The 5th Graders at Mary Silveira have spent the past few weeks continuing to work on their exploration journals.They continued creative writing inspired by their observation and perspective drawings, and made revised drawings of their island maps. We practiced color pencil blending techniques, and discussed how artists can make more lively drawings by blending analogous colors instead of using just one. For a warm-up exercise we made mandalas, instinctual circular drawings. These mandalas proved to be very popular!
We also created new island inhabitants by drawing hybrid creatures. To do this, each student drew two different animal models from observation. Then they cut and recombined these animals into a new creature, pasting it into their sketchbook. Cutting up and reassembling their drawings was difficult for some of these artists, and very freeing for others. But the unexpected results were a joyful surprise. After naming this new creature, they then added it into their stories.
For a culminating project, students will be exhibiting their maps and journals at the school art show. It has been great to see how enthusiastic these young artists have been about sharing their creations every step of the way.
Mandala making.
Mandala making.
Revising a map.
Mandala making.
Revising a map.
Hybrid creatures.
Hybrid creatures.
Observation drawing from a toy fish.
Cutting up observation drawings to assemble into a new creature.
Observation drawing using a toy animal.
Observation drawing using a toy animal.
Revising a map.
Assembling a new creature from observation drawings.
Explorer journal pages.
Imaginary island map.
