Chihuly Sea forms

The first and second graders learned about the life and work of glass artist, Chihuly. Their discussion focused on his sea forms and use of  organic shapes.

Students watched this video promoting the exhibition Through The Looking Glass.  

After practicing drawing organic shapes the students worked collaboratively to make sea forms for our own art room instillation. 

Using special defusing paper students drew organic shapes and then colored them in with water based markers. 

Then they cut out their shapes...

coated them in a paper mache paste...

and then shaped them in a styrofoam bowl.

Once the forms were all dry they were installed in one of the art room's large windows.

Wayne Thiebaud Ice Cream

The Third Graders have been learning about the artist, Wayne Thiebaud, most famous for his paintings of cakes, pies, ice creams and other treats.  He is sometimes affiliated with the pop art movement. Students looked at many of his paintings and made observations about the subject of his paintings, the colors he used and the textures of his paints.

They are currently working on a papier-mâché ice cream cone sculpture inspired by his paintings. First, the students built an armature out of newspaper, oak tag and masking tape. Next, they worked with paste and news paper to build on top of their armature, making the scoops of ice cream rounded and smooth. When they are finished constructing, they will work with paint to complete their sculpture.

When Wayne Thiebaud was asked about what he wants people to see when they look at his pictures in a CBS Sunday Morning interview, he said, "I'd like for them to laugh a little. If we don't have a sense of humor, we lack a sense of perspective." I think it is safe to say that the art room has been filled with laughter and fun as we have been making these sculptures.