Art Apps!

I've been exploring a bunch of new iPad apps this year based on my reading, explorings, and your recommendations... (There are lots of great apps for free too!!) Here are some of the apps I have installed on my ipad so far: 

I have really enjoyed learning new things and seeing new art through apps like Earth as Art, Art Circles and Art Database.  

You can edit photos you take easily and creatively through apps like Snapseed, Aviary, reflection, and Rhonna Designs... See how many ways I can change this photo of a lantern in my home!?

Or even create new drawings or ideas through Paper 53, fingerprint, sculptor and more!

Many art apps are already listed on our cool art links tab on this blog... What are some of your favorites that you like to use? Leave a comment below to get them added to our collection :) Happy app-ing!!

Patterns!!

A pattern in something that repeats itself.  In art it could be lines, shapes or colors for example. Grade 2 explored ordinary boring patterns this week and used one another's ideas to transform the. Into more creative, complex patterns by thinking outside the box and adding more lines or shapes or colors to make patterns within patterns.  We have patterns in our lives for our daily routines, healthy habits we use to keep our minds and bodies strong, and even what we see and wear! What patterns do you notice in your life? Can you create an interesting pattern today? 

What is your material of choice?!

This week grade three started exploring the use of different art materials to represent themselves.  They have spent time practicing their self portrait drawing skills using pencils and mirrors.

They got to spend a class exploring oil pastels, crayons colored pencils and markers, watercolor paints and tempera paints to test which material (s) will work best for them. 

Ultimately they will be creating self portraits that tell a story about themselves.  If you could use any art material to create a self portrait, which ones would you choose and why!? 

Comment your favorites on this post :)

A look into the art room

The first two weeks of school have been bustling with activity and ideas in the art room. We've been focusing on establishing routines, understanding common agreements, and diving into group challenges such as representing what it looks like to be a safe, respectful and creative artist, imagining an art superhero, drawing the most creative ideas we can think of and more! Here's a look into learning, serving and creating in ES art so far!

Enter to learn, serve, and create!

We've had a great start to another school year at ASB exploring some common agreements and expectations for ourselves and one another as artists in ES art this year.  We agree that no matter what we are doing (learning, serving, creating) we need to all be safe, respectful, and creative. Looking forward to seeing these agreements in action in Es art this year! 

Finding Art everywhere!

Mrs. G sitting in a funny stone egg sculpture

Dutch Delft Painted Ceramic Pieces in my childhood hometown of Pella, IA

My dear ASB artists- I hope you are enjoying your summer challenge of finding art everywhere you go! I'm looking forward to sharing my art adventures with you in just a few more weeks so enjoy your travels and don't forget to be collecting art experiences everywhere you go! Here's a sneak peak of some of the art I've found in the US! 

Colorful art installation in the Chicago Airport

Artist Studios at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA

Grade 3: Images of Respect

Here is a video slideshow of the photographs grade 3 took and edited during our most recent unit. The students reflected and shared on the meaning of respect as a class and as individuals.  We explored specific ways an artist can ensure a good photograph (such as background, cropping, and view point).  They practiced their photography skills in groups then each planned and directed their own photograph depicting an element of respect that was important to them in particular. The images were shared at the ES Assembly on Friday this week.  We're also working on making wire and clay photo frame holders to display our images. Enjoy the images, and may they inspire you to reflect on your meaning of respect and how you show that in a photograph!