Oak Park Education Foundation

Last year the 5th grade students participated in Architecture Adventure and drew plans for a new Irving Schoolyard. They worked with real architects and landscape designers to learn how professionals plan and draw out their designs.

Click the title of this post to go to the Oak Park Education Foundation website to see pictures of the students and their finished drawings.

Claes Oldenburg

Claes Oldenburg was born in Sweden in 1929. His family moved to the U.S. when he was 7 years old and lived in New York and then Chicago. He went to Yale University after graduating high school but later returned to Chicago to study art at the Art Institute.


In the early 1970s, Oldenburg began creating the large scale sculptures he is famous for today. The sculptures are larger versions of common, everyday objects. You can find Oldenburg's sculptures all around the world!



















This summer I got the chance to see two of Oldenburg's sculptures in person when I took a trip to Kansas City, Missouri. The Giant Shuttlecocks were on the front lawn of an art museum and the Giant Handkerchief was on campus of the Kansas City Art Institute. If you look closely you can see me in the first picture, (click on the pictures to see them bigger).

3rd Grade is learning about Keith Haring

The students have been learning about the artist Keith Haring these last few weeks. They saw many examples of his paintings and drawings and learned a little about his life.


The 3rd graders learned how to draw simple figures in different action poses, similar to the figures Haring is famous for. Then they added repeating lines around their figures and colored with bright colors.





For more information on Keith Haring check out Haringkids.com

What have the 1st Graders been doing in Art?

This week the 1st grade students learned about the artist Piet (pronounced "Peet") Mondrian (1872-1944). He was a dutch painter who became famous for his paintings using straight lines and primary colors.

During my summer trip to New York, I went to the Museum of Modern Art and got to see a few of Mondrian's paintings. Here are the pictures I took there:











You can also see some of Mondrian's paintings for yourself at the Art Institute of Chicago.

4th Grade Assign. #4

This week you get to do another drawing of your choice. Please be sure to take your time, draw a picture of something that interests you or something you like. Use the whole page of your sketchbook.

I've really enjoyed looking at the sketchbook drawings you've done so far this year. Keep up the good work!

5th Grade Assign. #4

This week you need to do an observational drawing in your sketchbook. That means you have to find an object and look at it while you draw it. Do your best to draw the object exactly how it looks.

Here are some examples of observational drawings that students did last year:

New artwork is being published!

I have started taking pictures of artwork the students have made these first few weeks of school. Check out Artsonia to see what your child has created! Click here to see: http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=50285

4th & 5th Grade Assign. #3

This week you get to choose what you want to draw in your sketchbook. Make sure that you spend some time on your drawing (at least 15 minutes), and fill the entire page.

If you are having trouble thinking of what to draw, check out the link on the right for a list of drawing ideas.

5th Grade Assign #2

This week in art you are working on a color wheel using your name. In your sketchbook, you need to draw a different kind of color wheel. Choose a shape or object, draw three of those shapes overlapping each other. Then you need to color the primary colors inside the shapes, the parts that overlap should be colored with the secondary colors. Use whatever you have to color with at home, just be sure to use the correct colors in each space.



Example: The space where the red shape overlaps the yellow shape should be colored orange because red and yellow make orange.

4th Grade Assign #2:

This week you are learning about radial designs and radial symmetry. In class you are working on a radial design using your name. In your sketchbook you need to create a different radial design.

Remember, radial symmetry goes around in a circular pattern. Each section should have the same design. Here are some examples to help you out:

ATTENTION 4TH & 5TH GRADERS:

Your first sketchbook assignment:

Draw something you did during summer vacation. It could be a place you went or something you did around Oak Park.
*Don't forget to write "1st Trimester" and the date at the top of the page.

(Example: I got a new dog over the summer and named her Penny. I would draw a picture of me and Penny playing fetch, her favorite game.)

I can't wait to see your drawings at the beginning of your next art class!