Fox- Dry Pastels

After having a amalgamated class of year 5 and 6 students I decided that I would choose this activity. I would normally aim for year 5 to tackle this activity but I though that today this would be perfect. I read them the picture story book- "Fox" by M. Wild. A wonderful Australian story and author, check it out if you haven't had the pleasure of reading it. I love the dry, bleak and scorched outback images and I also adore the three central characters as they are each so powerful. The story is just very poignant.

Students had to choose a scene and depict it using dry pastels and black cartridge. We spoke about blending colours and really working on getting the background like the parched Australian outback is. Browns, red, oranges and yellows were all gathered to get the feel of the story. After many a smudged and smeared faces (I did warn them to resist touching their faces) these are some of the most interesting and beautiful...

How powerful is the Magpie, alone after being abandoned by Fox deep in the Australian bush, away from Dog, and away from shelter and protection?Magpie in full flight with the help of the cunning and nasty Fox....Here Magpie and Dog down at the water looking at their reflections....Fox telling Magpie to come to the dark side!

Mini- Beasts from the recycled box?

What happens when you study bugs, as well as creepy crawlies and allow free reign when it comes to sculpture and construction? These magnificent 3 dimensional bugs were created after weeks of drawing, collage and study. This session was all about creating a new/ imaginary bug from a multitude of construction material. Wool, tinsel stems, sticky tape, textas, cardboard boxes, plastic containers, ribbon, streamers, glue, coloured paper and the list just goes on and on...-With wings, legs and antennae, it was a free for all...-Some were larger than others, yet each student was able to articulate the "special" features their bug had.-Many were dolled up, with frills and clothes?-No two mini beasts were the same..... Each student had a passion of their own bug!
-Lady butterfly was the older of the day for this student above....

-This bug had beady eyes and aeroplane wings..... as well as a stinger! Ouch!!!

Dragons- Art Element Line

Today's session was all about the Art Element- LINE........ I had the Year 6 students focus on line as the driving force in this activity. It was simple, straight forward and the subject was DRAGONS. How I love dragons, to me they are mythical, imaginary, unique and surreal. Everything about them is just special and the best part is that they can be as unique and different as you want and dream. I think these samples are rather interesting, as I did draw them my own dragon and this was what they then created after. Interesting it is, that many chose a similar pose as my own depiction..... This was not expected, I just asked that it was their own and from their own visions.

Funny how "female" dragons were fire less and "male" dragons were portrayed as evil and fire breathing!!! Happy dragon drawing.....

Washi Folded Paper Dolls

These are the spoils of one of my Year 6 class of paper folded Japanese washi dolls. The students decided to stick them into the table so I could photograph them at the end of the class. They were so happy with them that they tripped ever so lightly out of the class. It was a marathon to finish in the allotted time and the photos don't even begin to convey the amount of work involved in their creation. Both sides of the Japanese washi dolls were executed well and it was a real experience in listening and following directions. Quite a set activity but well worth it. Even my classroom was spotless when we packed up... look at those tables shine!
Look at the cute faces, each different and each quirky in their own unique way.....

My Knights In Shinning Armour....

The Year 4 class was treated to embossing foil knights..... Oh how i love the knights in shinning armour. I gave them a template to trace the shape and then cut out. We discussed as a class the armour, weapons, chain mail vests and their helmets. There was a concentrated silence as they meticulously drew on both side to emboss and relief the design in the armour. Not only were they dazzled with the shine but how beautiful their own relief design appeared. A very proud class today indeed!

Geisha & Samurai To Battle

My oh my! What a view! My Year 6's were given the task to draw and then collage a geisha or samurai. We spoke about the culture and how different it is from ours. How they dressed, behaved, acted, lived and just what kind or presence they had. These two icons are so far removed from today's ideas that the students were shocked at most of the ideas they portrayed. I photocopied woodcuts and images from around the era of both sexes and allowed the students to get a better idea what we were aiming for. The images helped and so did the lovely printed paper I allowed them to use for the robes.
Yes most of the gentlemen in the classes decided that a heroic samurai warrior was the way to go. The weapons and objects of battle, like the sword were also added to give a realistic feel. The females of the class were all aflutter when it came to Geisha's. The pursed blood red lips were drawn and coloured. Hair was piled up high with flowing kimonos and obis to wrap around their slender frames. Most students achieve a fantastic vision while a few struggled. At least their eyes were opened ever so slightly......

Expressions of Interest?

This is what happens when we covered "EXPRESSIONS" today. Again my favourite Year 1 class and I went through different facial expressions and what makes them so different, as well as how to portray this in portraiture. We first pulled a lot of funny faces at each other and then with the aid of perspex mirrors they each had to draw an expression without telling anyone. Then when finished, we sat in a huge circle and guessed the expression. They all did a magnificent job. Just look at the detail, so very in tune! They just loved it, in fact so did I! The red writing/ expression I added once we guessed the expression.....The only constraint on the class was that no one was allowed to choose a happy face to draw, they all decided they were up for a much more challenging expression to draw and they were right!!! What a brilliant class and a fabulous way to finish a week of teaching.