I absolutely love teaching art.  As an art teacher, I am constantly searching and reflecting on the work that my students produce.  They inspire me. When parents tell me that their child comes home and works on another project identical to what I taught them in class , it tickles my heart  and I am filled with joy!  I accomplished my main objective, give them a love for art and the confidence to know they will succeed!
Art teachers are pack rats.  We are always in search of free treasures that can be used to make wonderful art.  7 years ago, I put an addition on my house.  I told my carpenters to save all the wood scraps for me.  I still have a little bit left, but soon my supply will be gone.  If there are free surplus supplies that you know that I would treasure, could you send them my way?  I would so appreciate it!  
Here are some examples of things my classes could use:
Cheap paper plates
Cheap sytrofoam plates
Baby wipes
Kleenex
Corrugated cardboard
Thin cardboard
Wood scraps
Yarn: solids, textures, variegated etc.
String or twine
Beads
Silk flowers
Buttons
Fabrics
Felts
Old calendars featuring artists, animals, landscapes, flowers, birds, etc.
Wire
Treasures that I did not even know I couldn't live without!  
 
 
 
Wow, the year is coming to a close, fast!  I can not believe how fast the  school year has flown!  We have produced some amazing art work,  thanks to all my talented students.  What a joy and priviledge it is to teach something I absolutley love to do to your amazing kids.   The Spring Fine Arts Show is around the corner.  I could use some extra hands to make tape loops and hang art to showcase our artistic talent.  This would be a great way to get in some needed volunteer hours documented for the 2012-2013 school year!  Just give me a ring at school or e-mail me.  Remember, what goes up must come down so if you can not help put up, maybe you are available to take down. :)  SPREAD THE WORD:  Mrs. Weldy could use some help putting up and taking down art.  THANKS IN ADVANCE.

Artists are studying the work of MC Escher.  They are creating tessellations and using their imagination station to turn the shape into something incredible.

I DO INDEED BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN CONTRAST BETWEEN, SAY, PEOPLE IN SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS AND PEOPLE WORKING THE ARTS.  OFTEN THERE IS EVEN MUTUAL SUSPICION AND IRRATATION, AND IN SOME CASES ONE GROUP GREATLY UNDERVALUES THE OTHER.  FORTUNATELY THERE IS NO ONE WHO ACTUALLY HAS ONLY FEELING OR ONLY THINKING PROPERTIES.  THEY INTERMINGLE LIKE THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW AND CANNOT BE SHARPLY DIVIDED.   M C ESHER

 

Fifth grade artists are making kinectic shadow puppets.  This project is always a rewarding art experience for my students.  The puppets are challenging for the artists because  they must create one moveable part on their  puppet. It will take us a few weeks to make them.  I will keep you posted on our progress! 

 

Artists are studying Grant Wood.  They are creating a landscape crayon rubbing. They will demonstrate various perspective techniques to create depth in their work.  

ALL THE GOOD IDEAS I EVER HAD CAME TO ME WHILE I WAS MILKING A COW.  GRANT WOOD

 

Robert Indiana is an Indiana artist. He is famous for his LOVE sculptures that can be seen around the world.  One of them is at the Indianapolis Museum of Modern Art. The students studied the Love sculptures and paintings and many other Indiana pieces.  They made their own lettering using the word love and created their own LOVE painting.  They used sharpie, pastel, and watercolor.  

SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO PAINT TREES.  I LIKE TO PAINT LOVE.  I FIND IT MORE MEANINGFUL THAN PAINTING TREES.  ROBERT INDIANA

 

We are studying French artist, Henri Matisse.  He is noted for starting the Fauve movement.  His work was not well respected when he first introduced his ideas.  The students are amazed by the many patterns he combined in his work.   The students will be making a mixed media collage of a fish bowl still life.  The artwork will include wallpaper, tissue paper, salt on watercolor, construction paper and sharpie. The artwork will be stunning when finished.  Stop by the artroom and see how we are doing!

Students should bring in a fine point Sharpie and ultra fine point Sharpie  or extra fine point Sharpie with them to class.  I only have a few left that are in good shape.  The students will label them and store them in the art room to be ready when needed to complete an assignment.

