Newsletter

The first quarter of the year has flown by in the art room. Your little artists have created many beautiful pieces displayed at artsonia.com. I want to thank those of you who actively participate on the website. 

Students have begun learning about the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design. The Elements of Art are the building blocks of all art. The Elements of Art are Line, Shape, Color, Value, Texture, Space, and Form. The Principles of Design describe how the Elements of Art can be used in art. The Principles of Design are Contrast, Balance, Movement, Emphasis, Rhythm, Pattern, and Unity. 

So far this year, we have studied the following Elements: 

Line: the path of a moving dot. Lines can vary in direction and thickness.

Shape: a flat, enclosed area (two-dimensional). Shapes can be GEOMETRIC or ORGANIC.

Color: light reflected off of objects and back to the eye. The Color Wheel is a tool that artists use to help them understand color relationships. 

We have been engaged in the analysis of art as well. After completing each unit of study, students analyzed a piece of art and responded to prompts about the artwork. This activity aims to help students develop inference, analysis, critique, and prediction skills. The method of examining art is known as Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS). This approach involves a structured conversation about a work of art that encourages the viewer to explore the artwork in detail and share their observations and interpretations with others. 

If you have the time, you can try out VTS with your students at home. 

Start with 30 seconds of quiet observation time

(allow children to view the artwork in silence.) 

Use the following questions to engage your child in conversation about the artwork.

1. What do you see? (Describe the people, places, things, colors, shapes, lines, etc. in the image)

2. What do you think? ( Describe what you think is going on in the picture. )

3. What do you wonder? (What question would you ask the artist about their artwork?)

Using VTS strategies with students at home will help them experience connections between art and life outside school. 

Thank you for your continued support!

Ms. Sarah Parson