Four freedoms project

based on a 1941 President Roosevelt State of the Union address, this lesson teaches students about four basic freedoms: the freedom of worship, the freedom of speech, the freedom from want, the freedom from fear.  Each of these was a theme for a painting by Norman Rockwell.  The paintings were then used to spur the nation on to supporting war bonds.  These freedoms were also adopted by the United Nations as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  In class students brainstorm about ideas for each of the freedoms, select a freedom and design a poster based on that idea.  The posters are then painted with tempra and displayed.

Parabolic curve lesson

Using a square template, these designs are created using your finger as as spacer and a parabolic curve its formed!

Start with a 12x12 sheet of paper.

Trace the 11x11 square template.

Use your finger as a spacer and measure
and mark one edge, rotate the paper
mark the same location all around.

It should look like this.

use the straight edge of the template to
connect the dot on one side to the dot on
another.  4 new lines, smaller square
is made, slightly tilted and inside
the first one.

a curve naturally starts forming .

Repeat the process on the new square, making sure the same side
is used. the dots go on the edge of the new square
 4 dots, 4 lines, new square is made, smaller and inside
the second one.

finished design colored.

New table tops!

Mr Bastin helped me install new smooth tops for our tables

Abstract animals

Got this idea from Pinterest, but it has good applications in the art room:  

Realistic to abstract.

The importance of contour.

Craftsmanship.

Here is the original image.

Here are my students working on their projects.

First shot at abstraction

Easy abstract design starts with a page filling design of a stusents name.

Clay whistles.

My students love clay whistles.