Ice-cream, you scream!

Sunny days and ice-cream go hand in hand, don't they?  These two art ideas will brighten up your classroom even if the weather isn't cooperating. 

Ice-cream paintings

Inspired by the poem 'Eighteen Flavours' by Shel Silverstien the class used paints and glue glitter to paint ice creams of all shapes and sizes. The kids enjoyed getting creative with colours (flavours) and toppings. 

A haon, a dó, a trí,

Aon, dó, trí, ceathair, cúig, sé,
Císte deas i gcomhair an tae,
Uachtar reoite, banana buí,
Lollipop is oráistí.

Cáca milis, fí, fá, fum,
Uachtar reoite yum, yum, yum,
Úlla deasa, hip, hip, hop,
Ach b`fhearr liom féin mo lollipop.

Relief print bunting

This bunting looks great hanging around the class. It can be completed for any theme and is lovely for the start of the year to display the kids initials, or alphabet in younger classes. 

The bunting can be cut from an A4/A3 page, then using another piece of paper the desired shape is cut out, this is stuck on the bunting temporarily using blue tac. Children then print over the shape and cover the bunting completely in paint. In the picture above a sponge was used but bubble wrap or textured printing blocks could be used. Once the paint has dried the shape can be removed and the negative space can be decorated using marks, crayons, or colouring pencils. 

Valentine's Day Art Ideas

It doesn't rain, it pours! Well that is certainly the case here. The sun is trying to break through between the heavy downpours but that means I can watch the rugby and blog snuggled up on the sofa :) 

I bought a Valentine's card for my little boy today and it got me thinking about cards to make in school. So this post will cover cards, junior art and senior art. 

Here goes!

1. Valentine Cards

Love you to pieces 

http://pin.it/Is6A3h-

Wax Resist Valentine's Card 

http://pin.it/WctxXav

Maaa! Or Maaaaam! 

I remember my Mammy telling us not to shout Maaaaaaam at her when we were young. I think I'll have to make her a card like this for Valentine's Day :) 

http://pin.it/V76NV6a

Threaded Hearts

http://pin.it/q7mNFli

2. Junior Art

I give you my heart <3

http://kinderart.com/seasons/giveyoumyheart.shtml

Fingerprint Heart

http://www.redtedart.com/2016/01/03/fingerprint-keepsake-for-toddlers/

Textured Hearts

http://artprojectsforkids.org/jim-dine-textured-heart/

Mondrian Hearts

https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/artventurous-5792519/mondrian-hearts-4165117935

3. Senior Art

XOXO

http://www.artbarblog.com/create/diy-painting-xoxo/

Zetangle with Hearts

https://www.flickr.com/photos/makeartbehappy/5793726582/in/photostream

Slab pot

https://meyzeekart.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/clay8.jpg?w=655

Heart Printing

http://www.howweelearn.com/print-making-kids/

Paper Cubes with Hearts

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/750x/1c/ef/40/1cef40d3884db94bd3bef3c11cbd5d78.jpg

4. Looking and Responding 

Here's is a quick round up of some artists and their art that deals with the theme of love. 

Norman Rockwell 

Gustav Klimt - The Kiss

You probably have a copy of this in your school. I know I have one from Ikea. Although hugely reproduced there is something about this painting that captivates me. It is nice to paint with metallic paints for a change too.

Jim Dine - Sculpture & Paintings

As you can see hearts are the subject of Jim Dine's work. Perfect for this time of year!

Picasso - Paintings from the Rose Period

Following his blue period Picasso began to paint clowns, harlequins and carnival performers using warm colours. This change in palette creates a cheerful atmosphere, a change from the despair and loneliness depicted during the blue period. 

Have children paint a picture using tint and shades of red. A perfect project for Valentine's Day. 

Taj Mahal

A beautiful monument and a wonder of the world. The love story of why the Taj Mahal was built is worth sharing with your class. 

If you teach younger classes they might enjoy 'skinamarinky dinky dink dink'  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7vPzg7VLUsY

I hope I've given you some art inspiration. Wishing you all a happy Valentine's Day :)

Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year! 

