5th Grade LVAA Clay Tile Mural Project

After practicing with oil based clay and learning clay vocabulary and more, my 5th grade is finishing their tile mural project. This project was funded by a grant I received from the Louisville Visual Art Association. The portrait tiles will be put together to form our school mascot, a dolphin, after they are fired in my kiln. I may be art on a cart but I've made it work!

2nd Grade Weaving Portraits

I do paper weavings with 2nd grade every year and usually have them turn the weaving into a fish or butterfly. This year I wanted to change it up and had them turn their weavings into portraits. They created clay masks this year so the portraits were a great follow up project connection.

Carolyn Braden's 1st Grade: Painted Landscapes

Yet another project inspired by Pinterest; Landscapes. I decided to have my first graders use paint media. They were given the primary colors and black, white, brown and green. If they wanted a tint or shade of a color, they had to use their mixing palette. They also had to make purple, orange or gray if they wanted to use them. They had a choice of creating organic or geometric mountains. They learned about foreground, middle ground and background and many other vocabulary words with this project. We will have presentations next week. I think they did a fabulous job!

The 2nd Grade KMAC Field Trip: Clay Masks

My 2nd grade had a great time making clay masks at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft. I had them create practice masks with oil based clay before the trip so they would be familiar with techniques. They sketched out their favorite pieces while they toured the museum. Then they created masks with clay. The mask started as a slab of clay and they cut out the face shape and added low-relief pieces. They used Mayco Stroke n' Coat glazes to add color. When we left, the museum put their masks on rolled up newspaper to give curve to the pieces. I pick up the masks in approximately one week and am excited to see the final results.

Carolyn Braden: 4th Grade Friendship Bracelets

I created this video to help my 4th grade on their friendship bracelet weaving project. It's the candy stripe method. They love this project!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6gb-1A0l-M

Carolyn Braden: LVAA 5th Grade Grant Tile Project

While waiting for my kiln to be ready for use, we are prepping to start our LVAA (Louisville Visual Art Association) funded tile project. Fifth grade students will be creating 4-inch low relief self portrait tiles. When they paint their tile, they must follow a painting diagram I created. After the tile mural is assembled, viewers will see the self portraits when standing close, then see our school mascot, the dolphin, when standing further away. See my diagram in the photo below. Some classes will start sketches next week.

Carolyn Braden: Received VSA Award

I wrote a proposal to have a local artist come to school and work with my 3rd graders on an art project. My proposal was approved and I received $1,200.00 to make my idea happen. The artist is Michelle Amos who is a local fiber artist. She is working with the students on a Peruvian Embroidery piece. So far, students have learned a little about Michelle, how to thread a needle and create a running stitch. Students will next draw an animal onto burlap and use stitches learned to fill in the animal with bright colors. Peruvian children create embroidery pieces of things they are familiar with. With this project, I hope for my students to understand that other children in the world create art just like them and build confidence in their new art skills learned. I am also thrilled they get to work with a real working artist. Every week I discuss types of jobs students could get with a degree in art. By working with Michelle, they understand you truly can be a full time artist.

Here is my media news release about the project:

LOCAL SCHOOL RECEIVES AWARD: VSA KENTUCKY ARTS INCLUSION

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, JANUARY 2013---Schaffner Traditional Elementary will be working with local artist Michelle Amos due to receiving the VSA Kentucky Arts Inclusion award. The school received the award from the non-profit organization which provides opportunities in the arts for children and adults with disabilities.

Under the guidance of Michelle Amos and Carolyn Braden, the Visual Art Instructor at the school, the third grade classes will work on Peruvian Embroidery pieces. This project has been organized in conjunction with the art curriculum, and is an integral part of the school’s efforts to promote the exploration of self-expression in young students.