Let There Be...Art!

7th grader

For weeks I’ve been muttering to myself. Muttering names. Muttering numbers. I’ve been putting together the second annual art show at the school where I teach art. It’s been a dizzying mix of excitement, panic and paper. Lots of paper. Counting and recounting. “Why do I only have thirty seven? Let me count. Again.” Eventually I realize that Sammy hasn’t given me his bird portrait, and this is why one is missing. Wish I had remembered that before counting to thirty seven at least eight times. But hey, I’m human.

I saved almost all of the art the students have made since the fall, and this means that there are over one thousand pieces for me to sort through. (Thank heavens for binder clamps.) There is a lot of variety in the show and I’m happy that things have come together. There were moments when I was overwhelmed. But these kids did some wonderful art this year and I’m so proud of them. 

7th grader

8th grader

I wish I could show you the entire collection of almost four hundred pieces of art in the show. But I’m paring it down to a smaller sample for the blog, and I hope you enjoy seeing what the kids made.

We’ve experimented with collage, watercolor painting and weaving paper. We learned about texture, both tactile and visual. The kids practiced drawing birds, fish and food three-dimensionally, using perspective, shadow and highlight. All the students created lily pads inspired by Claude Monet, and the third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders made three-dimensional water lilies and lotus flowers.

3rd grader

7th grader

2nd grader

4th grader

1st grader

textured paper art by a 3rd grader

My youngest students are five (Kindergarteners) and the oldest are fourteen, so there’s a big range in their A) attention span and B) fine motor skills. But they all tried hard and they always make me laugh. The younger kids are so earnest in what they say. And their questions aren’t limited to art. One little girl approached me with a concerned face and asked, “Mrs. Sarah, do boys have cooties?” A male classmate overheard and his little face took on an indignant look. “No, of course they don’t,” I told her. This, of course, had nothing to do with the art lesson we were doing, but these Life Questions pop into their minds and (obviously) require answers. Hey, that’s what I’m here for. I open paint. I help draw bird beaks. And I address concerns about cooties. Next question?

paper collage fish by a 1st grader

6th grader

7th grader

8th grader. This student always draws with a lot of visual texture.

8th grader

 

6th grader

7th grader

7th grader

5th grader. I love how much attention he gave to the sesame seeds on the crust.

5th grader

Kindergartener

1st grader

8th grader

3rd grader

4th grader

5th grader

Printmaking by a 7th grader

Printmaking by an 8th grader

Printmaking by an 8th grader

Watercolor weaving by a 6th grader

Watercolor weaving by a 5th grader

I’m no expert in teaching at this point, but I do feel like I learn a lot every single time I teach. Sometimes it’s really frustrating. At times the intentional messes are unbelievable. Sometimes I get hot glue burns, paper cuts, and sore shoulders. I always have tired feet. But every day I’m with the kids there are wonderful moments. One day a first grade boy cut a heart and gave it to me. Other days the students hug me or thank me for my help. At times the second graders insist on sweeping up the mess from the class before theirs—and they argue over who gets to use the broom. I love their innocent faces. I’m amazed at the different ways they interpret projects. I marvel at how much pride some of them have in their work. Some are true artists. I’m exhausted when I stagger home after a day of teaching but I always feel so grateful to be doing it. It’s art, it’s kids, there are laughs, there is imagination. I’m so lucky.