I really enjoy celebrating the Chinese New Year with my class every year. Art wise I have printed cherry blossoms with the end of a bottle before and we draw the animal relevant to the year. I buy fortune cookies, read 'Dim Sum for Everyone' and we watch a short video on the story of Nian.  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=guwPTBmuiN8&feature=youtu.be

This is a lovely story and my class had great fun making dim sum out of playdoh afterwards. 

Below are some ideas I thought were nice. I have included links to the relevant sites under each picture. 

Chinese Lanterns

http://lizmckay.blogspot.ie/2013/01/chinese-new-year-lanterns.html?m=1

Ming Vases

http://beckermiddleart.blogspot.ie/2013/02/chinese-ming-vases.html?m=1

Willow Pattern Plates

This is a perfect lesson on tints and shades. 

Seomra Ranga have a script based on "The Story of the Willow Pattern Plate"

http://www.seomraranga.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/WILLOW-PATTERN-PLATE.doc

http://useyourcolouredpencils.blogspot.ie/2010/04/chinese-willow-pattern-plates.html?m=1 

Folded Paper Lantern

These could be decorated with monkeys as 2016 is the year of the Fire Monkey.

http://pin.it/-RZmQ0h

Wool Dragon 

Unfortunately the link is only to the uploaded picture. It looks like once the wool is glued to the page a dragon in drawn following the curve of the line with oil pastels or chalk. I really like the triangular head and tail. Chinese dragons are a sign of power, strength and good luck. 

http://pin.it/ic_yjVP

Monkey

I think this simple monkey painted in black paint and mounted on red paper is very striking. Children can paint their monkey in any pose. 

The link is to an Etsy page but the art work is great for inspiration. 

http://pin.it/OZF5vy5

Happy Chinese New Year

Pancake Tuesday

It's a busy week celebration wise. Monday February 8th is the start of the Chinese New Year, Tuesday February 9th is Shrove Tuesday and the Sunday 14th is Valentine's Day. 

Phew! How to fit it all in?!?! 

This is my second post today focusing on Pancake Tuesday. 

Pancake Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday) precedes Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent. It is celebrated by eating pancakes before the period of fasting begins. I have great fun bringing pancakes into my class. I usually do an art related lesson too for Pancake Tuesday but I keep it simple. The kids draw their favourite pancake toppings or disgusting pancake toppings. I like to link this to literacy by doing some procedural writing or creative writing. 

I love to read 'Mr Wolf's Pancakes' on Pancake Tuesday. The ending is unexpected to say the least ;) After reading the story sometimes we design aprons for Mr Wolf or print pancake toppings using fruit and vegetables. 

Below is a link to an apron template but I just draw a very basic outline in black marker for the younger classes. 

http://patternuniverse.com/download/apron-pattern/

Experiment printing with lots of different fruit and vegetables. Some of my favourite are lemons, celery, peppers, lettuce and mushrooms. 

Enjoy your pancakes! I'm looking forward to slathering mine in chocolate and bananas! Yum! 

Colourful Snowmen

Ok so it isn't snowing but it is Winter and that is a good enough reason for me to do some snowy art! These colourful snowmen will brighten up your classroom    and use up all the wrapping paper you've been hoarding. Don't worry if you haven't I'm sure a child has had a birthday recently and can bring some in! 

The little rhyme that goes with it is nice for infants to recite. 

Children cut out the shapes for their snowman and glue onto bright coloured card. We added snow by dipping cotton buds into white paint and printing onto the coloured card. Other children used white oil pastels to add snowflakes. 

Enjoy creating some colourful snowmen of your own.

Easter Rising 1916

I was asked for some art ideas in relation to the Easter Rising. I'm working on a few more ideas but I thought I'd share these with you. 

Brush drawings

The link is to a video of Barroux painting scenes from his graphic novel 'Line of Fire'. It is a brush drawing using Indian ink and a round tipped brush. The result is quiet stark and reflects the bleakness of the time. 

https://vimeo.com/75281034

If you are reading a novel on the Easter Rising it would be a nice idea to illustrate key scenes from it or maybe have your class write and illustrate diary entries.

