Art Masters in Early Elementary: Art History 101

 

Children Interpret the Masters: Art History 101 

Kindergarten Picasso Bouquet on Display at Washington School 

ART HISTORY IN THE ELEMENTARY HALLWAY

A special banner-rainbow welcome today to any and all Arts educators. I'm courting those that live in the art room, as well as all those that 'fill-in' as Arts educator, with today's RoundUP. These are brilliant ideas and I'm eager to share the hard work that I have observed in my travels. 

 

I am a former elementary Art teacher now morphed into music lady, evolving still further into an author-illustrator of picture books. I get to visit in lots of schools across the country sharing my own work. 
Whenever I am 'on location' I make an extra effort to photograph the work on display in the hallways to inspire my readers here. If there is enough time, I also do my best to make it to the school's art room to see what inspiration I can share. 

My heart is so full. So filled to the tip-top with joy. So many WONDERFUL pieces and parts are being quilted into my day-to-day life and I'm grateful for all the zest and color. 

Look at these amazing paintings on display last week at Washington School in Dixon, IL. Everything about this work makes me happy. The colors. The subject. The simplicity. The whole 'project.' I was able to capture them to share while in the midst of my author-illustrator school visit last week. These individual masterpieces would be perfect for Mother's Day gift giving. 

The old Art teacher in me rejoices at the taking of a perennial favorite from one of the Masters and combining it with the meaningful making of response from children. You've seen the original Picasso in some sort of poster version I bet. These children's paintings are brimming with vibrancy from the original inspiration. 

Picasso Work in Pop Poster Version 

*While I was busy taking these photos, my blogging mentor, Zina, was commenting over on Sulia on this exact piece of art and the inspiration it offers in her garage! 

What an utterly elegant response. A simple concept to replicate with your own students -- or with your children in your family room. Any piece of art with your child's hand included has depth of meaning, especially years from now. To use the traced hands in response to Picasso's work is even more delightful. Yeah teachers! Every child has been successful in their effort! 

Here's the link to my recent Mother's Day RoundUP with all sorts of gift ideas, poems and cards. 

Let's move further around Washington School. Here's another masterful response of work also happily on display with the student's lockers. Each of these works are unique yet contribute to the display's theme of exuberant life. I'm so impressed by the effort of these first graders!

These bright trees are in blossom with concentric circles in the style of the master Kandinsky. 

Spring has finally arrived in the upper midwest. The world is twinkling with the promise of blossom and growth ahead. LUV me some 'polka-dots!'

These amazing trees-in-bloom were created in construction paper and as you can see were again completely successful for each of the student artists. 

Last fall I captured these next oil pastel Mondrian - inspired pieces in the hallway in Milwaukee.  They have such a raw quality and are so filled with energy! 

I can feel the pastels path on paper! I had just been waiting for the right article here to share them. 

Behold. They are BOLD! 

Here are some earlier pictures from my files here previously. 
How can you go wrong with Mondrian? 
I'm such a fan of the geometry involved. 
Primary colors! 
Brilliant lesson for the youngest! 

The image below was created by my own "WonderBoy" back when he was in kindergarten. 
As you can see, it became the cover shot for Issue #10 of my continuing series,
Fine Motor Leads to Fine Arts. 

Here's the link to all 52 articles in the series so far! 



Now let's make a couple of stops to the hallways around central Ohio. 
VAN GOGH! 
Van Gogh in all his glory! 
This is a collage of images from Westerville at St. Paul. 
I have made an annual visit there for the last ten years! 
The caliber of the Arts program is unsurpassed. 

I LUV LUV LUV the quality of the student work in these still life portraits. 

Now let's go across town to Pataskala, where WonderBoy goes to school. 
These Van Gogh landscapes were on display this winter. 

Take a good look at the diversity of interpretation! 

Let's conclude this portion of today's article with a much more contemporary feel. 
Let me share the fifth grade work of students, again at St. Paul Catholic School 
responding to the work of William H. Johnson. 

"Street Musicians" William H. Johnson 

If you just LUV'd this installment of Art History 101, 
then you're gonna be pumped to see that I have a second installment in the future! 

Here's the link to Art History 102! 



Here's the link to the third installment in this continuing series. 





From these amazing student projects, now let's take a stop in Nashville and visit the Art room I got to tour. 
I think you'll find these next images inspirational. 
I know that bulletin board ideas are always a big hit! 
Take a look at this one! 

These Art Room Rules are also from the delightful, Ms. Devoe! 

Here's the link to the third installation. 

Now let's just down to Florida for these last couple of vignettes. 
The first is of the art room door's poster in South Daytona Beach. 
{Sorry, I don't know how to direct you to the resource itself. If you know where its available, please leave a note in the comments below my article.}

Thanks for sharing a part of your day with me. 
By all means -- please pin as many images as you need for reminders. 
Your pins are a HUGE part of my 'marketing' strategy and I am forever grateful! 

Let me conclude with a couple of monumental Art responses to my own illustrations. 





I have a TON of resources around here for Arts-minded folks!



Here's an ENORMOUS RoundUP of Children's Art in Response to Eric Carle's Classic work.

- The link to the Pinterest Directory for Art Teachers 
- 75 Favorite Arts + Crafts Projects 
- Color Theory Projects 



- ABCs of Arts Integration  
- Arts Room Organization + Inspiration Bloghop! 
(That's the one with oodles of bulletin boards + decor in Art Rooms, charts for class behavior -- the whole shazam!) 



I have a couple of great articles over at our collaborative, 
PreK+K Sharing
that are also of interest.... 



Article: Process vs. Product with stellar images! 
Reggio Emilia: Italian Inspiration + Columbus Creativity

And now let's wrap up with some quotations! 













-- Debbie -- 

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