What a great project!  

These landscape paintings took the students about 7 classes to finish and so many students really poured their heart into their artwork.  I saw 5th graders totally immersed in the process and lots of students being courageous trying new techniques.

We began this project by looking at photographs of the lovely landscape where we live.  Our school is less than a mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway and being in Asheville, we are a few minutes drive from these gorgeous mountain views.  
We looked at photographs of mountain landscapes during sunrise, mid-day and sunset.  I helped direct a conversation about the three layers that are seen in each (background, midground, foreground) and about how during the different times of day, the colors are different in each layer.  

Students began this project by drawing a sketch first and using colored pencils to show what colors they would be using.  I told them that I should be able to tell what time of day it was just by looking at their sketches and seeing what colors they selected.
Next they drew two lines across their canvases to separate the image into the three layers-background, midground, foreground.  
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I'm annoyed that I didn't take any photos of the next step, but they each selected just one color for each layer and painted in each layer.   Many of the kids were very confused about this step and ha a hard time grasping why they would choose just ONE color to paint a layer when there are obviously so many more colors.
I reassured them that many artists work in a similar way and that it provides a base color as they add in more layers  and details of other colors. 

We used acrylic paints for this project that I pre-mixed.  I had about 30 different colors set out for them.  I just put lids on them between classes to keep them wet. 

Next, we began adding other colors and details to the background.  They started by painting the colors that are seen in the sky (not the clouds) and practiced blending the colors together with wet paint and water.  Once that was finished, the students added the clouds.  They focused on the main color of the clouds and added shadows.  Most students spent 2-3 whole class periods working on the background.  After we were completely finished with this project and I asked students their favorite part of this, almost all students said the sky was the most fun (and most challenging).

Students used the same technique on their midground and foreground.  We talked about painting in the base colors that they see then adding in details and shadows.  

On the foreground, students made sure to make the trees, flowers, etc that were further back smaller than what was closer.

I absolutely LOVE how these landscapes turned out.  Each student's unique style really shines.  They worked hard and were very engaged during these paintings.  I am a very proud art teacher!

We began this lesson by looking at the artwork of artist Ted Harrison.  Harrison created vibrant, colorful landscapes.  We discussed mostly color and the horizon line.  Harrison uses different color blocks to break up space and gives it a sort of whimsical or mysterious quality.  

This was a 3-day project.  The first day was spent looking at and discussing Harrison's work as well as drawing the lines on their paper with pencil.  Students started with the horizon line and added more lines to separate the space.  Students had to decide if they wanted to draw a forest, a desert, ocean, etc.  One class did this project on white paper, the other on black.  
The second and third classes were spent using chalk pastels to really fill in the space with vivid color.  They were urged to push hard with the pastel and take their time getting the color nice and bright.  Most students enjoyed the pastels and got very messy.  Others (like myself) really disliked the feeling of the chalk pastels on their skin.  I allowed those students to use oil pastels instead.
This was a pretty quick project that overall the students enjoyed.  It was definitely the most messy project we've done so far this year!

The third grade class spent about 30 minutes looking at and discussing the artwork of Friedrich Hundertwasser.  The reactions were quite amusing, the students seemed surprised by the intensity of color and pattern created by the Austrian artist.  Hundertwasser is one of my top ten favorite painters so I love talking with my students about his work.  

We began this project by separating the paper into two sections and in one, used oil pastels to draw a landscape.  In the other, a cityscape.  The drawing focus was on using concentric circles and shapes, repetitive patterning, background patterns and bright colors.

After the space was very filled with oil pastel drawings, the students used watercolor paints to finish the artwork.

I love how colorful and vibrant these turned out.  The students worked very hard for 5-6 class periods to finish, I am so proud!

The Forth grade students at ECCS are studying the local landscape this trimester.  I created a lesson plan that integrates that learning.  The students will create tissue paper collages of North Carolina Mountainscapes.  I begin teaching this lesson next Tuesday, and will post images of the student's work once they begin the project!


Overview:
4th Grade
3-4 days
The students will use tissue paper to collage North Carolina Mountain landscapes.

NC Essential Standards:
4.V.1.1 Use appropriate art vocabulary to compare artists’ styles.
4.V.1.2 Apply personal choices while creating art.
4.V.1.4 Understand how the Elements of Art are used to develop a composition.
4.V.2.2 Use ideas and imagery from North Carolina as sources for creating art.
4.CX.1.3 Classify NC artists in terms of styles, genre, and/or movements.

Materials:
Construction paper, tissue paper, glue, paintbrush, water, scissors

Art Vocabulary:

• foreground, background
  
• color, space, value
  
• collage
  
• landscape 
  

Interdisciplinary Concepts:
Geography, North Carolina Mountainscapes