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

FOURTH GRADE . . . Art and Technology

Our self portraits began as a lesson in technology when we learned how to use Adobe Photoshop in the computer lab. Then we turned back the clock to the 16th century and learned about the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci. Inspired by his mirror image writing, we retouched our photos on the computer and then created a mirror image drawing of one half of the photograph.

It was not possible to upload these drawings to Artsonia because they contain photographic images. Therefore, in order to share our drawings with you, I have created an iMovie with everyone's final work. Press the play button on the video below to enjoy our smiling faces and wonderful artwork!

FIFTH GRADE . . . The Twists and Turns of a Hand

Fifth graders are continuing to work on illustrations of an eye for our art show next month. This year we are focusing on one feature of the face and looking at each detail in depth. We have completed the outline of our eyes, the iris, the pupil and the highlight, and we began to add the lashes. These drawings promise to be quite an exhibition with everyone's eyes staring right at you!

For our sketchpad assignment this week, we also focused on just one part of the body . . . the hand! Understandably, it could be the hardest part of the human figure to draw with all the intricate shapes and angles in each finger. Here are four beautiful examples of sketches of a hand holding an object. Evan and Brooke both show their hands holding a pencil. This was one of the more challenging poses to draw and they both were able to observe and portray their fingers in a natural, relaxed pose. You can easily imagine their fingers pressed against the wood, guiding the pencil across the paper.

    The next two illustrations are also similar. Jaren and Ava both have their hands holding a water bottle and were able to make us see how the hand would have to stretch around the width of the bottle to hold it up. What terrific drawings! I am also impressed with the details all the artists were able to add to the objects the hands are holding. It always shows when you take your time and put in a little more effort with a drawing.

Click on "comments" below and let your friends know what you think of their work!

Sketch by Evan

Sketch by Brooke

Sketch by Jaren

Sketch by Ava

SECOND GRADE . . . Which object goes in front?

Paul Cezanne (1839-1906) is a famous Post Impressionist artist from France. He often focused on the arrangements in a still life as his choice of subject matter. Cezanne studied the shapes and angles of his arrangements to create a dynamic composition. His paintings influenced artists such as Pablo Picasso and he was considered by many to be the father of modern art.

This is a Cezanne painting of a still life, titled "Apples and Oranges." What shapes or forms can you identify? Look at the fruit, the bowl, the water pitcher, and the table cloth.


The composition of a still life is the most important thing to consider. Objects are arranged on a table top to create interest, to highlight color, and to create a sense of movement across the page. When we began our still life drawings today, we learned how to create a composition with overlapping shapes. When objects overlap, it is important to understand which one goes in front. We learned that the object or figure lowest on the page should be the one in the front. To illustrate this, look at this image of overlapping children. By looking at the feet of the children, can you tell which one is in front? Which figure is behind everyone?

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

THIRD GRADE . . . Symmetry in Art

In art class we learn how to use new materials, we experiment with new techniques, and we learn all about art history. Part of our lessons also includes learning art vocabulary. Symmetry is a good example of a word that all artists and designers are very familiar with. Symmetry means that both sides of a picture or an object are the same, such as the two wings of a butterfly. Symmetry helps create balance, and for many people that could mean beauty.

Third graders this year will be focusing on design and composition in art. Symmetry can be a strong element in the designs we create. To learn more about this important art term, we tried an experiment today in class. I gave my students five different activities to do, each one focusing on symmetry. I call these activities the DAILY 5 for ART. These activities included "Reading about Symmetry" and "Writing about Symmetry," using the many art books in my room for inspiration. Here are three more examples of how we discovered symmetry in our art room . . .

DRAWING WITH SYMMETRY
Students who selected this activity, folded a paper in half and drew a design on one side of the paper. They copied the same design on the other half, creating a mirror image of the first half. We saw many beautiful geometric designs and colorful butterflies.

BUILDING WITH SYMMETRY
Students used wooden blocks, Lego blocks and pattern shapes to create three dimensional forms that show symmetry. This was definitely our favorite activity of the day!

CREATING SYMMETRY TOGETHER
To do this activity, students worked in pairs. One student created a pose with their body to represent symmetry. The other student sketched a picture of their friend in the symmetrical pose. I'm not sure which was more challenging . . . trying to hold a pose without moving or creating a realistic figure drawing. We all had fun seeing the poses everyone came up with.

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 . . . Drawing with One Line

Our assignment for this week was to draw with one continuous line. We were not allowed to pick up our pencil from the paper and correct an area with an eraser. The line connecting the shapes of the object should appear in the final drawing, mistakes and all!

I was so pleased with the effort of my artists. The most striking observation I made from seeing many of these 'one line' drawings was how commercial and professional the drawings looked, as if they were designed by a graphic artist. The lines on these sketches were flowing and bold. Students did not strive for realism with their sketches, but instead succeeded in showing us a more dynamic and abstract appearance.

In Deven's pencil drawing, I was very impressed with how the connecting lines give us the impression of the sides of the pencil and the wood grain near the point. I like how his drawn line extends from the pencil point out to the top of the page. Very clever! With Emerson's cupcake, her continuous line shows us a beautiful abstract design that creatively hints at the lines of the cupcake wrapper, the fluffy icing on top and the wonderful swirl of the round plate. Ryan challenged himself to draw a very difficult sneaker with amazing details using one line. It is also very clever how the line of his sneaker snakes out to create the words and his signature! Your eyes want to travel around each of these drawings and follow the path each artist took with his or her pencil.

Sketch by Deven

Sketch by Emerson

Sketch by Ryan

We would love to hear your comments. Click the word "Comments' below and share your thoughts and observations of this week's sketches!