The Dots Final Form: SPRING

If you have been trekkin' along with me this year...you may have seen my 1st day of art painting project morph. It went from a beautiful hanging Wall of Dots.... to Fall Leaves...to Winter Mittens & Hats.  Now it has arrived at its final state of being....Spring Flowers!  

The students, teachers, and parents have all commented how much they've loved seeing this project progress through the year, and have been wondering how I'm going to top it next year. 

?!?!?!TOP IT?!?!?!!?  

I'm not sure if I can "Top It".  I have some fun ideas floating around in this crazy brain of mine, but I do not see it as topping what I've done in the past.  Each year is different...each project has its own life...and it all should be appreciated in that time & in that place.  I hope none of you place such pressure on yourself.  Yes, you want to bring new life & energy to your program, but don't view it in light of having to "Top" the year before.  Let each year be its very best...because you are being your very best.

If you're new here...or missed my past posts about The Dots...here ya go!

                                    http://www.artwithmre.com/2015/12/the-dots-winter.html 

The Dots: WINTER

I loved this project so much at the beginning of the year...that I could not just throw it away.  It has been given new life with the passing seasons!  For winter...it is hats  & mittens! The faculty/ staff  & students have loved seeing the transformations

      

      

I'll include the previous incarnations below....

THIS IS WHERE WE STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR

(FIRST WEEK PROJECT K-4)

HERE IS WHAT IT TURNED INTO FOR FALL!

First Day Project: PAINTING

Yep!  I'm officially crazy!!!! ha ha

A few years ago I went to my first NAEA conference(Fort Worth).  I met amazing educators that were passionate about teaching visual arts.  I loved talking "shop" with people that loved their job as much as me!!  One of the topics we talked about was first day practices.  I had always started the school year with seats, rules, and a self portrait.  It seemed "SAFE" & a way to "EASE" back into things.  There is total validity to that practice..and no one should feel otherwise if it works for them!!!  You spend time with other passionate art educators & you will quickly realize that there are a million "GOOD" ways to do things.  There is not a one size fits all...and no one should feel bad about doing things differently.  However, I feel it is our obligation to consider what we do and see if it is the "BEST" way of doing things.  This allows us to grow.  

ANYWAYS...LET ME GET TO THE FIRST DAY PROJECT!!!

So this year I decided I was going to paint with my students on the first day.  I knew I had to get students seats assigned, go over some key rules....and then try to fit in the painting.  This means I had to have things ready to go.  Paint already served up(limited color palette...varying it a little each class so I can get the super cool gradation) & brushes ready to go.   I gave the students a 9x12 piece of 90lbs paper.  They were required to draw as big of a circle as possible.  They then had to draw a design based on circles/dots on the inside of their larger circle.  1st grade mostly looked like chocolate chip cookies,  but they had a blast creating.  2nd - 4th really seemed to "get it" and do a great job. I discussed Principles of Design with them(quickly) & showed them some examples. Now Monday I'll have Kindergarten for the first time(they go half days the first week...and do not come to special areas).  I will precut their circles and probably use BIGGIE WATERCOLOR sets with them(covering two of the four colors to limit their palette).  I cut them out after they dried and had older students help me with the black outlines(using tempera).  The whole process is very busy...very fast...furious..... AND A WHOLE LOT OF FUN!!!!!!!!!!

If you are wondering...yes...I'm going to connect this to THE DOT.  My plan is to switch the colors each day till I have a rainbow of awesomeness!!!  I'll display this in the hall...connecting the sections on the wall...each section being a day's worth of circles(I'm afraid it will be too heavy if I connect all 550 circles together before hand).  

I'll review & reinforce classroom rules and procedures when they return to art(I know some of you really want to make sure your kids get it...and I do too!!  I just loved the idea of capturing their attention in a new way on the very first day of art!!!)

Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions...hope this helped for those of you who were asking on Facebook!!