WELCOME BACK to school everyone!

We are starting the year off with Self-Portraits.

• Grade 6 - students are using wax crayons
• Grade 7 - students are using Cray-Pas
• Grade 8 - students are using charcoal

We have been looking at portraits of famous people done as photographs and oil paintings.  The eyes are very important features. We noticed that they are half way down the face and can be very expressive.

All students were given a syllabus describing the course content along with a list of "Art Room Needs".

We will be painting and would appreciate cheap white paper plates for mixing paint on. Other valuable items used in the art room are small face cloths and window cleaner for wiping tables, and Kleenex, especially for during the winter months.  Your donations to the art room are greatly appreciated.

As always, Thank you!

Please take a look at my DDawg Dawson art tutorial videos on you tube: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/DDawgDawson?feature=watch

I'd love to hear your comments!

MONTH OF JUNE

Our Museum Trip to the MFA was awesome. All in all, the students were amazed at the size of the building and all the maze like galleries within. We saw a good variety of art from various cultures. The French Impressionists galleries were a big hit as well the Samurai special exhibit.

As we wind down the school year we continue to make some interesting art. Grade 7 worked on their own personal Collages using colored tissue paper and magazine images. Grade 6 made Ceramic animals, reptiles and amphibians. Grade 8 created an accordian folded design that shows two images when seen from the left angle and the right angle.

I would like to thank my students for being who they are. Thank you for your respect, friendsip and cooperation throughout the school year. Thank you trying to be the best you could be.
Have a safe and enjoyable Summer and do some art work. Think about going outside and drawing or painting on location. Try to set up your own art studio somewhere at home that you can call your own space for meditation, comtemplation and creativity. Keep up the good work!!

Sincerely,
DDAWG DAWSON

Month of May

Wednesday MAY 8,  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Field Trip  for grades 7 & 8 art students.

Special exhibitions to be seen at the MFA- Samurai Warrior Armor and Michelangelo's drawings.  I walked through the galleries and photographed some images of what the students would get to see on their field trip and made a video for you to view.  

7th and 8th grade students have created metal embossed armor plates by taking aluminum foil and burnishing with a plastic tool. The effects are that of a relief and look quite good.   

Grade 6 art students have explored Origami. We made a paper box with a colored paper insert and a painted decorated cover to fit with a wing flapping crane nestled inside. 

Being our last ceramic project of the year, I thought I'd have all classes make something out of clay.  The 6th graders have ideas ranging from reptiles to amphibians to mammals.  Grades 7 and 8 are creating a  theme called New Blue and White, which was inspired from the art seen on our MFA field trip. The white bisque fired surface will be decorated with dark blue glaze.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. Thank you.