1. ART news Ms. Melissa About the Art Room Focus of Study: November Grades K-4: Shape Grades 5-8: Drawing Wexler Grant Kindergarten Kindergarteners have been learning and practicing using scissors to cut a variety of shapes. Students are also learning how to paint and mix primary colors to create secondary colors with Tempera. They experimented with texture when painting a ground for their pumpkins and learned how watercolors are different when painting a night sky. First Grade Students have been studying color and mixing primary colors to create new colors. We also watched how Eric Carle created texture when What’s Happening November2015 Wexler Grant I will be available every Tuesday from 2:00-3:00 for students in grades 5-8 to catch up on work if they are absent or fall behind. This is not for students who fool around during class. he painted. We are using this technique to make painted paper which we will use to make pumpkins. Second Grade Second graders learned the difference between 2D art and 3D art. We looked at pictures of many sculptures and identified 2D and 3D objects in the art room. After creating an abstract background full of interesting shapes, students turned flat lines/rectangles into 3D lines that popped off their background. Their creativity and excitement show in these works of art. Third Grade Third graders studied the work of Henri Matisse, looking at his still life paintings. They learned the difference between a shape and a form. Students were challenged to draw a form, a fish bowl, that was sitting on a table. They used their creative minds to add three fun fish and other details that made their work unique. These masterpieces were completed using oil pastels. Webpage: Check out Wexler's website, especially the art page. New art is going up often. 1st Grade Cityscape 5 th Grade Hand Drawing 2nd Grade Tree Drawing

2. ART news Wexler Grant What’s Happening cont. Fourth Grade Students were introduced to the work of American artist Romare Bearden. We talked about the inspiration behind some of his work and how artists often get ideas. During art we are listening to Jazz music to inspire our work as well. Fourth graders are learning how to draw an acoustic guitar from observation building on the skills learned drawing block letters. They will be challenged to design their guitars and make them personal. Finally, students will create a collage background using their choice of a variety of materials. Fifth Grade Students are studying the seven elements of art. It is important that students can identify the elements and use them when creating art. Fifth graders are currently learning to draw a cityscape in one-point perspective. This can be challenging but they are all doing very well. They of course will each put their own ideas into their drawings to make them special. Students will be combining color pencil and watercolors to incorporate color and value to increase the illusion of a 3D space. Sixth Grade Students have finished their self portraits and were able to share their work with their peers in the art room. We have decided to make these “selfies” by designing phones around them with interesting cases inspired by Matisse and his famous cut outs. Seventh Grade Students are studying printmaking and a new technique used to create value. They are starting by developing ideas for a drawing of their choice. I have been encouraging students to be creative and create drawings that surprise the viewer and have an interesting background. Once their drawings are completed they will use hatching and cross-hatching to add different values creating depth. We will be transferring these drawings to a printing plate and making many special prints. 7 th Grade Still Life Drawing 7 th Grade Still Life Drawing