My students come from a district that does not have art in every elementary school. Many of the students I teach art to are easily frustrated if the supplies we are using do not do what they want them to and shut down. My goal is to get students to want to create art using quality materials.
My students are from a suburban area outside a large city.
Many of our students (70% +) are on free and reduced lunches, free breakfast, etc. With a very limited budget I can only afford the essentials such as paper, pencils, colored pencils, and oil pastels. Our students are eager to learn and want to take art but have found it frustrating to only have access to basic art supplies over the years.
My Project
Our students will use the blick acrylic basics sets for creating memorable paintings using a theme based lesson. At this time the theme will center around creating a symbolic design based on their personal life. Students will incorporate symbols, shapes, and or words that represents them as a person, their favorite person(s), favorite belonging(s), and a symbol/shape/word for a character trait that they dislike in people. The goal is for them to learn a little bit about themselves and those around them as we will critique and discuss our findings with each other using an artist statement. Having the opportunity to experiment with gel mediums, varnish, and palette knives will help them to develop their artist selves in a world filled with socially inhibiting technology.
Students who are successful with the materials are more likely to engage with and take risks in their art making.
Many of my students have never had art so when they come to class if the materials are not cooperating they are less likely to persevere in the discovery of developing craft through expression. Allowing them to experiment with mediums, varnish, and palette knives, all non-traditional tools at the middle school level, will open their mind to other possibilities.
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