I am currently a full-time art educator at MSK, teaching five curriculums in both fine art and digital art. Units include painting, drawing, ceramics, watercolor, sculpture, upcycling, graphic design and Adobe software. Please explore student work below.
After learning about value, students created these portraits by cutting shapes of paper in four shades. Referencing posterized photos of themselves or celebrities, they traced, cut, and pasted shapes to achieve a 3D look. This was a challenging project that required students to think differently and summon patience.
“I loved that I got to make art differently than I usually do.”
”I had to think in layers instead of lines.”
”I can’t believe it worked with only four shades of paper.”
Using latex balloons, paper mache, and paint, students created hot air balloons. These creatively decorated artworks even feature a person riding in the basket.
After learning about the grid method and shading techniques, sixth-grade students worked hard and observed carefully to achieve proper proportions and light effects to make these portraits look as accurate as possible.
“I have never been able to draw before!”
”I can’t believe I drew this!”
After learning about the proportions of the human body, seventh graders created these lively sculptures of humans in action. Each student created their own character and some worked in teams to create their environments. This was a chance to develop skills with wire, paper maché, painting, and fabric.
“It was fun to collaborate with friends.”
”You could be really creative with this. The guidelines were wide open.”
In this clay unit, eighth graders made original and amusing bobbleheads. They created the classic wiggly motion by making custom springs out of wire.
“I really enjoyed doing this project.”
”It was so creative!”
SHADOW BOXES
After learning about foreground, middle ground and background, sixth graders created these 3D compositions inside a box. Each student was required to tell a story and convey depth using several kinds of media.
“I loved the scene I chose to portray.”
”Fun to use different materials.”
”I’m proud of the optical illusion [my shadow box] creates.”
CARDBOARD RELIEF + SCULPTURE
Each grade works with cardboard at some point during the semester. These “upcycling” projects require patience and a great deal of problem solving. Here are examples of sixth-grade portraits, seventh grade shoes, and eighth-grade sculptures.
