Observing / Drawing

Middle school "Creating Art" classes are working on sharpening their Observational Drawing skills.

We started by using Contour Lines to describe three dimensional forms. Students selected three random objects to draw and then designed a composition using these three objects, altering proportions . 

Working from an all-white styrofoam still life , students have now moved on to working with 

shading and shadow areas.

Art Skills : Draped Pottery

Art Skills began working with clay this week. The focus is on using slabs of clay and moulds to 

create pottery forms.

A variety of moulds were used : plaster , fired clay, plastic and foam supports. 

After the first firing (the bisque firing) , pieces will be glazed and re-fired to finish.

Carved Grotesques

Students in my Three Dimensional Art course are using floral foam to sculpt Grotesque Gargoyle figures. We looked at images of this type of creature used in architecture and from there sketched out designs.

 

Plaster gauze is being used to cover the foam pieces. 

Students will complete their sculptures using acrylic paints.

C4 Visitors

Today was Grandparents / Grandfriends Day at school . During my Creating Art class , we had a room full of visitors... all who actively participated in our drawing lesson.

I must say , I was quite impressed by the work of both students and guests. Lots of talent in one room !

Straws are Not Just Meant for Sipping

Middle schoolers in my Three Dimensional Design course have been using 18" paper straws to create woven designs : some traditional basket weaving  oriented, others more experimental and sculptural. 

 Pieces from this class are currently on display in the Athletic Building ground floor showcase. Stop by and see them in person !

  

Cast Critters Continued.............

Students have been busy using watercolors to stain their cast paper critters , adding wire bits and pieces to flush out the creature's identity.

Having made multiples of each critter allowed the students to experiment around with coloration

and to create dynamic groupings of their pieces.

Getting a New Perspective

My Art Skills class has spent this trimester working on a Perspective Drawing portfolio that transformed into an Acrylic Painting assignment that uses perspective drawing concepts as its' primary structure.We looked at work from Richard Diebenkorn and M.C. Escher for inspiration at the onset of the project.

So from this ...

 To this....

And here are the artists , busy at work...

One Artist/ One Still Life...work in progress...

My 11th & 12th grade Painting classes have been honing their brush and mixing skills through a variety of assignments this term.

Currently they are working from a still life set up in the studio. Each student selected an artist whose imagery interpretation and color usage they wanted to emulate in their own works.

Artists selected range from Renoir to Braque to Lichtenstein to Gris (and back again) .

Here are a few examples of the paintings in progress. I will post the pieces again when they are completed.

Clay Castles

Students in my Creating Art classes have been working on Clay Castles over the past few weeks. Research for the project included looking at images of actual castles , Disney castles and castles made of sand. Pieces were sculpted solidly in clay , then hollowed out for firing.

After firing, students selected underglaze colors to complement their designs. Some used  "faux" painting techniques to give an illusion of their castles being ancient and crumbling.

 After underglaze painting , the castles will be clear coated with glaze and fired again. I will post the results when they are out of the kiln.

Welcome ................

This blog will keep you up to date on what is going on in the Art Studio at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy.
This post features my "3D Art" course for Middle School students. We are currently working on two projects : "Paper Casting" and "Sculpting Paper Straws" . The images above show a few examples of the pieces students are making using 18" paper straws . Wire, yarn, hot glue and beads are playing a supporting role in their structures.

These images show the process of casting paper into a plaster mould. "Cast Critters" were first made in clay , a plaster mould was then cast from that prototype. After the mould was dry , wet paper pulp was pressed into the mould hollow. Students are making three casts from each mould design. Watercolors will be used to stain the surfaces. Additions made of wire will be added to pieces that require antennae, legs and the like.