders since so many associate his non-objective style of painting to be modern looking. Also surprising, he studied law and economics. It wasn't until the age of 30 that he began to paint. He dedicated much of his time painting artworks that drew parallels between visual art and music.

One of Kandinsky's paintings

Kandinsky himself - 7th graders were surprised to find that this suit and tie wearing man was the painter of such abstract art

7th graders really took time to make these paintings a success. Not only did we discuss the great artist Kandinsky but we also explored color, balance and ultimately how to arrange the elements of art to create an interesting composition. Since music was a focus for Kandinsky we figured out how to show rhythm and movement in designing these beautiful kaleidoscope-like paintings as well.