Rene Magritte Man in the Bowler Hat Portraits

4th Graders have been studying Surrealism art in art class. The surrealism art movement looked to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example by the irrational juxtaposition of images (putting impossible combinations together). Most of all the Surrealist artists wanted those who are viewing their artwork to THINK!!

4th graders looked closely at the work of Rene Magritte. He painted in a realistic style. While the objects appear to the viewer to be recognizable, the composition of those recognizable objects appears fantastic.

4th Graders recreated Magritte’s self portraits Son of Man and Man in the Bowler Hat.  Students first sketched their portrait, painted it in, and then outlined in black. They then choose an image that had meaning to them in some way as the object placed over their face.

Cherry Trees

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More

First graders read the story, I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More!  The little boy in the book LOVED to paint, except he painted everywhere but the paper!

First graders drew self portraits and then outlined in Sharpie. Next they painted in with water colors. They could be as crazy as they wanted in their color choices to paint themselves in, just like the little boy in the story. We then added purple handprints. (They thought it was so cool to get their hands painted purple:)

Paper Mache Ice Cream Sundaes

Aztec Suns on Metal Tool

YMCA After School Program Art Show

Through out the school year I worked with our after school program and held an art club. In the upper grades I let the students make their own choice for the subject matter of their paintings. It was interesting to see their choices. For the lower grades, we did abstract tape paintings. They they turned out great and the parent turn out was great for the show too!

Positive/ Negative Animal Weavings

Rainbow Lorikeets

2nd graders learned about the rainbow lorikeet and other parrots through a Smartboard lesson and short video. They drew the bird step by step and then outlined with white oil pastel. Students then colored in with oil pastel and used marker caps to stamp patterns in the background.