1st Grade Gallery
Crazy Mixed-Up Picasso Faces!
Clay Owls
Kanga Women
The kanga (or khanga; from the old Bantu (Kiswahili) verb ku-kanga, to wrap or close), is a colorful garment worn by women (and occasionally by men) throughout West Africa. It is a piece of printed cotton fabric, often with a border along all four sides (called pindo in Swahili), and a central part (mji) which differs in design from the borders. The border frequently contain a proverb so it acts as a communication tool throughout the region. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanga_(African_garment)
"Valuable" Snowpeople
1st grade artists created no ordinary snowpeople - they created VALUABLE snowpeople. How do you create the illusion of light on a flat surface? Add some value, that's how! Value is the lightness or darkness of a color and one of the seven elements of art. Yes, our FIRST GRADERS used value in amazing ways to create these adorable snowpeople.
Fall Pointillism Landscapes
First graders learned about Georges Seurat and the art style (method) called Pointillism. Dots and more dots! Pointillist artists used science to create color - they placed two different colors close to each other and allowed the eye to MIX them. The painting, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, inspired us to create our own versions of Pointillism. Students concluded that Pointillist artists needed lots of time and patience to create their paintings! (Seurat took 2 years to create "Sunday Afternoon!")
Square 1 Art - Goldfish Bowls
2014-2015 Artwork Below
Snorkle Self Portraits
Who is up for a swim?
Whoooooooo is cute?! We are!
1st graders created clay owls with personality! They used a neat technique - oil pastel and black watercolor - to finish them off. Enjoy!
Mixed Media Bird Houses
1st graders did a great job making a home for their feathered friends by using paint, oil pastels and patterned paper.
Indian Festival Elephants
Elephant Festival is a festival celebrated in Jaipur city in India. It is held on the day of Holi festival, usually in the month of March. The festival features Elephant polo and Elephant Dance. The Elephant Festival begins with a beautiful procession of bedecked elephants, camels, horses and folk dancers. The owners proudly embellish their elephants with vibrant colors, jhools (saddle cloth) and heavy jewelery. One can see people sprinkling 'gulaal' (colored powder) perched on top of the elephant. The most beautifully decorated elephant is awarded.
1st graders had a great time making their elephant ready for the parade!
1st graders had a great time making their elephant ready for the parade!
Concept Landscapes
Mrs. Witherspoon, VCU Student Teacher
Reindeer are Ready!
1st graders learned about reindeer - their characteristics, diet and habitat. They used simple shapes to create their antler friend and then painted with their color choices. Some even got dressed up for the holidays!
Fall Landscape inspired by Impressionism
1st graders learned about Claude Monet and Impressionism. Students also learned how to create depth and perspective within a landscape, including showing trees smaller and higher on the page, as well as converging lines for their path. Beautiful fall colors!
Our Wild Things!
1st graders used shape, line and pattern to create friendly "monsters" and wild things. Students practiced painting skills and added oil pastels to create some final details. Students were given an option of sharing and presenting to their class some things about their wild things. What is his/her name? Where does he/she live? What do they like to do? What do they like to eat? I should have taken video of these presentations - lots of fun (and great experience on learning how to effectively speak to the class).
Square 1 Art Self Portraits
Don't we look great?!
2013-2014 Artwork below
Clay Foxes!
Keith Haring Inspired Symbolic Figures
Awesome Alliterations Abound!
The repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables.
1st graders learned about the literary term "Alliteration" and created their own alliteration sentence/phrase. Then students illustrated their Amazingly Awesome Alliterations! (Ms. Kim, Student Teacher)
1st graders learned about the literary term "Alliteration" and created their own alliteration sentence/phrase. Then students illustrated their Amazingly Awesome Alliterations! (Ms. Kim, Student Teacher)
Service to our Community - Woven Heart Valentines
Let it Snow! Catching Snow Self Portraits
When those big, fluffy snowflakes start falling, what do you do?! 1st graders head outside and catch them on their tongue of course! What fun! 1st grade artists learned about drawing facial features and then created their fabulous winter self portraits. Happy Snow!
Friendly Scarecrows
Scare away the crows? No way! These lovable scarecrows are ready to invite everybody to their farm. 1st graders used line, shape and color to create their cute friends.
Impressionist Fall Tree Landscape
1st graders learned about Claude Monet and Impressionism. Students also learned how to create depth and perspective within a landscape, including showing trees smaller and higher on the page, as well as converging lines for their path. Happy Fall!
2012-2013 Artwork Below
Cute Bird Familes
Family Portrait Frames
1st graders created a clay house frame and added some personal details to make the home their own. The frame window features a family portrait created in colored pencils. Each one is filled with its own unique personality. Definitely, Home Sweet Home!
Indian Festival-inspired Elephants
Elephant Festival is a festival celebrated in Jaipur city in India. It is held on the day of Holi festival, usually in the month of March. The festival features Elephant polo and Elephant Dance. The Elephant Festival begins with a beautiful procession of bedecked elephants, camels, horses and folk dancers. The owners proudly embellish their elephants with vibrant colors, jhools (saddle cloth) and heavy jewelery. One can see people sprinkling 'gulaal' (colored powder) perched on top of the elephant. The most beautifully decorated elephant is awarded.
1st graders had a great time making their elephant ready for the parade!
1st graders had a great time making their elephant ready for the parade!
Music Collages
First graders looked at the artwork of Henri Matisse and Romare Bearden. These artists were inspired by the rhythm and movement of music. Matisse created his “cut-outs” while he was confined to a wheelchair. He likens his cut-outs to “painting with scissors.” Bearden’s collages often illustrated scenes and daily life in New York during the Harlem Renaissance, a period of time well known for its music. 1st grader’s collages also were in celebration of their wonderful music program, Youth Art Month and Music in our Schools Month!
Snowy Landscapes
How do you create depth and space on a two dimensional surface? Our first graders can show you how. Walk into our snowy landscapes and enjoy! (Here is a good explanation of creating space.) (And another!)
Cuckoo Clocks
1st graders created artwork that works! Enjoy their watercolor resist cuckoo clocks with hands that move. Students completed their clocks with a three dimensional feathery friend.
Pumpkin Still Life
Students created their balanced composition with pumpkins, apples, and indian corn. Using oil pastels, they learned to blend and add highlight and shadow in order to show form.