Kindergarteners Try Choice

This week the kindergarten students had their first choice day. The drawing, collage, and painting stations were open and many students worked in more than one station. They did very well getting out their own supplies and cleaning up when they were done.

Instagram

Follow the eaglesneststudio on Instagram! Check out pictures of the studio and student artwork.

Student Art Exhibit at the Main Library

Opening Reception: Saturday, October 4th 

Oak Park Main Library, Children's Section 

MORE PHOTOS HERE!

The artwork will be on display through the month of October. If you didn't make it to the opening reception I hope you can find another time to stop by and see the artwork!

Self Portraits

This year, all of the students created a self-portrait during their first art lesson. In class we looked at examples of self portraits created by different artists. The students could see that every artist has their own artistic style. Before drawing their own portraits, we discussed facial proportions and how to draw different types of hairstyles. The students chose how much of their body to draw and from what point of view. We also discussed how to find the most realistic colors to color skin, hair and eyes. Students did their best to make their portraits as realistic as possible.

For the background, they drew a place that describes something about them and what they like. Some students drew real places that they've been or would like to go; other students drew imaginary or fictional places. The goal of a self-portrait is for the viewer to learn something about the artist, in addition to what they look like.

View student self portraits on Artsonia.

What's new about Art this year?

NAME THE STUDIO

This year the art room is transforming into an art studio. The idea is that a studio is a space where artists can go to work on their art and express their own feelings and ideas. Students have been helping me think of a name for our studio. I'm collecting all the ideas and in the next few weeks we will vote on a name.

CHOICE ART

The studio is arranged in different stations, one for each type of art the students will learn about this year. This week the Drawing station was introduced and as the year goes on students will have the opportunity to work in Collage, Fiber Art, Construction, Painting and more!

As each station is opened, specific instructions will be given for working with the new materials and skills will be taught through required art assignments. Once the students have completed the required assignments and have shown they understand each skill, they will be able to work on their own ideas using those materials.

4TH and 5TH GRADES

Students in 4th and 5th grade earn a grade for art that is a part of their report card. This year they will be graded on the required assignments they complete in class that demonstrate their understanding of each skill taught as well as WOW projects they will complete at the end of each trimester.

What is a WOW Project?

• a Wonderful, Original, Work of art
• Students will come up with their own ideas for their WOW projects and complete them using the materials available each trimester. In designing their project, they will need to incorporate at least one of the skills taught in class. By the end of the year, all the stations will be open and the students will have free choice of materials to use for their projects.

Art Fest 2014!

Choice Art

So you want to be a comic book artist?

Just for kids in 4th-6th grades! Artist Gene Ha is here to talk drawing, comics & making a living doing it. Learn how to draw anything and get answers to your questions about working for DC Comics, self-publishing & more.

Saturday, April 5, 2-3 PM

Main Library, 1st floor

Register in-person, at oppl.org/events or by calling 708-452-3420

Who is Gene Ha?

Gene is a Korean-American comic book artist who works for DC Comics. He was born in Chicago, grew up in South Bend, Indiana, and currently lives in Berwyn.

Learn more about the artist and check out his drawings: 

http://www.geneha.com/

Fun Summer Art Camps!

Looking for something fun to do this summer? The Oak Park Education Foundation offers some really fun art camps for kids in 1st through 8th grades. 

Camps include:

• Quilting Camp
• Lego Engineering
• Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture
• Digital Photography
• Digital Movie Making
• Mural Project

Check out this link for more information and how to register. http://opef.org/basecamp/

Woven Art

Weavings done by students at Brooks Middle School

Scrap Monster (woven fabric pillow)

by Kira Nichols, craft artist from Alabama

Tapebomb (woven tape through a fence) by Johanna Boccardo, Venezuelan artist from Miami

 Weaving from Trash

by Ruby Re-usable who makes art from junk and lives in Olympia, Washington

 The Weaving Project by Stephanie Allgood with the help of students, family and friends

More interesting weavings:

 

What should I draw?

Looking for some fun drawings ideas? Illustration Friday is a website that posts a new idea each week. People send in the drawings they make about that theme and they are posted for all to see. Click on the link to the right to see this week's theme and see what others have drawn.

Winter Olympic Pictograms

         Pictograms were designed by artists to represent each sport in the winter games. The images help guide people attending the games and are also found on merchandise and tickets to the different events. Read more about the pictograms and the designers here: http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-02-06/how-one-mans-olympic-design-influenced-your-next-trip-public-restroom

How was your winter break?

Welcome back everyone! I hope you enjoyed having a few extra days of winter break this year. I stayed out of the cold the last few days but went for a walk in the snow on Sunday. Everything looks so pretty in the snow! Here are some pictures I took of my neighborhood. Maybe you will be inspired to make some snowy art!