...make even more art!

Color Wheel

Color Wheel

Third and fourth graders are learning about the color wheel. Each student mixed paint in all 12 colors on the color wheel, then chose a simple shape to cut out of each color.

Remembering MLK Jr.

Vermont Community Foundation supports the Bridge Street Art Fair!

Bridge Street Art Fair- Saturday, May 18, 2013

We received a $1000 “Small and Inspiring” grant from the Vermont Community Foundation to support our Bridge Street Art Fair.  This event will take place on the afternoon of Saturday, May 18, 2013 and will showcase student artwork alongside professional artists.  It will also serve to connect the community and schools to the businesses and organizations surrounding Bridge Street in Waitsfield.  There will be a craft fair, performances, arts and craft activities and demonstrations, food vendors and community art projects.  In order for this first time event to be a success, significant support from parents and community members is needed.  I am looking to put together a committee that will work to make this event a success.  I am looking for help in several different areas including preliminary planning and organization, soliciting sponsors or contacting businesses, public relations, organizing the craft fair, managing and setting up the student art show, coordinating art fair activities and performances, and taking care of set up and logistics.  Please let me know if you are interested in helping in any way, big or small.  Contact me at Nmcdonough@faystonschool.org

Inspired by Jean Dubuffet

First and second grade artists looked at the artwork of French artist Jean Dubuffet.  We discussed how his artwork went against the norms of what was considered beautiful and how he was inspired by artwork by children and other naive artists.  He called this type of artwork art brut,  or "raw art," and this term came to refer to his own style of art as well.

We looked at many examples of Dubuffet's work, focusing specifically on works that feature thick black outlines, primary colors and hidden shapes and faces.  Students used these guidelines to create original works that reflect Dubuffet's influence.  Since we rarely work in markers for final product pieces, I have challenged students to use the markers as if they were paintbrushes and work slowly and carefully to create high quality work.


Here are some examples of Jean Dubuffet's work:

Here are some work by first and second graders inspired by Jean Dubuffet: 

Intro to Graphic Design

We are learning about the basics of graphic design in fifth hand sixth grade art classes. I am taking advantage of a wonderful resource- our on-staff sub, Ashley, is a graphic designer and is eager to share her knowledge with students. We have worked together to design a unit to introduce students to graphic design as a career and an art form. The skill and awareness that comes with this knowledge will support all of their art making.

This PBS video is a great introduction to some of the uses of graphic design.

We started our lesson by searching for examples of graphic design and identify the building blocks of design in the examples: typography, balance, grid systems, hierarchy, and layers.

Creativity is intelligence ...