GRAPHIC ARTS . . . Drawing on the iPad!

Our Graphic Arts Electives for 4th and 5th grades started this year on the small screen. We used iPads to create our self-portraits with an app called "Sketchbook Pro". With this app, we are learning how to use layers to create images. There are special palettes to use for lines, shapes and colors and an assortment of advanced drawing tools to create the special effects we are looking for. We also experimented with using a stylus to draw on the screen and discovered how to use multiple finger swipes to enlarge and navigate around the image.

Many artists use an iPad as a modern day sketch pad and are as comfortable making quick sketches on this screen as they were trained to do with a pencil on paper. Famous artist, David Hockney, from England has been experimenting with this new medium. He is well known for his large, colorful paintings that can be seen in museums all over the world. He also enjoys using apps like "Sketchbook Pro" and some of his drawings have been used as the cover for magazines. Here is one of his iPad sketches used for The New Yorker . . .

4th and 5th graders are finishing up their portraits using this very same iPad app. Separating our images into layers, we first created a line drawing of our faces on one layer using a pencil tool and a thin black line. Then we created a color layer and learned how to use a paintbrush tool and the color palettes to choose and adjust the colors for the image. The last layer is the background layer and here we were able to "flood" the entire screen behind our drawing with a tone and have fun adding crazy designs and fancy strokes to the screen. Here are a few examples of some of our finished portraits. You will be able to see all of them printed out at our art show next week or on artsonia.com by clicking on this link.
http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=114839

Artwork by Ben, 5th grade

Artwork by Morgan, 5th grade

Artwork by Jett, 4th grade

Artwork by Zach, 4th grade

FIFTH GRADE . . . We are looking at you!

Fifth graders focused on just the eyes this year. We examined the outline shape of the eye, exactly how the lashes grow along the top and bottom, the pupil, the iris and the highlights. Highlights are spots of white in the eye that show a reflection from the lights in the room or from the sun if we are outside.

Lower school students were always taught to draw an oval for the eye, but it really resembles more of an almond shape and comes to a point at the outside corners. The inside corner drops down into a tear duct. Once we better understood this shape and were able to get our eyes to match in size and shape on our papers, we then studied the inside shapes with the iris, the pupil and the highlights. To better show these areas, we learned how to shade them with gradations of gray using our graphite pencils. The lashes completed the eyes.

Here are a few examples of our drawings. To see all of our eyes, follow this link to our artsonia page.
http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=114839

Artwork by Anabelle

Artwork by Ethan

Artwork by Trent

Artwork by Claire

SECOND GRADE . . . Drawing round objects

Second graders completed their still life studies in art class. We created an arrangement of round objects on a table and many of the students added colorful tablecloths and an interesting background too.

Every round object we created began with a circle or an oval. The top of a vase or a bowl looks like a circle when you look straight down at the object, but when it is place on an table and you see it from a distance, the top circle appears more as an oval. Even the bottom line of the vase appears to have the same curve as the oval at the top. Understanding how to represent a round object on paper helps us to better see the form. This happens with our pumpkins too. We started with a circle and drew every line that travels from the stem to the bottom as a curve to help define the round shape of the pumpkin.

Once we drew all our objects in an interesting overlapping arrangement and added in the details of a pumpkin, the table and the background, we had fun coloring in our scenes. Here are a few wonderful examples of our still life drawings. You can see everyone's work by following this link to artsonia.com.
http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=114839

Artwork by Kaitlyn

Artwork by Seth

Artwork by Nico

Note to families...
This art blog will be updated regularly with new posts sharing our daily activities in the art room and news about upcoming art exhibits. To respect the privacy of our students, names will always be limited to first name only and identifiable photos will never be accompanied with a name. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write in the comment box below or send me an email at blevine@ranneyschool.org. I would love to hear from you!
    In my class, students are given the chance to explore different materials and fun new techniques as they develop their signature style. Some young artists love to draw with a pencil, some like to paint on canvas or create images in a digital format, while others prefer working with clay and molding three-dimensional forms. In my classroom, we use a variety of materials allowing all artists to experiment and figure out which type of art they like the best. At Ranney School, we place a strong emphasis on originality and celebrate artistic differences, always nurturing and encouraging the imagination of every student.
     Remember to check out our display of finished artwork and student portfolios in the Ranney home page of Artsonia.com.  http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=114839

FIFTH GRADE . . . The Art of Halloween

This week Fifth graders drew a scene in their sketchpads to represent the holiday of Halloween. We saw many ghosts, graveyards and pumpkins as everyone shared their sketches in class. Here is a wonderful pencil sketch by James of a pumpkin.

James was able to show us a candle glowing inside his pumpkin without using any color! James' favorite drawing tool has always been just a pencil and by simply shading certain areas, he made it possible for us to almost imagine the color in the scene. What do you think of this week's sketch? Click on the word "comments" below to add your thoughts.

THIRD GRADE . . . Figures in Motion

The wooden artist's model is a perfect way for us to learn how to draw a human figure in proportion. It also shows us where the body can move. Each joint is represented by a wooden ball in the model.

Third graders drew a sketch of the wooden model and posed their figure in any way they wanted. We started with an oval for the head and added a circle underneath for the neck. Each part of the body was added on just this way, a shape for the body part followed by a wooden ball for the place it can move. We were careful to make the length and width of each shape in proportion to the size of the head that we started with. Learning to draw a figure this way reminds us of where the body can move without it looking awkward in our sketches. For example, the arm can move only at the shoulder, elbow or wrist. If we tried to bend it anywhere else, we would be breaking a bone!

To make our drawings look just like the wooden artist's model we added on the pole and the stand. Shading each part of the body also gave our figures dimension and form. Here are a few examples of our figures in motion. You can see all of our sketches by following this link to artsonia.com and scrolling down through the exhibits for Third Grade.   http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=114839

Drawing by Colette

Drawing by Charlie

Drawing by Lucia

Note to families . . .
    This art blog will be updated regularly with new posts sharing our daily activities in the art room and news about upcoming art exhibits. To respect the privacy of our students, names will always be limited to first name only and identifiable photos will never be accompanied with a name. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write in the comment box below or send me an email at blevine@ranneyschool.org. I would love to hear from you!
    In my class, students are given the chance to explore different materials and fun new techniques as they develop their signature style. Some young artists love to draw with a pencil, some like to paint on canvas or create images in a digital format, while others prefer working with clay and molding three-dimensional forms. In my classroom, we use a variety of materials allowing all artists to experiment and figure out which type of art they like the best. At Ranney School, we place a strong emphasis on originality and celebrate artistic differences, always nurturing and encouraging the imagination of every student.
     Remember to check out our display of finished artwork and student portfolios in the Ranney home page of Artsonia.com.  http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=114839