Inspired by Andy Warhol's Winter Tree

#kindergarten and #gradesoneandtwo at #waitsfieldschool were inspired by this #wintertree print by #andywarhol (scroll to last image)

A post shared by Nora (@artclass_allday) on Dec 15, 2017 at 11:33am PST

Chalk Pastel Landscapes inspired by Wolf Kahn

"The horizon, though in actuality a dividing line, must become, in a painting, a place where sky and land meet and mesh and become seamless." 

It's stick season in Vermont.  It's cold and dark and gray.  However, the work of artist Wolf Kahn reminds me that there is beauty and color in the forest all year long.   

Wolf Kahn's artwork makes me feel calm and centered.  If I can't go out for a walk in the woods, looking at his paintings and pastels of forest and mountain landscapes is the next best thing.  Although Kahn primarily lives and works in New York City, when looking at his work it is obvious that he also spends time in Vermont.  Kahn has a part-time residence in Brattleboro!

Wolf Kahn is a German-born artist who combines realism with an art style called "color field."  Color field painting is when the color is the main subject of the piece of artwork. 

First and second graders looked at examples of Wolf Kahn's trees and landscapes.  We used chalk pastels to create color field backgrounds, then add trees and other landscape elements.  

Here are some examples of first and second grade art inspired by Wolf Kahn.  In addition to the peaceful subject matter of these landscapes, many students noticed the effect that blending the chalk pastels had on them. Don't you feel calmer already?

A colorful take on #stickseasoninvermont inspired by  #wolfkahn #chalkpastel #landscapes.  #waitsfieldschool #gradesoneandtwo

A post shared by Nora (@artclass_allday) on Nov 7, 2017 at 10:51am PST

#wolfKahn #chalkpastel #landscapes.  #timelapse of students collecting their work.

A post shared by Nora (@artclass_allday) on Nov 7, 2017 at 10:53am PST

Monarchs and Milkweed by the Kindergarten

Kindergarten Gingerbread House Collages

Kindergarten Turkey Paintings

Ask me if you can draw a "Hand Turkey." Go ahead. Ask.

......."NO!" 

While telling kids that there is a right or wrong way to draw anything makes my skin crawl, I cannot stand Hand Turkeys! Since Kindergarten artists want to draw turkeys one way or another, I help them create more unique versions using simple lines and shapes. 

We drew with pencils, traced the lines with black oil pastel and then painted with tempera paint cakes.

Kindergarten Gingerbread House Collages

Monster Draw!

 

First and second grade artists loved drawing MONSTERS! We used the game Monster Draw as our inspiration and we read "Jeremy Draws a Monster," by Peter McCarty.  We used Gel markers on black paper and colored pencils on white cardstock.

Kindergartners draw sunflowers "en plein air"

Kindergarten Gingerbread houses

Lines and patterns

Kindergarten students helped make last weekend's "Country Christmas" festive with these colorful decorations. We practiced making different types of lines and patterns and experimented with the watercolor resist technique. 

Spooky Spiderwebs with Glue and Chalk Pastels