6th Grade ART

6th Grade Art: Find Connections

TESSELLATIONS & TEAM WORK

We started our year with "puzzle pieces" shaped like people. Each student designed their own, then we worked as a team to put them together. We were inspired by MCEscher's tessellations.

These interlocked pieces symbolize how we all affect each other in the classroom and in our lives. When one person is helpful, considerate, and kind -- it makes a positive difference for the rest of the class.

ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES of DESIGN

6th-GRADE ART students are beginning to see that PRINCIPLES of DESIGN - (Unity & Variety; Repetition: Emphasis; Balance, Rhythm & Movement; Pattern; Contrast)- can help them to make organized design choices when making art. More emphasis on how artists use the Elements & Principles of Design goes into each project.

ARTIST TRADING CARDS:

A series of 3 cards - based on a central THEME, provides the structure for multi-media exploration, and an investigation of the Principles of design. Wildly fun trading follows.

TAPA Cloth: Mana

BARK CLOTH: We are exploring texture, color, and PATTERN as we design TAPA Cloth in the style of Polynesian artisans. We are learning about the cultures that developed these beautiful, functional artworks and are using similar techniques in textile design. The MANA (Life Spirit) embued in these designs is carried over from Polynesian culture to our classroom!

CLAY ANIMALS

A simple pinch pot can be transformed into an expressive owl or animal of choice. Maybe we can come up with a tiny monster or clever hybrid of more than one animal!

SELF-PORTRAITS: Students will use a grid method for enlarging their images, then add collage elements for symbolic expression.

CERAMIC TEXTURED OWLS / ANIMALS:

ART DETECTIVES: A weekly discussion of artworks that relate to our creative process. Art students are taking a slow look at artworks -- so they can learn how to SEE the meaning, design process, and historical/cultural connections in selected artworks. They are coming up with some amazing insights as they sketch, write about, and discuss each one. (We may have some art historians in the making!

ART JOURNAL (Sketchbook) is used for weekly art investigation, skills practice, and concept review. Your art journal is very helpful when experimenting with pre-project ideas & media.

ZENDALAS: Using protractors and compasses, students learn the ancient art of mandala design. Students illustrate these radial designs with Zentangle patterns for a satisfying finish.

MONOPRINTS with GELLI PLATES: Lines, Shapes, and Textures are overlapped in translucent colors to make a visually interesting series of prints and collage papers. Color schemes help to unify the prints. These are used for Self-Portraits later in the course.

POLLINATOR GARDEN: Flowers DRAWN from Observation, then painted in Watercolor will improve hand-eye coordination and increase Observational Skills.

Bark Cloth

Zendalas

Clay Animals

Watercolor Flowers

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