Art students finally had the opportunity to choose their own subject for this Scratchboard assignment. They were instructed to create an etched drawing that demonstrates an understanding of texture and value.
Every student began by researching a design idea on the Internet, and then created a preliminary drawing on paper. The pencil drawing was then transferred and etched into black scratchboard with sharp tools.
KMS Art students wrapped up the end of 3rd quarter with a Pop Art Printing project that featured a self-portrait of each individual. The lesson was inspired by the graphic and colorful prints created by Pop Artists in the 1950s. Students were briefly introduced to the artwork of Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns and Richard Hamilton. Our main influence, however, was derived from Andy Warhol’s iconic images that define the Pop Art movement.
“Everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.” -Andy Warhol
KMS Art students worked on this art activity alongside the Pop Art linoleum block printing assignment. After exploring the artistic themes and subjects of the original Pop Artists of the 1950s and 1960s, students brainstormed a list of popular icons and products that would be good modern Pop Art subjects for their own generation. I chose a handful of images from their list to print and xerox, making enough gray-scale copies for every student to color.
Students used colored pencils to imitate the Pop Art style, emphasizing bold solid colors, sharp-edged lines, repetition and enlargement. Several middle school students (not in my classes) got wind of this activity and came in to ask for their own copy to color… evidence that our Pop Art themes were spot-on!
If you are looking for a rainy day activity, or just want to see some fabulous artwork by Kapaa Middle School Students, visit the Kauai Museum during the month of March to check out the “50th Anniversary School Art Exhibit!”
A variety of KMS student artwork was entered for consideration. Everything including, ceramic masks, copper repousse, drawings, and paintings are currently on display for viewing. The following students received ribbons (in the order pictured above): Chloe Matsuda, Kahiwahiwa Davis, Katie Spaethe-Peterson, Maile Miyake, and Mainei Kinimaka. Congrats!
Rumor has it that Kapaa Middle School’s Elective Night was the best school event of the year thus far! We packed the house with students, parents and faculty who came in support of our elective classes. The evening’s events included a television broadcast demonstration and introduction from our G.T. Media students, choral and ukulele performances, a gallery of student artwork on display, delicious cookies made by our Home Economics students, videos and graphic design by the G.T. Media class, a “Doodle Wall” art activity, and a silent Art Auction.
A special thanks to our PTSA for supporting our programs and helping to organize the Art auction! The money we earned will go towards purchasing more art supplies for our growing Art classes!
Kapaa Middle School students finished off the semester by turning in their ceramic masks. Now I just need to load the kiln, fire, and return 160 masks before we glaze them and fire again!
One observant student found a piece of plastic on the beach that distinctly resembles the African masks we studied in class. She brought it to share, and now it’s hanging on our classroom wall for inspiration. I haven’t even introduced them to readymade art… I think we have a Marcel Duchamp in the making!
I don’t believe in art. I believe in artists. -Marcel Duchamp
Click the image above to see video I made that promotes each elective class at Kapaa Middle School. You’ll get a sneak peek into the KMS elective classrooms! As elective teachers, we like to provide fun, hands-on, real-world learning experiences that also support the core curriculum. Enjoy!
Note: Registration for next year is happening this month… please see the calendar for specific dates.
Kapaa Middle School Art students recently finished a two-part project featuring skeleton drawings that were cut out and mounted on a watercolor background. As an introduction, we studied the Hispanic holiday of Los Dias De Los Muertos and looked at skeleton artwork by the famous Jose Guatelupe Posada.
Students began with a small printed image of a skeleton and instructions to not only draw the image, but to enlarge it by 4 times! This was accomplished by measuring a grid that enabled them to draw the complex figure in small sections while maintaining the correct proportions.
While the process of measuring, drawing, shading and cutting of the bones was painstaking and meticulous, the background allowed students to be more expressive and free-form. Students were introduced to 6 different watercolor painting techniques which they practiced in their sketchbooks. The only requirement for the final background was to incorporate all 6 techniques.
“An artist will sooner and with more certainty, establish the character of skeletons, than the most learned anatomist, whose eye has not been accustomed to seize on every peculiarity.”
- Rembrandt Peale (American Artist & Naturalist)
One day in class I decided to share a short film called One Beach, that features artist/environmentalists who collect plastic garbage from their local beaches and turn it into art. Although created from trash, the variety of artwork that is illustrated in this film is both beautiful and meaningful. As a beach-lover myself, I found this film to be relevant and inspiring. Some of my students did too!
Currently my Art classes are collecting bits of colorful plastic and trash from the beach. I encourage them to do a quick beach clean-up every time they go fishing, surfing, or “cruzing” with family or friends. Once we have a good amount, we will collaborate to make one artwork per class. Some students can’t wait for the group project and have already gotten innovative on their own (sample student artwork above)!
Kapaa Middle School art students recently finished an oil pastel project after studying the artwork of famous Expressionist artists, including Vincent Van Gogh, Edvard Munch, Franz Marc, and Wassily Kandinsky.
The main requirement for this assignment was to try to express an emotion using Expressionist techniques such as vibrant and intense color, simplified forms, and swirling directional lines.
Middle school years can be an extremely emotional time in one’s life, and our students really connected with the strong emotion and “drama” that is characteristic of the Expressionist style of art!
“We want more than a mere photograph of nature. We do not want to paint pretty pictures to be hung on drawing-room walls. We want to create, or at least lay the foundations of, an art that gives something to humanity. An art that arrests and engages. An art created of one’s innermost heart.” -Edvard Munch
The project I like to begin every Art class with is the making of a personal sketchbook. The sketchbooks will be used throughout the rest of the class to plan out art projects, take notes about artists, write reflections, and practice artistic techniques and skills. This time the assignment was to create a mandala design on the front cover that included symbols that represented something about the artist. I also asked that they find a way to creatively integrate their name into the radial design.
My current classes are a mix of 7th and 8th graders who come with varying artistic experience and abilities. The results of this 1st assignment were impressive and inspired high expectations for what is to come! I have a good feeling that this group is ready to take on some challenging art adventures!
Not only can Kapaa Middle School Art students create beautiful masterpieces, but they can articulate their thoughts on the process and explain their intentions through written artist statements! Click here to read a sample Artist Statement by 8th grader, Kahi Davis.
