Art History and Cultural Heritage

Dear Parents and Students,

This week in art class we have been studying art history and cultural heritage  In accordance with the TEKS, 6^th grade students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of art history and culture as records of human achievement.  Students should be able to identify specific artworks from a variety of cultures, identify in artworks the influence of historical events, and compare career opportunities in art.  Below is an interview with an art coach to other artists, and some activities to further explore art in history discussed in class.

1. Have you ever wanted to know what your name would look like in Hieroglyphics?  Check out this Egyptian Hieroglyphic Typewriter and type your name or a secret message to your friend. You can email it and print it out too.

2. In this activity, My Culture Quest you get to travel around the world collecting historical art pieces that must go back to the museum for an art exhibition. Happy Hunting!

3. Making Art Your Career  In this insightful interview with Alyson Stanfield, she talks about how she has made a career by helping other artists build their careers.

Hope you have fun with the activities and enjoy the interview with Alyson Stanfield. 

Ms. Cox

Analyzing Art

Dear Parents and Students,

This week we have been analyzing art work of some of the most influential artist of our time. In accordance with the TEKS, 6^th grade students should be able to make informed judgments about personal artworks and the art works of others to conduct in-progress analyses and critiques of personal artworks. Below are some activities to further explore concepts of art analyses discussed in class.

Watch this video on Art School Critiques as humorously told by Karen Kavett a Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) art student. In this video Karen takes a funny approach to enlighten her viewers of questions and comments that may arise during an art critique.

In this activity, Art Hide and Seek, the student must notice the formal properties of the art work to be able to find it hidden within the picture.

As a part of analyzing art, students must notice how a work of art makes them feel. In this activity students can create their own Jackson Pollock Drip Painting using different colors, drips and splatters to demonstrate emotion or a state of consciousness that many painters of the 20th century expressed in their art.

I hope you enjoy the video and the activities.  Have a great week!

Ms. Cox

Technology and Art

Dear Parents and Students,

This week we will be working with technology in art. The TEKS state that students should demonstrate technical skills effectively by using a variety of media and materials to produce designs. Below are some activities and tools to help you get started in creating a still-life, self-portraits and abstract portraits.

 1. The Drawing Room, Matisse: Drawing Life  In this activity, you are given a blank canvas and two different types of paint brushes in which to compose your still life or self portrait. When you are finished you may click "done" and your drawing will recreate itself.

2. ArtPad  is a digital canvas which allows you demonstrate your technical skills to draw, paint, and color images.  When you are finished, you may view your art work hanging in a gallery.

3. Mr. Picasso Head  is a fun interactive website that allows you to create an image in the style of Picasso. Mr. Picasso Head provides a wide variety of line deigns which make up the features of the face and head you will be creating. In minutes you will be creating art like a master.

I hope you enjoy the activities with art and technology and the endless possibilities of art to  be created. 

Ms. Cox

Elements of Art

Dear Parents and Students,

Our 6^th graders are busy learning about the elements and principles of design. Students have been studying Vincent Van Gogh and his paintings based on his successful applications of the elements of design.  The TEKS state that students should be able to analyze and form generalizations about the interdependence of the art elements such as color, texture, form, line, space, and value and principles such as emphasis, pattern, rhythm, balance, proportion, and unity, using art vocabulary appropriately.

With a focus on the elements of design, I have found some activities on the internet which will help reinforce the concepts we’ve been discussing. 

1. Inside Art: An Art History Game takes you on an exciting, interactive journey of Van Gogh's paintings from the perspective of a child who only thought art museums were boring.   

2. In this video, The Elements of Art you will rediscover how the elements of art are used in design and how they can be found in real life as well.

3. In this activity, see if you can identify the elements of design through Van Gogh's method of painting by reading about his Style and Techniques  portion of this web page.

I hope you had fun learning about the wonderful paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and how successful he was in using all of the elements of design that brought his paintings to life. 

Ms. Cox

Welcome

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to the ArtRocks 985 Edublog.  My name is Ms. Cox, and I teach Art 100, 6th grade art. In this blog you will find learning activities to enhance your art experience in the classroom.

Remember, the Earth without art is just eh. ~Unknown

Ms. Cox :)