 

Students will study contour and define different values in an object.  Several still life drawings will be assigned.  They will work in pencil and colored pencil.

MANY OF MY STUDENTS HAVE NOT BROUGHT IN ANY SUPPLIES.  STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THEIR OWN SUPPLIES, IF THEY DO NOT HAVE THEM, THEIR GRADES WILL SUFFER.  PLEASE SEND IN THE MANDATORY SUPPLIES WITH YOUR STUDENT.  PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO DO THIS.  MANY SUPPLIES ARE RECYCLE ITEMS.  ALSO, THIS IS THE SECOND SEMESTER.  STUDENTS WERE GIVEN AMPLE TIME TO GET THEM AROUND.  PLEASE HELP ME, GIVE YOUR STUDENT THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

 

 

 

Artists are responsible for bringing in various materials to complete weavings, collages and sculpture.  A list will be given to students the first week of class.  Students are required to have their materials ready to use when the projects start. Failure to have materials will result in a writing assignment on top of their already required project.  

* ITEMS ARE MANDATORY

*Yarn (various textures and colors)

*2 dowel rods atleast 12"

*ribbon 

*Dinner fork

*round plastic or wooden embroidery hoop or metal circle atleast 12 inches or larger

lace

*beads (I have pony beads available.  Colors and amounts are limited. Depending on the project you may want to have your own to use.)

buttons

crochet hook

leather/imitation leather strips

twine

string

fabric (Torn/cut into strips)

*dried natural or synthetic silks of leaves or flowers

sea shells

*sticks at least 12 inches

Old jewelry, taking up space in a drawer!

bark

*FOIL, 1 to 2 boxes depending on need  (WE USE A LOT OF FOIL) 

*Cardboard, please have your boxes cut down before class.  Space is limited.

*Cereal box cardboard , please have your box cut down before class.  Space is limited.

*Collage items. (Clean out your closet.  Bring little items that could be used in a collage.)

*I own 17 wooden picture frames larger than 18 inches that I lend out to students to use.  Because of the popularity of the class, 8 students will need to supply their own frames.  The frame should be sturdy wood with the glass removed at home. We use the frame  as a loom.  It is mandatory that each student have a frame to weave from.

There may be items that I will add throughout the semester.  Students are always given adequate time to search or purchase these items.  Please check with neighbors, friends, and relatives to see if they would like to donate any of these items to you before purchasing. Wal-mart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Goodwill  are some places to purchase these items. Please look for coupons to help out with the cost.

Artists are learning about Wilson Bentley, photographer and scientist.  He dedicated his life  to the study of snowflakes. They will use various techniques to create  texture designs using  tempera paint in cool colors on gray, blue, and violet  paper.  Students will cut out various sizes of intricate snowflake designs and arrange them on 12 X 18 black paper.  Glitter will be added to make the snowflakes sparkle in the light!

 

I WOULDN'T TRADE PLACES WITH HENRY FORD OR JOHN ROCKEFELLER FOR ALL THEIR MILLIONS!  AND I WOULDN'T CHANGE PLACES WITH A KING; NOT FOR ALL HIS POWER AND GLORY.  I HAVE MY SNOWFLAKES! Wilson Bentley

 

Students studied the artwork of Jim Dine.  They were amazed to see all the paintings that featured hearts in his work.  Jim Dine did many paintings  containing his love of tools.  His grandfather was a carpenter so tools were a part of his childhood.  He also created sculptures of hearts and applied tools on the hearts!  

Since we celebrated St. Valentine's this past week, it was the perfect time to do a heart  painting .  The students used   pastel and watercolor in their paintings.  We studied negative and positive space when a stencil was made and then used to place  unique hearts in the paintings.   We all agreed that there is something cheerful about hearts. How beautiful the student paintings are! 

MY ATTITUDE TOWARDS DRAWING IS NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT DRAWING.  IT'S ABOUT MAKING THE BEST KIND OF IMAGE I CAN MAKE, IT'S ABOUT TALKING AS CLEARLY AS I CAN.  JIM DINE

Mishawaka Catholic School
Cynthia Weldy