Curriculum Night

What a wonderful curriculum night we had last night. I met some wonderful parents, who are so supportive of their students. Thank you for being such a great inspiration for parents and teachers and thank you for all you do. I'm really excited to start this next year and I know that at Geisler and in the art room we are on an amazing journey to thinking and creating. I can't wait to share everything we do with all of the great parents and students.
Again thank you for a wonderful night.
Mrs. Tillman

Second Week of School!

    Well made it through the first week of school and are now well into the second. YEAH!!! I am loving having 7th grade at the beginning of the day. What a nice change to the schedule. We have such great kids in our school this year.
     I have been working on incorporating thinking routines into my class, following the strategies from Ron Ritchhart's book Making Thinking Visible. I amazed at the ideas the students have about art and am looking forward to learning more of their thoughts.

Students answered the following questions about this painting. I see, I think, I wonder

 

Franz Marc: Painting, Quotes and Biography

    We then discussed how Franz Marc painted the horses as a way to express his emotions rather than paint exactly what he saw. Working through creativity and thinking out side the box is really our theme for this year. I am hoping that each student will leave my class this year not being too afraid to think outside the box and try new and amazing things. 

Welcome Back

Welcome back. I am excited for an awesome new school year. I have a million ideas for great projects, thinking and learning. 

 I hope you had a wonderful summer. Below are some pictures I took when we went hiking in the Colorado Mountains. These are actually from the Garden of the Gods Park in Manitou Springs, Co. In the last picture you can see Pike's Peak it is one of tallest mountain's in the Denver area at 14,000 feet. (it is the one going into the clouds) we were going to take a tram to the top but I had a panic attack the day before and ruled that out. Luckily for me it was pretty poor weather on the mountain and the tram was closed. But we had a great time exploring and hiking all through out. I look forward to hearing about your vacations and hope that you bring in many pictures for me to see.

           

Maori Masks - 8th Grade

Every year I try to do a mask design with my students. I haven't found the perfect combination of ideas but this year we studied the tattoo designs of the Maori tribes. Students then created a mask and decorated with their own tribal designs. Sometimes these translated into very tribal looking pieces and sometimes the pieces became more like abstract art. It was great lesson and gave the students a lot of freedom and opportunity to let their own personality shine through in the creation of their art work.

Elements and Principles: Form, Shape, Texture, Contrast, Variety, Pattern, Unity and Rhythm

Cross Curricular: Social Studies

Project Requirements: 

   - Paper Mache was applied and created neatly. Facial features are still evident.

   - The form was painted neatly with 1 solid color

   - The form was neatly glued to the background paper

   - The mask included a design that demonstrated Contrast and Variety, and showed attention to detail.

   - Design is drawn and colored neatly.

   - Design is continued to the background and blends with the mask.

The Summer Island Series - Searching the Storm by Melinda Martin Knysz

I am an avid reader and love delving into books that interest or could possible interest my students. This is an amazing book written by my girlfriend. I am totally wrapped up in the book and can hardly wait for the next chapter to come out. Please enjoy. Leave comments and read to your hearts delight.

http://summerislandstorm.wordpress.com/

Reflective Name Circles - 7th Grade

The art students studied reflections, color schemes and lettering to create these interesting artworks. I find that this project is really easy to teach and the results are really well. I try to use a thinner drawing paper that  so I don't have my entire class hovering over the window.

Here are the steps to creating the project.

Step 1: Draw your name on the triangle, make sure to use "bubble letters" or letters that have weight.

Then trace your letters using sharpie, make sure to trace the backwards letters on the back on the triangle too.





Step 2: Using a square paper (in our class we used 12"x12") Divide your paper into 8 equal triangular sections that meet at the center.

Step 3: Start tracing your letters through the paper. Slide your triangle name drawing under one triangle of your paper, in this triangle you should trace your name face up. Now flip your triangle over, slide it back under your paper and trace your name backwards but make sure to line up your letters. You may have to fudge some areas where the lines don't meet due to human error. Continue this around the circle till your whole paper is filled.

Step 4: Now using paint or colored pencil choose a color scheme and don't forget to write this on the back of the paper. In class we discussed the following types of color schemes, analogous complementary, monochromatic, warm/cool, triadic.

ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES: Color, Shape, Line, Balance. 

CROSS CURRICULAR: Math

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS: 

     - Create a repeating pattern, that correctly reflects the letters across the hypoteneus.

     - Use a minimum of 3 letters

     - Correctly Link the letters so that your name is not obvious

     - Choose a color scheme of 3 or more hues

     - Carefully paint each area and blend/mix colors appropriately

     - Write the correct color scheme on the back of your art

     - CRAFTSMANSHIP (make it neatly)

STUDENT EXAMPLES:

A great opportunity for extra credit and artistic expression

Here is a wonderful contest to design a postcard relating to Thomas Jefferson from the Monticello.org website.

Good Luck.

http://www.monticello.org/site/families-and-teachers/postcard-contest