Hi! Welcome to the ART Room's school notes page!

The school year is moving right along!  Here are just a few reminders:  1.  ALL students need an art smock and there are some students who still have not brought in their smock.  If your child has not brought their smock to school yet, please make sure they have it this week.  They will be unable to participate in any projects that involve potential messes if they do not bring in their smock.  I have told ALL of the classes that if they can not get a smock for whatever reason, simply send in $1.00 for the missions with a parents signature and I will provide them with an art smocks.    2. On the supply lists, I requested Prang watercolor paints for all students.  As I explained to all of the students, I specify Prang watercolors because of the quality of the paints and the colors they provide.  Some parents have indicated that they searched for the paints and were unable to find them.  Usually, they are not located with the bulk of the school supplies, but rather in the permanent supply aisles.  If you had a difficult time finding the Prang watercolors, please send me a short note in your child's assignment book indicating that you looked for the supplies and were unable to find them and I will make sure that they receive a set of the Prang Watercolors.  Thanks.

To my 8th graders, we have started working on your yearbook pages, so start collecting your pictures and ideas.  Also, now that we know our Catholic Identity Theme for the year, "Pursuit of Peace"  you can start working on incorporating the theme into a cover for our yearbook.  I would love for an 8th grader to design the cover again this year.  I think it makes the book more special if you play an active role in its creation!

I gave all of the 7th and 8th grade students their artist presentation assignment.  Their artist selection were due by Wednesday, September 28th.    Their assignment is due in next week.  Please make sure they are working on their project.  They have more than enough time so that they are not overwhelmed.  Please remember that ALL artists must be approved by me prior to starting the project. I will sign their assignment books when I approve the artist selection.  As outlined on the instruction sheet, the projects will consist of an oral presentation only this year.  Students can chose to present their artist using a Power Point presentation, a poster board, note cards, a representative piece of work, a video taped commercial or any other method that the student is comfortable using.  I have also given the students several internet links to help them find information about their artists or to get ideas for an artist if they have trouble selecting one.

For all students:  This year I am trying to make more available to the students the huge variety of art contests that we receive in the mail.  There are simply so many that we can not possible cover everything required as well as compete in all of these contests.  In class we will continue to participate in the Fire Prevention Poster Contest and the Keep Christ in Christmas Poster contest, but there are many, many others.  I have created a box outside of my room with information sheets and applications for all of the contests as they come to me.  I have mentioned all of the current contests to the students and told them that I am available to offer any assistance they might require.  Whether it is supplies or advice, I am available daily at 7:00 am and any day during their recess.  I hope that many of the students will take advantage of these many opportunities to practice their skills!

What else is happening in the Art Room?  All of the students are working on various projects using the Elements of Line and Color.  Here's what is coming up:

Pre-K:  the letter "F" and will create Fancy Fish and Fishbowls.  Coming Up:  Shape Seals when we move to letter "S". 

Kindergarten: animals using contour lines after reading A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni;  

1st grade: will make some "big mistakes" using watercolors after reading The Big Mistake by Lenore Rinder;

2nd grade:  abstract collages using different kinds of lines after reading Mirette on a High Wire;

3rd grade: creating tie-dye using tissue paper for their Catholic Identity contribution

4th grade: line drawings on cave "rocks" after learning about the Lascaux Caves in France. 

5th grade: creating a quilt using lines to create the "fabric" patterns after reading Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. 

6th grade: drawing their hand in 3-D and complimentary colors and positive and negative shapes cut using contour lines. 

7th grade will spend this first quarter focused on drawing and have started using the right-side of their brain to draw things that are upside down by focusing on the shape of each line.  We have now moved on to perspective.

8th grade: reviewing grayscale and drawing a still life that focuses on shading and contrast. 

The next few weeks will continue to be very busy in the art room!  Please feel free to contact me any time you have any questions or concerns.  

Warmest wishes,

Mrs. Sharon Wilson