Art Ed Geek Teaching for Artistic Behavior at Plymouth State University and Beyond

Darcy

“Crazy Darcy”, Wire and Pipe Cleaners, 10″ x 10″

“My Little Pony”, Crayon and Oil Pastel, 9″x12″
Rainbow dash wearing a dress.

Q:  What grade are you in?

A:  Fourth

Q:  What is your favorite subject?  What is your favorite thing to make artwork about?

A:  My Little Ponies

Q:  What is your favorite color?

A:  Blue

Q:  How do you feel when you’re making work? 

A:  Very Happy

Q:  How do you want people to feel when they see your work?

A:  Happy

Q:  What are your favorite mediums to use?  What are your favorite materials in the CRES studio? 

A:  Crayons, Paint, Magic Markers, and Wire.

Third graders in Maine spend much of their year learning about their beloved state.  Each year Mrs. Littlefield, who is the music teacher at Coastal Ridge Elementary School, York, ME put on a wonderful “Maine Night” performance as part of this unit.

This year we decided to work collaboratively on part of that performance.  The pieces in the following video and gallery were inspired by the song “Coast of Maine” by Mike Nobel. For this project all third graders at CRES were asked to create a piece of artwork based on the lyrics of that song.  Students then planned out their artwork in their sketchbooks using thumbnail sketches.  Students were then free to use any of the centers in the CRES Studio to create their masterpiece.  Some of the media the students chose to work in was mixed-media, embroidery, watercolor, colored pencil, and oil pastels.

Click Invitation Above to View an Enlarged Version

November 5-November 17 students from Coastal Ridge Elementary School of York, ME, Galvin Middle School of Wakefield, MA, and the Plympton & Fitzgerald Elementary Schools of  Waltham, MA will be having their top Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) exhibited at the Arnheim Gallery,  Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA .  The opening reception will be Saturday, November 10, 2012 from 11:oo a.m.-1:00 p.m.

I have attached the proposal below, as well as some helpful links to help you better understand the concept behind the exhibit, as well as ATCs in general.

Click Proposal Above to View an Enlarged Version

Not familiar with ATCs?

Here are a few helpful links:

• Artist Trading Cards Website
• 1,000 Artist Trading Cards: Innovative and Inspired Mixed Media ATCs

This year students will be enjoying an approach to art education called Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) in the “CRES Studio”.

The TAB approach to teaching treats and recognizes students as artists, and allows them to make choices and create work that is meaningful to them.  A main focus to this center-based approach is creating a studio culture within the artroom.  To help students start to gain an understanding of what an art studio is I asked the question…

What is an art studio?

Below are just a few of their amazing answers and comments.

It is a place where…

• “…artists make their drawings.”
• “…you stay to have ideas and to make pictures.”
• “…artists make all their art.”
• “…it helps to have a good view and sunlight.”
• “…there is a bunch of art on the walls.”
• “…people can do their art.”
• “…you make art.”
• “…you paint and sketch.”
• “…you get ideas to make your art.”
• “…sometimes you share.”
• “…there are tables and you make lots of art.”
• “…artists make their art.”
• “…you can look for inspiration, possibly from other art pieces you’ve made.”
• “…you can hang pictures.”
• “…you can have fun with your art.”
• “…you can study art history to help you get ideas about making art.”
• “…you have art supplies and canvases.”

And some other comments…

• “Artists usually have their own studio.”
• “Sometimes an art studio is in your house, it is where you keep your paint and sketchbooks.”
• “I have an art studio in my basement.”
• “This room is like an art studio!”
• “An art studio is a creative place where you can be who you want to be in art and in life.”

After students shared their understanding of what makes an art studio and art studio I asked them if they would like to see some famous and emerging artists in their real studios.  Click on this link to view the “Art Studio” Presentation we viewed in class.

We then watched  a clip taken from a 1950 film of Jackson Pollock  painting outside of his studio.

This week I started my new position as the artist educator at Coastal Ridge Elementary School (CRES) in York, ME.  So far it has been an amazing experience and I’ve enjoyed the very warm welcome.  I look forward to getting to know and working closely with the students, staff, families, and the York community at large.

Check out the  Vincent van Gogh Power Point we looked at!

This week I helped kick off the Roots + Wings After-School Program at Vance!  This week we explored the medium of Oil Pastels.  Check out some of the “Free Drawings” students worked on after they finished their daily projects.

Vincent van Gogh in the French Quarter
Mardi Gras Day, 2012

(Image Found On Imgur)

It has been a real pleasure working with this talented group of young artists over the past month.  Here are some of the photographs of the work displayed in the exhibit.