The Ducks of St. Stephen's Green

Have you heard the story of how every day fighting ceased to allow the grounds keeper feed his ducks? I think this is a heartwarming tale and nice to share with younger classes. Tell them the story and paint or draw some ducks afterwards. 

Cardboard box street

Using cardboard boxes create Sackville street, now O'Connell street, where stands the GPO on the steps of which  the proclamation was read. 

Or make some of the key buildings using cardboard boxes. 

Illustrated map

A nice link to geography aswell as history, draw a general map of an area of Dublin City and illustrate events that took place. The reading of the proclamation, ducks in St. Stephen's Green, messenger boys on bicycles, etc 

Divide a map into sections, each group works on an area and then piece it back together.

Design a commemorative stamp

It is nice to explore printing when looking at stamps. 

Children can glue cardboard pieces to a square of card to create a collograph print. Another option is a monoprint, use an acetate or laminating pouche, cover evenly in ink/paint and draw your design use a cotton bud. 

There are lots of other ways to create a print so give them a try. 

I hope to have some more ideas for you soon. :)

To infinity and beyond!!

World Space Week 4th - 10th October 

The theme this year is 'Discovery'. 

What might you discover on another plant? Aliens perhaps?!

These blow paint aliens are fun and fast.

1. Mix a little paint with water. 

2. Drop a teaspoon of the mixture on the page. 

3. Turn the page to create legs/arms. 

4. Gently blow the paint to make spikes etc. 

You can use straws to blow the paint around if you prefer. 

5. Add eyes (sticker eyes were used here) and a mouth once dry.

Or how about creating your own planets?!

Planet Printing

You need : Black paint and some found objects to print circles. 

When paint is dry fill in the circles with crayons or oil pastels. 

Mix a little paint with water and paint over the entire page. The crayons/oil pastels resist the paint. Add some silver or gold paint for a little sparkle 😊

Painting & Printmaking Review

This is my second review from the books Prim Ed very kindly sent me at the start of the summer.

There are two books in the “Early Childhood Art” series. The first review covered ‘Collage and Construction’ and this one will look at ‘Painting and Printmaking’.

I will discuss the book under the following heading.

Layout

Contents

Dust Rating

Early Childhood Art – Painting and Printmaking

Amelia Ruscoe

Layout

As before the book has rich colours, an abundance of photographs, and is easy to follow. Each activity is explained over two pages. The information is organised under headings such as, Resources, Key Questions, and Preparation.

On some pages an ‘Easy Alternative’ is offered as well as ways to enhance the experience, such as incorporating the art lesson into other areas of the curriculum or encouraging the children to turn their print into a recognisable thing.

The book is divided into four main chapters/sections

1.    Mixing colours: exploring colour and colour media

2.    Applying colour: experimenting with tools, materials and media

3.    Discovering texture and pattern: Printmaking

4.    Dyes and stains: Dripping, spraying, and dipping

At the start of each one is a list of resources and useful websites.

The last page of the book is an art storeroom stock list. This is great to have when organising your supplies, or have it copied and stuck inside your art press with the items you have highlighted.

Contents

There are 56 art activities in the book, divided into 4 sections. I think this book would be a great resource for anyone teaching infants, first or second class.  Thats not to say that these ideas can’t be adapted for older classes!

Again I have to say there are so many projects I want to try from this book. It is very accessible and inviting. The only problem is I don’t know how I can try them all in just one year!

I particularly like the photos of the children working as well as the finished artwork. The foucus in on the process, using different materials, and appriciating the outcomes.

The projects I am looking forward to trying are

·    Glue and chalk pastels

·    Spinner art

·    Bubble prints

·    Textured print matrix

Dust Rating

I couldn’t decide what to call this category....! Basically here I am asking myself would I use this book or will it sit on the shelf gathering dust?

So one being thick with dust and five being dust free, I will award this book 5/5!

I know this review is similar to the last one but I genuinely like this book. I think it is a must for anyone teaching infants. So many great ideas for Aistear that don’t require a lot of resources.

This is one of my favourites and I have a lot of art books!!