Making sketchbooks

This year I have  a self-contained EBD class of all boys.  They're very energetic and I'm excited to be working with them.  Art can often be a very important class to all students, but especially for those with exceptional needs.

To begin the semester, I wanted the students to have something they could have ownership of and keep with them to sketch or journal when the mood struck.  I decided to use our school's binder maker to create budget-friendly sketchbooks.  The boys were shown how to create a collage of (school-appropriate) images that represented things that they liked.  They also had to spell their names out with letters from magazines.  I laminated the front and back cover, and we used the binder maker to put it all together.  When they were completed, the kids were very excited to take their sketchbooks with them.

8th grade Asymmetrical Folders

For our first project this year, the 8th graders played with the idea of "two sides" to create asymmetrical designs on their Art folders. The variety seen in their work is outstanding! Some students chose nature themes, others humor, while others tackled very deep issues. I'm excited to see what the rest of the semester will produce. There is A LOT of talent in our Panther Artists!

West Milwaukee Open House

Please come and join us at West Milwaukee Intermediate on Wednesday, September 20th at 6:30.  We are having our annual Open House.  This is a fantastic way for families to meet their students' teachers, ask questions, and observe all the hard work going on here at West.  Students and families will be able to visit each individual classroom.  Stop by the Art Room and take a look at all of the previous 8th graders artist-inspired ceiling tiles!  Hope to see you there!

Welcome Back!

Hello! Welcome new and returning students! I'm so excited to start the new 2012-13 school year! The staff at WMIS have been hard at work getting rooms and curriculums ready. I spent a good portion of the summer tweaking old lessons and getting new ones ready.

On the first day of class students will receive a letter to take home to their families explaining some of what we'll be doing, the supplies needed (pencils!), and my contact information. Each student is also required to read, take home, and get a guardian's signature on the "Art Contract". The contract explains expectations and grading. If your student has lost his/her contract or letter, please email me at: valentineO@wawm.k12.wi.us

I look forward to all the amazing creativity in the Art room this year. Please check back here often to stay updated on projects, announcements, and recognitions. I try to post weekly and welcome any of your comments and feedback!

Have a wonderful first week and school year!

8th grade High Contrast Self-Portraits

I was nervous to introduce this self-portrait project to my students.  For one, middle school is a very akward time for most of us, perhaps one of the most self-conscious stages in our lives.  Working with these adolescents, I've come to realize how super-critical they are of themselves.  However, it's also a time when they're coming into young adulthood, getting ready for high school and all the exciting changes their lives can take. 
Portraits are one of my favorite subjects to draw and paint personally, and I wanted to share this love with the students.  It's a great introspection to do self-portraits, and the model is always available.  The students studied some of Chuck Close's work.  His giant, photo-realistic portraits, are easier to replicate because of his grid-enlargement system.  First, Mr. Tetting our wonderful librarian and IMC specialist (check out his website here), helped us take digital portraits of the students and edit them to be high contrast.  The students practiced proportions of facial features and practiced grid enlargement.  When they were comfortable, they began their own portraits.  I'm amazed at these fantastic results!!  

Adaptive Art Pop-up Castles

The balloons were a bit of a bust, pun intended.  I just couldn't find a way to get them to stay up.  So, instead, the Adaptive Art class made these awesome castles!  They look fantastic in the third floor display case.

Cropped Animal Linoleum Relief Prints

The 8th graders learned a lot of art vocabulary and new skills in doing this printmaking project.  We discussed how cropping can make a composition more dynamic.  The students understood this concept easily, because most of them are used to cropping photos for their social networking. 

The students were asked to find an animal and crop the animal in an interesting way for their final print.  They were shown how to transfer their image to the linoleum tile, and how to safely, and properly use carving tools in creating their print.  They were then shown techniques for printmaking.  The students were given four days and unlimited paper and ink combinations to create three perfect prints.  I'm once again blown away by the sophisitication these intermediate students show in their art.  Amazing!