Welcome to my daily art blog for Ranney Lower School! Be sure to follow my blog, see highlights of student artwork and videos featuring our young artists, and be updated with news from the art room all year long! (You can join this site with a link to the right.) As we take our creative journey through this school year, you may notice that many of our projects are based on the work of a famous artist or illustrator, and that we often look beyond our classroom walls to other cultures for inspiration. Together, we will see how the style of an artist can influence our own creative efforts as well as help us realize and represent our place in the rich world of art history.
All of my 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.
Getting Ready for Art
All students, grades Kindergarten through 5th grade should bring in an artist portfolio. If you have one from last year, you are welcome to use it again. Place a new label on the front with the student name and new homeroom teacher. I prefer to have these thin cardboard portfolios for storage in my room, frequently found as a red cardboard portfolio with plastic or woven handles. 17" x 22" or a little larger is perfect. Please do not bring in a very large or a thick leather case. It is only for storage in my room and I will not have the space to hold extra large cases. I look forward to filling these portfolios with wonderful artwork all year long!
5th grade art students should also bring in a sketchpad each week on art days. We will talk about sketchpads in class. Otherwise, all materials you need for art, including artist's smocks, are already in my room. Come ready to have fun!
