New Year's Resolution #1 - Olivia Gude, I WILL study your ways!

Source: uic.edu via Sheryl on Pinterest

Self portrait by Lisa Wax, Art Teacher, Lesson found on Gude's Spiral Art Education site http://www.uic.edu/classes/ad/ad382/index.html

So,THIS is Why I Do What I Do!

First and Second Grader's VTSed this image a week prior to beginning their own winter landscape.

First Grade



Jessica added all sorts of animal tracks to her landscape.

The paintings took 3-4, 50 minute class periods. My students could easily connect to the commonalities of time, place, and nature. Not to toot my own horn, no, wait a minute, I WILL toot my own horn. Anyone who has ever painted with large classes of first and second graders understand the extreme level of classroom management it takes! Heck yes, I WILL toot my horn!!!  I was easily able to squeeze in: the use of liquid tempera paint, use and care of paintbrushes, landscape, foreground, mid-ground, background, value, horizon line, scale / proportion, and overlapping.... Plus,( and what a MIGHTY plus this is) while every other class in the building was in a frenzy - watching movies and playing games during those last few days before Christmas break, all was semi-quiet in the art room as students engaged in the art of creating!

As a bonus, I discovered that liquid tempera paint dispensed in plastic ice cube trays and covered with Glad Press'n Seal ( I LOVE Press'n Seal, a litle more expensive but totally worth it!) will keep for at least three weeks!

By Jove, I Think We've Got It!

I scored major sixth grade success today when I decreed that all conversation within the art room for the day would take place with a British accent! While I feel quite certain that the students suspect I'm completely BoNkErS, it totally and completely worked.  One of my more shy students, who rarely speaks, surprised me with delightful request for tea and crumpets another, when I took roll, replied 'Ello, Gov-nah.' They complied with my request to 'Mind your behavior'. It might well have been the first time this year that we have both enjoyed sixth grade art.

A Sign of the Season

From the book Grandma Moses by Alexandra Wallner, 2004 Holiday House Publisher

Today I VTSed this image, an illustration from a book. Second grade is beginning a winter landscape painting where they will be showing some of the ways people play in winter. I thought VTSing this image a week beforehand might be a good way to get them thinking.

There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that elementary is the level at which I belong – I absolutely loved the narratives that developed. Two grandparents were watching their grandchildren ice-skate; the adults were watching a comedic performance by professional skaters, and endless little side stories. Although I have conducted VTS less frequently at this grade level, I could clearly see signs of growth. Today’s session brought inference and prediction, and the bonus correct use of art vocabulary. (One boy most matter of factly made an observation about the older couple saying, “Those two adults, well, they’re standing in the foreground…”)

My favorite part however, the reason I felt compelled to share in a post, is…
Far up, on the right, half of an animal is visable. I saw it when I studied the image beforehand, but paid little notice. To me it looks like a horse, to second grade it was most clearly a reindeer. Ya gotta love pre-Christmas in an elementary school!

For those who Love Both Dogs and Kids

Found on Pinterest and had to share with those of you currently wait-listed~

Source: yogachick.tumblr.com via Danielle on Pinterest