Pattern Self-Portraits

I found this idea on Artsonia and just had to try it out! Students first learned facial proportions, next drew their self-portraits, and then added lots of fun and interesting patterns!

Mona Lisa

I did this last year with 5th grade and they turned out amazing again this year! I had the students create frames this year for a finishing touch. The students drew designs on the frame and then added white glue to create a raised effect. When the glue was dry, the students painted the frames gold. The frames aren't really visible in this picture...but they look great!

5th Grade Nutcrackers

I saw this idea on several blogs and everyone seemed to do it a little different. We did ours step-by-step and then painted with tempera paint. We were working right up until the last minute before Christmas break! Some students didn't even have time to paint their nutcracker's hair! But the results were still fabulous.

Veterans Day

Veterans Day is very important at our school. We have a big assembly every year to honor those who have served for our country. All of the students write essays, poems, learn songs, and create artwork and then we invite Veterans to the school to enjoy the performances. It is always a great experience for students, the Veterans and their families. I am in charge of directing a patriotic art project for each grade and then hanging up the artwork in the multi-purpose room. I was so proud of all of my students!


Sorry for the sloppy photos...I didn't have time to crop! My third graders drew these portraits of soldiers. CUTEST thing I've ever seen!






My second graders got to practice their scissor skills...





I got this idea at Oodles of Art. Step by step process...




My 6th graders painted these beautiful poppies...the aluminum foil really makes the paintings pop!! I can't remember where I found this idea...but it was a hit!




Finally...here are the end results! The flag is a mural done by my 8th graders...found on Art Projects for Kids. It was the star of the show!

Uncovering Mona Lisa

My fifth graders were learning about portrait-style paintings during the Reniassance. What better portrait than Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa! A classic...with a twist. I gave each student a line drawing of Mona Lisa. They had to flip the portrait upside down so that her face was at the bottom of the page (this helps the students focus less on trying to get it to look exactly like a face and focus more on lines and shapes), and cover it with a piece of black construction paper, leaving only the bottom inch showing. On a 12"x18" piece of white paper they drew what they could see. When they finished drawing that inch, they would raise the paper inch by inch until they had drawn the whole portrait. Students finished off their drawings by using colored pencils to give each Mona Lisa a different look. I had some extra wallpaper scraps so we used those for the backgrounds...I thought it made them look a little more Renaissance-like. They were quite proud of their results, as was I!